What's In Your Lunchbox?

Sure the classic peanut butter & jelly sandwich is a quick & easy staple but is it nutritious?  Lunchables are another easy lunch item but what nutritional value do they have?  This may leave you wondering – how can I pack lunches that are quick, tasty AND nutritious?

My suggestion to you is to think about what you want to eat and plan ahead!  Packing is a lot easier when you plan it out.  Whether you’re going back to school or work, we have some great quick meals that can be lifesavers.  And yes I recommend buying a lunchbox with a freezer pack.  They make them pretty stylish these days so no embarrassing moments.  Here are some of my favorites:

• Chickpea Salad Sandwich


• Tuna Swiss Melt


• Turkey Panini with Sundried Tomato Basil


• Chicken Caesar Wrap


• Turkey Club Sandwich


• Chicken Salad Sandwich


• Steak Fajita Wrap


• Chipotle Chicken Wrap


• BBQ Pork Sandwich


• Roast Beef Philly Melt

While you’re out buying your lunchbox, don’t forget to pick up some Rubbermaid containers for after school or mid-day work snacks.  Here are some to try:

•  Fresh fruit – grapes, banana, pre-peeled oranges or even an apple with 1 tbsp of peanut butter


• Low-fat string cheese


• Light hummus with whole wheat pita baked chips


• Pita or baked tortilla chips with fresh salsa


• 1 ounce of walnuts, pistachios or almonds  (be careful of allergies when sending with your little ones)

The key to planning your meals for the day is to cross utilize!  Think about how you can turn last night’s entrée into a simple sandwich.  Whatever you do – make sure you plan first, then prep and assemble.

What are some of your favorite lunch ideas?

Trim your waistline by brown-bagging it!

Taking a healthy lunch to work is a simple way to trim your waistline and your budget. Here are 3 easy steps to survive your work week. 

1. Keep it simple:

Packing a lunch that includes lean or low-fat protein along with carbohydrates (fruit, vegetables or whole wheat grains) will fuel your body for the rest of the afternoon. If you love sandwiches choose whole wheat bread and a lean protein like tuna or chicken, also load up that sandwich with vegetables; sprouts, bell peppers, and lettuce. Looking to switch up your sandwich routine? Try the Chipotle Chicken Wrap at H3daily.com and pair it with a small fruit salad.  

2. Prepare on Sunday:

Always think ahead. Fill small plastic containers with fresh fruit or vegetables and make it a daily staple for your afternoon lunch. Add raw vegetables with a yummy dip like the H3 hummus to any lunch to get a serving of vegetables in.  Try the H3 asparagus salad to add fun and flavor to your day. Also, cook all of your proteins for the week and pack them in small containers to easily take away in the morning.

3. Heat up Leftovers:

By the time Friday rolls around you are probably almost out of all your wisely packed lunches. No problem! I am sure you have many healthy and delicious dinner leftovers in your refrigerator. Use them, pack them in an air tight container and reheat for lunch time. Take this a little further and cook your dinners in bulk. Then portion the dinners into smaller lunches for the entire week.  One of my favorite dinners to pack for lunch is the Chicken Souvlaki.

Don't forget:

Lunches with meat or dairy should be kept cold. Place your lunch in the refrigerator when you arrive to work. If you don't have a refrigerator available, invest in thermo lunch boxes and ice packs.

Warning: Your coworkers may be jealous that you have such healthy and satisfying lunches.