Healthier Quick Lunch Tips

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Everyone I know is busy. I sure know that I am. I refuse to let busy keep me from having a delicious and nutritious lunch each day. No more days of fast food lunch. No more days of no lunch. No more days of a sad, wilted sandwich for lunch. I deserve better. But I need better to be quick and easy to make. I’m using these quick lunch tips to make sure that I have a tastier and healthier lunch every day, even on busy days.

I know all the excuses, legitimate and imagined, for not having the lunch I deserve. I’ve realized that with just a bit of organization and planning, I can have a lunch that’s good for me and that I look forward to every day, whether I’m at home or at the office.  No more excuses.

Quick Lunch Tips

Plan Your Meals for the Week – Take a few minutes to plan your lunch meals for the upcoming week. You can use my free printable Meal Planner. Be sure to include a healthy entree, salad or fruit side and a healthy drink. Add the items you need for your lunches to your grocery list. Create 3 or 4 weeks of lunch menu plans, along with the associated shopping lists, and rotate the menu plans. This will save you time planning each each week. When you plan ahead you can choose healthier lunch options rather than just grabbing whatever you can find at the last minute.

Shop Once a Week – When you plan lunches in advance you’re able to grocery shop once a week and that saves time. Include the ingredients you need for your weekly meal plan on your weekly grocery list.  These food storage tips will help you maintain the freshness of your lunches for the entire week. 

Choose Healthier and Easy to Prepare Entrees –  I’ve begun eating healthier over the past year. Healthier doesn’t have to be complicated. I’m thrilled that LEAN CUISINE® has healthier meals that are easy to prepare on any busy day. I’ve found that have meals that are non-GMO, gluten-free, protein packed and have organic ingredient options. Right now is a great time to stock up on Lean Cuisine meals at Target. Now until January 31st, Target has their lowest prices of the season on Lean Cuisine products, with entrees at only $1.99 versus the regular $3. The LEAN CUISINE® Marketplace Vermont White Cheddar Mac & Cheese is my favorite, with a creamy, fresh tasting sauce, organic pasta and no GMOs. My husband prefers the Lean Cuisine Marketplace Spicy Penne Arrabbiata, made with organic pasta and tomatoes and no GMOs. There are plenty of options so you can have a different choice each day of the week.

Have 5 Individual-Sized Lunch Containers for Each Course – Make the small investment in individually-sized containers to use in a lunchbox. Having a week’s worth of the right size of containers will save you time digging through cabinets looking for a container or washing the only container you have every night. If you will be microwaving the containers, be certain choose ones that are microwave-safe and are healthy for food storage. 

Make Healthier Recipes in Batch – Find recipes that you like, are filled with healthier ingredients and you can make in an amount large enough to last all week. I enjoy making this delicious Broccoli Bacon salad because it stays crispy and delicious all week long. I can make a batch for the entire week for two people in just about 5 minutes. 

Fill Lunchbox Containers on Sunday –  Fill all food containers on Sunday evening. Take 5 – 10 minutes to prepare all your lunch items for the week. This one-time preparation saves you time over preparing them every day of the week. 

Keep All Lunch Items in One Location –  Whether the location is in a cabinet, the fridge or the freezer (or even a spot in all three locations), have a designated spot. Having designated areas for lunch items will  make it easy to find your lunch items on a busy weekday morning and save time and stress.

Place Lunchbox and Items Out the Night Before – Set your lunchbox and any items that don’t require refrigeration on the counter at night before you go to bed.  Place a fork or spoon, napkin and any other shelf-stable items in your lunchbox. The next morning all you have to do is place refrigerated or frozen items in your lunchbox and you’re ready to go. 

Enjoy Your Meal – Whether you eat your lunches at work or at home, make your lunch enjoyable. Even though you’re busy, you deserve a pleasant lunch. Place your food on a proper plate.  Use real tableware, not plastic. Use a glass rather than drinking out of a plastic bottle or can. Use a cloth napkin. Don’t eat at your desk or in front of the computer (you’re worth 15-30 minutes of time to enjoy your lunch).  Listen to music. Do whatever will help you enjoy your delicious meal. You deserve a bit of peace to enjoy the lovely meal you planned and created. Look at how inviting and pretty my quick meal of Lean Cuisine Marketplace Vermont White Cheddar Mac & Cheese and Broccoli Bacon Salad is. 

I know we’re both at Target multiple time a week. I found my favorite Lean Cuisine Marketplace meals in the frozen entrees aisle. 

What’s your favorite quick and healthier lunch choice? Healthier can be delicious and convenient. Check out all the easy-to-prepare, full of fresh flavor and better-for-you meal options from Lean Cuisine for you lunch menu planning.

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