When it comes to preparing lunch for your kids, you’ve got a routine down – maybe even something similar to an assembly line at home. For those of you who head to the office, you may not have the convenience of eating last night’s leftovers, or for that matter taking a proper snack break. While the idea of preparing a salad or meal in a mason jar sounds appealing, you have come to the realization that you’d just rather admire someone else’s creativity on Pinterest or Instagram.
So instead of waiting in line at your favorite restaurant or food truck watching the minutes cut into your lunch break, or heading to the work kitchen where the same old snacks stare you in the face each day, I encourage you to get creative and check out these meal and snack ideas to make taking lunch to work exciting again!
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Dive into delicious
Your taste buds will thank you once you have had your first bite of this delicious Sesame Ginger Salmon with White Rice Bowl made by Saffron Road. The sesame ginger sauce is the perfect blend of sweet and savory. Made with wild-caught salmon and crunchy vegetables, these delicious rice bowls come in under 300 calories and offer 17 grams of protein which makes for a healthy and satisfying meal!
Mid-afternoon slump slack
If you are one to nosh, calories and portion sizes tend to be an issue. But when the ingredients are so filling and satisfying, one serving will do the trick. One serving of the The Coconut Chia Granola from Nature’s Path boasts six grams of fiber and makes for a snack that satisfies late afternoon cravings with a crunch. You can keep a small bowl at your desk to nosh on between lunch and your workout before dinner.
Dip baby dip
If you are focusing on increasing your vegetable intake, raw veggies are a great option. Not only do you get tons of anti-oxidants and fiber but they are also very low in calories. One way to make snacking on veggies more appealing is by pairing them with a delicious, healthy dip. I love the new Chobani Mezé Dips as they are made with real veggies, herbs and spices blended with creamy Greek Yogurt. With four exciting flavors (my favorite is the Chili Lime), you can feel good knowing that you are enjoying a dip made with only natural ingredients – that means no artificial flavors or preservatives – for the perfect clean eating option!
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Sweet snacking
Most of my clients tell me that they like a little something sweet in the afternoon. barkTHINS snacking chocolate is the perfect way to have some fun, and eat it too! Not only do the thin pieces of fair trade dark chocolate contain non-GMO verified ingredients like almonds, pretzels, or perfect for fall pumpkin seeds, but they come in unique pieces and sizes so you can customize the portion that’s right for you. The resealable pouch is perfect to keep in your desk.
Noodle revolution
Packaged noodles lost their appeal sometime between college finals and moving into an apartment with a real stove. But it doesn’t change that they were an easy option for a quick meal or snack. Long gone are the days of overly processed, sodium filled instant noodles being the only choice. In a Cup made by Revolution Foods is perfect to keep in the office fridge when you are on back-to-back calls. Made with real vegetables, each cup offers eight to 10 grams of protein per serving, and 12 to 20 percent of daily fiber values. They come in three delicious flavors which include Spaghetti Marinara, Sesame Noodles and Thai-Style Satay Rice Noodles which is also a gluten-free and peanut-free option.
Chia and then some
Tropical flavors aren’t just for exotic island vacations. Pressed by KIND bars are a perfect addition to your packed lunch. Made with simple ingredients – only fruit, veggies and chia – they come in unique flavor combinations like Mango Apple Chia and Pineapple Coconut Chia. These bars are an easy way to get two full servings of fruit. They are also gluten and dairy-free and do not contain any added sugars.
Rania works with KIND Healthy Snacks to help consumers make healthy choices.
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