Better Lunches
Planning is the key to successfully maintaining healthy eating habits during your lunch hour. When pressed for time, we tend to reach for something quick which often means eating food that is high in fat, cholesterol, calories and other unhealthy components. Check out the following tips to help you avoid these last-minute fixes.
Healthy Lunch Tips:
- Plan the week’s lunches ahead of time to make your shopping trip easier.
- Make a list and stick to it. Resist the temptation to buy sweets, junk food, etc.
- Incorporate whole grains, fruits and vegetables into your daily lunches.
- Experiment with different food combinations to prevent boredom.
- Prepare lunches the night before. Rushed mornings can compromise the nutritional value of your lunch choices.
Mix and Match for a Healthful Lunch
To prevent you and your family from becoming bored with the same old lunches, be sure to stock your kitchen with a variety of foods to mix-and-match for innovative lunch ideas.
| Start with one of these: |
|
| Whole Wheat Bread |
7-Grain Bread |
Pita |
|
| Bagel |
Mini-Bagel |
Whole Wheat Roll |
|
| Tortilla |
|
|
|
| Add one or more of these: |
|
| Turkey |
Ham |
Lean Roast Beef |
|
| Hummus |
Tuna Salad |
Sliced Chicken |
|
| Roasted Eggplant |
|
|
|
| Top with any of these: |
|
| Broccoli Sprouts |
Cheese Slice |
Spinach Leaves |
|
| Lettuce |
Cucumber Slices |
Roasted Red Pepper |
|
| Hot Pepper Rings |
Onion |
Shredded Carrot |
|
| Then finish by adding one of these: |
|
| Mustard |
Low Fat Mayo |
Low Fat Dressing |
|
| Try these for Healthy Snack Ideas: |
|
| Baby Carrots |
Raw Broccoli |
Raisins |
|
| Celery |
Low Fat Dip |
Whole Fruit |
|
| Applesauce Cups |
Pineapple Spears |
Juice Boxes |
|
| Pretzels |
Low Fat Popcorn |
Low Fat Granola Bar |
|
| Grapes |
Yogurt |
|
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