25 Jul Tips For Pack-And-Go Lunches!
Making time to pack your lunch during a busy week is an important step to creating long-term health. Here are some tips to make it an easy habit to get into!
• The first tip is one to always live by: an ingredient list should be 5 ingredients or less. The longer the list gets, the easier it is to hide the yucky stuff! It’s like the “Where’s Waldo” game where there’s so much going on in the photo that it takes a while to find the star of the show! Just take a peek at one of the “Lunchables” products or a frozen meal, the ingredient list is often longer than your arm! Focus on whole, fresh foods and when needed, prepackaged foods with less than 5 ingredients.
• Create a picnic-style lunch for fun and ease. For sandwiches, select organic, whole grain bread that hasn’t been genetically modified, bleached and enriched. If it’s PBJ for the kids, buy organic strawberry jam; it may be sweetened with sugar, but the ingredient list usually ends there. You can buy all-natural nut butters that have only one ingredient: nuts! You could peel an orange, throw in some edamame, and serve guacamole and corn chips as a side. These foods are filled with good fat, fiber, vitamin C and plenty of plant-based nutrients. Invite the kids to participate in meal prep and lunch packing to make it a family affair.
•Preparation is key! Before the week begins, create a meal plan for the week and shop ahead of time for the ingredients you’ll need for the weeks’ lunches. Think about putting together meals that balance fruits, vegetables, whole grains and some healthy fats. These lunches don’t have to be fancy or complicated; think simple whole foods without added ingredients and you’ll be on your way to a healthy lunch!
This week’s challenge: Step away from convenience and challenge yourself to eat whole, fresh foods this week. I promise you that once you get the hang of it, it’s pretty easy to accomplish!