What's for lunch?

[falafel]

I think it is important for falafel to know that I still kind of hate him.

Can you imagine what would happen if that long-standing dynamic were up-ended? I shudder at the thought.

[USUC]

Hey friends. I'm trying to be better and stop eating out every freaking day. It's obviously not healthy, but with inflation, it's getting pricy. I work in home health, so I'm constantly driving between patient's homes and don't have a base where I can stop to eat lunch.

Question: Any of you have any easy meal prep recipes y'all do? Good resources? I have a couple families I'm cool with asking to use their microwave to reheat. I just have been in such a rut of eating out daily that I'm not even sure where to start!

Thanks!

Over the last couple of years of me trying to eat more healthy and contain calories, the problem you raise here was by far the biggest issue. But I've come to a place where I just skip breakfast, and have a bland low calorie lunch that is high in protein to power me through the afternoon. This is a protein shake and some sort of whole grain (most of which is a ziplock bag with multi grain cheerios sacrament kid snack style). I have my small cooler I put the shake in. I need comfort food in the evening so that is where my calories go. My stress levels from work and caring for my mom are most in need of taming in the evening, so that's where I make food count.

[Donuthole]

Weird way to start a post.

C'mon, everybody kind of hates falafel.

Over the last couple of years of me trying to eat more healthy and contain calories, the problem you raise here was by far the biggest issue. But I've come to a place where I just skip breakfast, and have a bland low calorie lunch that is high in protein to power me through the afternoon. This is a protein shake and some sort of whole grain (most of which is a ziplock bag with multi grain cheerios sacrament kid snack style). I have my small cooler I put the shake in. I need comfort food in the evening so that is where my calories go. My stress levels from work and caring for my mom are most in need of taming in the evening, so that's where I make food count.

This is basically my routine as well, but I actually prefer to power past lunch, too, if I can stay busy enough. This is complicated only by the fact that some of my partners LOOOOVE to go to lunch every day, and they always want company. (Seriously, one of them gets in at 10am and starts sending out "I'm thinking X for lunch, who's in?" emails at 10: 15. He also likes to get to whichever lunch spot by no later than 11:45 to "beat the rush" (but I really think it's just because he's getting old and he at breakfast at 5:45 am and he's hungry by 11am and he'll probably eat dinner at 4:30 because, well, old. I digress.))

I usually turn them down, but every so often I have to acquiesce. So I try to keep lunch to something high in protein and/or less than 600 cals (sub 500 is preferable).

[Jeff Lebowski]

C'mon, everybody kind of hates falafel.

Not me! I love everybody.

[Northwestcoug]

C'mon, everybody kind of hates falafel.



This is basically my routine as well, but I actually prefer to power past lunch, too, if I can stay busy enough. This is complicated only by the fact that some of my partners LOOOOVE to go to lunch every day, and they always want company. (Seriously, one of them gets in at 10am and starts sending out "I'm thinking X for lunch, who's in?" emails at 10: 15. He also likes to get to whichever lunch spot by no later than 11:45 to "beat the rush" (but I really think it's just because he's getting old and he at breakfast at 5:45 am and he's hungry by 11am and he'll probably eat dinner at 4:30 because, well, old. I digress.))

I usually turn them down, but every so often I have to acquiesce. So I try to keep lunch to something high in protein and/or less than 600 cals (sub 500 is preferable).

You would not like working with me. I got in a bad habit during residency where my colleague and I would start to think about lunch around 10, then we got so hungry that we ate at 11. It persists to this day. If it's 12 and I haven't eaten yet, I get very hangry.

Similar 'old habits die hard' story with breakfast. I have to eat something before I leave the house, no matter how early I'm leaving for work. So if it's a 7am meeting, I'm eating at 615. And then of course I'm getting hungry at 10

I still need 3 squares a day, more mentally than anything. The only thing that is keeping my beltline relatively stable is that I've cut down on the amount of food I eat each setting.

[USUC]

C'mon, everybody kind of hates falafel.



