I've been doing work full-time in-house at a local ad agency, and this means packing lunches. People still [yes, still!] ask me what I eat. So partly to answer their question, I thought it would be fun to document a week's worth of lunches for you. This may be more food than you think a woman my size would consume, but that particular week, I also ran 40 miles; all that exercise makes a girl extra-hungry. Obviously, packing your own lunch saves you loads of money and gives you more control over what you are putting into your body.
Monday [pictured above and below]: Vanilla soy yogurt, a Key Lime Lärabar
, improvised quinoa-kale pilaf, organic apple and tangerine. I know that Lärabars are not exactly frugal, but around 2pm each day, I found myself heading for pretzels or animal crackers at the vending machine – not healthy! Lärabars and other similar fun-but-healthy snacks cost roughly the same, but they fill me up and are more nutrient-dense and natural. I watch for sales; Target usually has good deals on Lärabars and Luna Bars.
, improvised quinoa-kale pilaf, organic apple and tangerine. I know that Lärabars are not exactly frugal, but around 2pm each day, I found myself heading for pretzels or animal crackers at the vending machine – not healthy! Lärabars and other similar fun-but-healthy snacks cost roughly the same, but they fill me up and are more nutrient-dense and natural. I watch for sales; Target usually has good deals on Lärabars and Luna Bars. |
| Close up of my improvised quinoa-kale pilaf. The pink hue comes from dried cranberries. |
Wednesday [below]: More leftover pilaf, baby carrots/radishes and hummus, a Chocolate-Dipped Coconut Luna Bar, an apple and a tangerine.
Thursday [below]: Pretty spartan today: I was in a rush to get out the door and this was the best I could do. Tossed salad, Peanut-Butter Chocolate Lärabar, banana and two clementines.
Friday [below]: You have to treat yourself once in awhile. My friend Deb and I noshed at Su Xing House. They offer a tremendous lunch special: soup. a side and an entree for about $7, plus plenty of jasmine tea to wash it down. They also serve brown rice, which we both prefer.
These are just snapshots from one particular week. My lunches also typically contain leftovers from the previous night's dinner, soups, nut butter and jelly sandwiches, gargantuan salads with chickpeas, artichoke hearts and peppers, etc.
What's in your typical lunch bag?
18 comments:
This is great! I usually eat smallish entrees and supplement with snackier things like fruits and bars, much like you. The quinoa pilaf sounds awesome. Dried cranberries are good in...oh, pretty much everything.
I work in a corporate environment and I bring my breakfast and lunch to work every day. We have multiple commissaries, but the only vegan option other than a couple snacks and fruit is a salad bar. I'm working to bring vegan entrees and sandwiches to the commissaries, though! I do occasionally go out for lunch because we have a few good vegan restaurants nearby (including a vegan creperie!).
You're more diverse in your lunches than I am. I generally will cook once on Sunday and portion that dish into 5 servings for my weeks' lunches.
Yum. Nice looking lunches. I love seeing what other people put together for lunch. I work twelve hour shifts and end up eating all my meals at work. People are always surprised by the amount of food I bring, but when you're eating mostly veggies there has to be more volume. At least for me. I do mostly salads with beans and sweet potatoes and nut based dressings. And lots of fresh fruit and veggies for snacks. Not unlike yours. :)
I almost always bring leftovers from dinner the night before. And some fruit for snacking. This post is inspiring me to be more creative though!
Leftovers are my preference. I also like nori snacks and clementines. If there aren't leftovers, like today, I have a big salad with pumpkin seeds and hummus dressing. I dry-fried tofu to add to today's salad! It worked great on my cast iron griddle.
your lunches are so nutritious...
Thank you so much for inspiring people to try vegan fare, which is good for our health and the environment...
All looks good to me. I normally just take in leftovers from the day before, or if it's all got a bit too Mother Hubbard a jacket spud and some hummus. Sadly, there are rarely Luna bars along for the ride!
hey lady! i was just curious about the gf udi's gluten-free bread you eat! i went to their website and everything i saw contains egg. is this a new product that they sent you ahead of time or they was released in only certain areas? i would love to try udi since i hear their gf stuff is the best. right now we eat scharr which is ok toasted, but it would be awesome to have delicious soft gf bread to just make sandwiches with!
your lunches look delicious! i am with you about larabars. i eat one just about every day, too ;)
Gah, I always forget you're in Philly, too! Su Xing house rocks, but I think those lunches you made look just as tasty to me. Always having portable fruit on hand is such a good way to stay healthy and energized, eh?
I'd like your recipe for Quinoa. I have yet to make quinoa that tastes good!
Boil your quinoa in chicken broth, Jcarlon. Rinse it before you boil it.
Your tuesday sandwich is making my mouth water...
I don't have a lunch bag, we get lunch at school.
Because I'm in middle school. I wrote this in three comments haha :P
Looks great! I love seeing what other vegans eat for lunch :)
I love this post! I was inspired by your salad ideas and made a delicious massaged raw kale salad with a mango, mustard & lime fat free dressing, it was delicious. The recipe is on my blog:
http://ohlalavegan.blogspot.co.uk/2013/04/raw-kale-salad-with-lime-mango-mustard.html
Try the pineapple cashew quinoa stirfry from Veganomicon! It's my favourite.
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