Back in September, I wrote a quick little post that showed off a few of the lunches I’d been packing for myself lately. That little post has quickly become one of the most popular posts on my blog. Apparently people really like healthy lunch ideas! I had plans to share my lunches regularly, and I’m finally back with another installment!
You are probably thinking, “Um, but you work from home, why in the world do you pack lunches?” Well, when I don’t pack my lunch for work days, I end up eating a lunch of tortilla chips while I answer client emails, or forgetting to eat at all. Lunch packing works for me!
The Tools
Before we get started, let me link you to my lunch containers and lunch-packing supplies. I like to pack bento-style lunches using stainless steel containers from LunchBots. I use these everyday and love them. Here are the standards I use each week:
- LunchBots Cinco—This is my main, five-compartment lunch box. It isn’t completely water-tight, so I wouldn’t recommend it for tossing soup in a backpack, but it works beautifully for drier foods like what you see here. I love it!
- LunchBots Dips—These little stainless steel dip containers are water-tight, and are perfect for storing dips, dressings, and sauces.
- LunchBots Uno, Duo, and Trio—These containers are smaller than the Cinco (about half the size), and work perfectly to store lunches where you want a little more quantity than the smaller Cinco spaces provide.
- Freshware Silicone Baking Cups—I use these to divide the sections in my Cinco. I use both the mini rectangles and the medium squares.
The Lunches
- Cheese and salsa quesadilla on whole wheat tortilla (eaten cold) with sour cream and cilantro
- Bell pepper strips
- Black olives
- Smokehouse almonds
- Medjool dates (for dessert—they’re like candy!)
- Half avocado, dipped in lemon juice, seasoned, and wrapped in plastic wrap (to keep from browning)
- Cherry tomato
- Clementine
- Lemon Orzo with Shrimp and Tomatoes
- Snap peas with Coconut Milk Ranch Dressing
- Roasted sweet potatoes
- Mary’s Gone Crackers
- Applesauce with cinnamon
- Greek Quinoa Salad
- Snap peas and Mary’s Gone Crackers Pretzels with Coconut Milk Ranch Dressing
- Strawberries
- Hard-boiled egg
- Date ball
- Clementine
- Piece of chocolate
- Pulled pork lettuce wraps (this only works if your pulled pork isn’t saucey—sauce will run between the compartments)
- Cherry tomatoes
- Freeze-dried peas
- Clementines
- Medjool dates
- Turkey meatballs with Sriracha mayo
- Roasted sweet potatoes
- Grapes
- Steamed broccoli
- Clementine
- Cherry tomatoes
- Peanut butter, honey, and banana sandwich
- Cheddar Bunnies
- Salad with romaine, sprouted lentils, bell peppers, and Coconut Milk Ranch Dressing
- Pistachios
- Carrot sticks
- Applesauce with cinnamon
Hi Cassie, these are some great, simple ideas, thanks! I’m curious about the applesauce in the Lunch bot containers. as I’m thinking about purchasing. Does open applesauce like you’ve packed here hold up to say, a normal car commute handling? Or is this ok because it did not travel? I see that you’ve mentioned not water proof, but if I’m not tumbling it about in my backpack at school, I’m curious if pastas could have dressing already, or something similar.
If you keep it upright, you should be good! 🙂
Your lunches are lovely and very healthy looking. May I encourage you to add more protein along with your existing ideas? Most of your lunches do not have near enough protein in them for a full grown female – you should have at least 4-5 ounces of protein at every meal.
Protein comes in all shapes and sizes! Including in nuts, veggies, cheese, dairy, and meat. If you add up the protein counts of these lunches, I think you’d be surprised by how much each contains—don’t worry about me, I get plenty of protein. 🙂
HI, How many times do you have to eat a day?
Im trying to eat more healthy especially at work since we always buy food,
Is there a place that lists the calories and I’m completely missing it? Thanks!!
No, I don’t count calories. You aren’t missing them!
I used to think that I didn’t have time to prepare lunch before leaving for work, but now that I’m recently unemployed, I am realizing that it’s not much different. Like yourself, if I don’t plan, hours can go by without eating, and then I don’t eat ideal meals. I’m going to try your approach to “packing lunch” in the morning.
I absolutely love this post, Cassie! (And you, if I”m being honest.) I ordered a few of the lunchbots on zulily (the cinco and other 32 ounce containers are sold out, though. Boo!) I can’t wait to replicate some of these lunches.
I have an almost one year old and almost three year old, and this could be a really fun way to incorporate different fruits and veggies in their day, too.
Do you pack only things that can be eaten cold? I’m looking at the roasted sweet potatoes and some of the meat items – just wondering if they’re okay cold or if I need to replace them with other items since I don’t have a microwave 🙂
I don’t microwave any of it. I just eat it all cold (or room temperature, depending on when I nabbed it from the fridge). It depends on your personal preference—cold food doesn’t bug me. 🙂
Hey! These are great. Do you have an average calorie amount for these lunches? Thanks!
Sorry, I don’t! I don’t count calories. 🙂
FYI – Lunchbots are on Zulily today!
THANK YOU!
Love this post! Thanks voor the inspiration!
Your lunches look so pretty and well put together that I think it would be hard to eat them! Lol
I’ve been loving the leftovers lately! I pack up a small amount of dinner leftovers when I’m plating our meals in the evening. It couldn’t be easier! Plus, it helps keep portions in check so my husband and I eat 1 serving of a 4 serving recipe vs. 2 each!
I love this! I have this fascination about what people eat, when it’s healthy, and all of your food in that cute box with the little cups…it’s cute! I’ve been unemployed for a few months since we moved across state and I find if I don’t plan out lunch as well then I make horrible choices, or don’t eat at all sometimes. Here’s hoping a few job interview pan out this week and I can incorpirate your tips for my lunches. And if not, this is inspiration to keep with well planned meals at home in the mean time.
I love this!!! As a teacher I’m always looking for new ideas to take to school, and since kids often see me eating my lunch I like to make sure it’s healthy not just for me, but to show them that eating healthy is totally possible. These are great inspiration for my lunch this week!
Wow! Those lunches look amazing and I love all your little containers. You’ve given me some great ideas for my lunches this week 🙂
Jenny x