This is basically my routine as well, but I actually prefer to power past lunch, too, if I can stay busy enough. This is complicated only by the fact that some of my partners LOOOOVE to go to lunch every day, and they always want company. (Seriously, one of them gets in at 10am and starts sending out "I'm thinking X for lunch, who's in?" emails at 10: 15. He also likes to get to whichever lunch spot by no later than 11:45 to "beat the rush" (but I really think it's just because he's getting old and he at breakfast at 5:45 am and he's hungry by 11am and he'll probably eat dinner at 4:30 because, well, old. I digress.))

I usually turn them down, but every so often I have to acquiesce. So I try to keep lunch to something high in protein and/or less than 600 cals (sub 500 is preferable).

I try to do a 24 hour fast every Tuesday and can tolerate it well enough. But my patience is limited on my commute home.

For lunch I usually stick to between 300 to 400 calories. My shake is just greens and protein powder (about 200 cals) and then whatever whole grain I decide. I am the most disciplined at lunch than I am in any other aspect in my life unfortunately.

[BigPiney]

I try to do a 24 hour fast every Tuesday and can tolerate it well enough. But my patience is limited on my commute home.

For lunch I usually stick to between 300 to 400 calories. My shake is just greens and protein powder (about 200 cals) and then whatever whole grain I decide. I am the most disciplined at lunch than I am in any other aspect in my life unfortunately.

I am glad that works for you, but that sounds like living hell.

[Clark Addison]

I'm on the Donuthole/USUC side. I don't eat breakfast. If I am in the office, I am usually busy enough that I can easily get to the end of the day without eating, so I don't. I am lucky that, unlike DH, no one really wants to eat with me so I am rarely tempted. Whew! When I am in a restaurant I have a hard time limiting calories to 500-600, so frequent eating out for lunch is not good for my waistline.

At home is a different story. I have a very hard time going all day without eating when I am within 40 feet of the fridge, so I stick with a simple, filling, no frills lunch. Unsweetened oatmeal and a banana is a frequent choice.

For me, weeknight dinner is almost always 70%+ of my daily calories, and often 90%+

[USUC]

I am glad that works for you, but that sounds like living hell.

My evening meals are great though. My percent of calorie intake for dinner mirrors Clark.

[MartyFunkhouser]

Not me! I love everybody.

Oh please, I know you kind of hate me.

[falafel]

I'm on the Donuthole/USUC side. I don't eat breakfast. If I am in the office, I am usually busy enough that I can easily get to the end of the day without eating, so I don't. I am lucky that, unlike DH, no one really wants to eat with me so I am rarely tempted. Whew! When I am in a restaurant I have a hard time limiting calories to 500-600, so frequent eating out for lunch is not good for my waistline.

At home is a different story. I have a very hard time going all day without eating when I am within 40 feet of the fridge, so I stick with a simple, filling, no frills lunch. Unsweetened oatmeal and a banana is a frequent choice.

For me, weeknight dinner is almost always 70%+ of my daily calories, and often 90%+

You are seriously eating 0 meals before dinner 5 days a week?

[Clark Addison]

You are seriously eating 0 meals before dinner 5 days a week?

When in the office, yes. Granted, the only time that I am in the office now is when I am traveling (Which is maybe 8 days a month these days), so I tend to eat bigger than normal dinners.

I also drink a decent amount of flavored fizzy water.

[Jeff Lebowski]

Oh please, I know you kind of hate me.

not even a little bit

[Pelado]

When in the office, yes. Granted, the only time that I am in the office now is when I am traveling (Which is maybe 8 days a month these days), so I tend to eat bigger than normal dinners.

I also drink a decent amount of flavored fizzy water.

Sparkling Ice? That's pretty much the only one I've been able to consume (plus its Kirtland equivalent).

[Clark Addison]

Sparkling Ice? That's pretty much the only one I've been able to consume (plus its Kirtland equivalent).

I have those at home off and on. At the office we have a fizzy water machine.