Winter - Brown Bag Lunches

[surgtech1956]

I am stuck in a rut for brown bagging it to work. It seems like its either salad or sandwich. We don't seem to have leftovers, its usually just something quick and easy for supper. Whats in your brown bag for lunches?

[pardes]

My rut breakout involves an avocado. That's where it started. I love fresh avocado.

So I take a whole avocado, a whole tomato, a lime and 1 package of Uncle Ben's prepared rice (already cooked in the bag) to work.

While you are 90 second heating the rice in the microwave, chop the avoacao and tomato in a bowl, drizzle it with squeezed lime juice and add salt. Drizzle the remaining lime juice over the rice, add a dab of butter and enjoy. It's incredibly fresh tasting and filling.

[Pedal Wench]

Winters, I get sick of cold salad too. I take a bag of spinach, pop it in a bowl and into the microwave for 2 minutes, then pour a can of soup over it. I'll add more protein - maybe tuna if I'm doing a low-fat chowder. I love all the added veggies -- shredded cabbage works too.

[buddha_bellies]

My rut breakout involves an avocado. That's where it started. I love fresh avocado.

So I take a whole avocado, a whole tomato, a lime and 1 package of Uncle Ben's prepared rice (already cooked in the bag) to work.

While you are 90 second heating the rice in the microwave, chop the avoacao and tomato in a bowl, drizzle it with squeezed lime juice and add salt. Drizzle the remaining lime juice over the rice, add a dab of butter and enjoy. It's incredibly fresh tasting and filling.

That sounds super yummy! I'm gonna have to try that too, though I'll make brown rice the night before in my rice cooker.

I usually cook enough for left over every night, or at least rice. If I have just rice, I would cut up some broccoli or throw in some peas and corn with it. Add oyster sauce and dice up some marinated tofu/ or can of tuna. Heat it up at work and there's my lunch.

A big of of stew or chili is good for at least a day or two too.

[GraysonKelly]

Since I work night shift (12 hours) I usually don't eat lunch. When I do think I'm going to get hungry, I usually take something like tuna salad and crackers or sometimes beans and rice (I've been on a huge bean kick for the last couple of months because my belly has not been happy with most other protein).
I have seen some intersting bag lunches though.
There's a girl I work with who brings raw, sliced green, red, and yellow peppers. Nothiing on them, just plain. It's a hug bag.
Some of the others bring fruit plates, those campbells microwave soup things, antipasto (sp?) salads, HUGE garden salads (big tupperware bowls of it!) During the summer one lady kept bringing in veggies from her garden including onions (smelly!) and made a salad while she sat at her desk. One time this other lady brought in a tomato, some bread an electric griddle and raw bacon! She made herself BLT's! It was crazy! Of course we had a BLT night not long after that little stunt!
haha
Gray
By the way, I like that avocado idea. I might have to try that.

[Karma007]

soup, vegy chili, (either scratch or canned) pasta with whatever fridge bits I've got.

[bmccasland]

Chili and corn bread + an apple

I prepare frozen lunches - or try to - instead of buying "lunch in a box" from the freezer section of my grocery store.

[buddha_bellies]

My rut breakout involves an avocado. That's where it started. I love fresh avocado.

I made the avocado/ tomato and brown rice for lunch yesterday. All my co-workers were ooohing and ahhhing over what I was eating. I think Pardes has started a trend in my workplace now

[PamNY]

Rocknrollgirl -- I made the bean and potato soup and it is fabulous. I'm always looking for vegetarian food that freezes well, so thanks. I used vegetable broth and it was fine. That really is a great recipe, and I look forward to trying the other one, too.

Pam

[surgtech1956]

rocknrollgirl - I made the bean and potato soup too, excellent, I'm glad you mentioned the yukon gold potatoes - I don't think I've ever bought them. Thanks for sharing - can't wait to try the other recipe.

[Blueberry]

rocknrollgirl-

Not sure how I missed those recipes - but I'll be making them - soon! They sound fabulous!! And I adore yukon gold taters - I actually need very little on them cooked - they have almost a buttery flavor on their own (for those who haven't tried them)

CA

[Pedal Wench]

I might have to try the Ribollita one tomorrow too. I'm assuming that you use canned white beans?

[Pedal Wench]

Made the Ribollata tonight -- will have it for lunch tomorrow. I kinda personalized it with what I had - I used two bags of shredded kale, four cans of great northern beans, and I didn't have tomatoes, but I did have half a jar of spaghetti sauce. Since I also didn't have garlic, I thought it would work.

Thanks for the new recipe!

[tc1]

Generally I despise brown bagging it, too many dreary sandwiches on soggy bread when I was poor. But if I have cooked something tasty for dinner I try to make enough for the next day. Any moist stew-type dish reheats well. Your favorite recipe for bean soup reheats really well. My favorite recipe involves a lot of garlic and no onions. Bring a bit of sour cream with you and a slice of your favorite bread, and you will have a yummy lunch, and won't stank out your coworkers with the nasties. The next time someone eats a raw onion in the breakroom I'm gonna deck him!

For snacks, the little satsumas when they are in season are the best. If you live in Seattle you can get your hands on Johansen Ranch satsumas at PCC, they are better*than*sex*(well almost)

[azfiddle]

I pack a lunch 90% of the time. It's not so cold where I live, so salads are sometimes still appealing even in winter, but I often try to save some leftovers from dinner- pasta with vegies & chicken or shrimp, or something over rice. But if there aren't leftovers...

I hardly ever eat sandwiches! The closest thing to a sandwich I might pack would be something like lahvosh bread with hummous, lettuce, tomatoes, cucumber and maybe some turkey rolled up in it. Lately I've been taking a container of cottage cheese and fruit, but that's not very hearty for you denizens of colder climates. I have been known to rely on a can of Progresso soup or a frozen Lean Cuisine or Weightwatchers meal when I'm really rushed ....

Then I pack some snack items- for example: fresh fruit, crunchy vegies (carrot, celery, red pepper), something like a trader joes cereal bar or fiber bar, 100 calorie bag of popcorn, a bag of pretzels, a handful of almonds and/or dried fruit....

I'm on weightwatchers, so I try to keep my breakfast, snacks, and lunch to less than 12 points - I think that comes out to about 600 calories or so.