Healthy Everyday Lunch

[fasteddie911]

I was wondering if anyone had suggestions on a low cost, healthy, everyday lunch.  I'm not a picky eater and can eat the same thing pretty much everyday, and for the past year I've been doing the PB&J thing, using whole grain bread, natural peanut butter and fruit preserves.  I enjoy this combo as it's low cost, quick and easy to make, doesn't need refrigeration or heating and transports well.  However, I'm not sure how healthy this combo is and I'm looking for other ideas for changing it up to something potentially healthier while still maintaining the characteristics I mentioned previously.  Any ideas?

[Mr. McGibblets]

There are a lot of really great forums on reddit about this (/r/mealplansunday is an example).

A crock pot is a life saver. My SO and I throw something in there every Sunday and it lasts 3-4 meals for each of us, depending on what you cook.

We're meat eaters, so we normally cook chili or pork butt or something. I saw a recipe for gumbo that I'd like to try.

Aside from that, I've seen a lot of people on that subreddit make salads for the week in air tight mason jars. That was a pretty cool idea. Other people make breakfast burritos for the whole week on Sunday.

[galliver]

What do you consider "healthy"? Are you deficient in any nutrients? Are you gaining weight? There are a lot of perspectives on "healthy diet" out there. Similarly, what's "low cost" to you for a lunch? Probably nothing will be cheaper than PB&J.

You could sub a fruit, such as apple or banana, in for the "J". You could add a side of vegetable: carrots, celery, cucumbers, and bell peppers make good sticks. But you could bring whatever.

Most people could use more dark leafy greens in their diet; you could switch to a salad. It will probably be a bit more expensive. You could refrigerate it, but it should be ok for a few hours at office-temp without. Or put it with an ice pack if it sits in the car. If you do actually have heating-up ability, soup is good, too! Or leftovers!

[caliq]

I just made a giant stock pot's worth of spicy rice with chicken, onions, and peppers.  Divvied it up into lunch-sized containers and stuck them all in the freezer.  I find it's way easier to put in a substantial effort one time, than have to think about making myself a salad or sandwich or something every morning or evening.  Some days, I'm tired or sick or whatever, and I just won't do it -- and then I end up buying something. 

Of course, you have to have a microwave for this strategy to work.  A fridge is nice too, but I think that if you take something out of the freezer in the morning as you head to work, it'd be just about properly thawed by the time lunch rolls around, if you leave it out of the fridge. 

[PMG]

I go for months on end eating carrots and humus every day.  I add an apple, something salty, chips or crackers and a cookie if I'm really rolling in time. I pack an icepack with it and don't worry about refridgeration. 

I get a tub of Tribe hummus and split it into 5 portions.  I cut carrots ahead (I prefer sticks vs baby) and keep them in water, then just portion out what I need the night before.  Usually the equivilent of 3 or 4 whole carrots

Can do peanut butter and celery the same way.  I'm making my own humus now, but haven't perfected my recipe yet.  I still splurge when my favorite is on sale, or if splurging on humus means I'll pack lunches instead of eating snack food or eating out.   

I also do a lot of soups.  Vegetable, pumpkin, beef and barley.  I make a big kettle and eat it every day (sometimes every meal) until it's gone. 

Another favorite is chicken and rice and brocolli.  I put small chunks of chicken in the bottom of the rice cooker, then the rice and water, then spice. This week it was a mexican steak rub I've been trying to use up.  Then I put the brocolli in the steamer tray and let it cook.  Twenty minutes later I have lunches for the week ready to go.  There's a microwave at work, but I often eat it cold.   

[fasteddie911]

Thanks for all the great suggestions.  Access to a microwave or fridge isn't always guaranteed, and a lot of times I just enjoy the simplicity of my pb&j setup.  Though I'll consider adding new ingredients to the sandwich or even substituting items and see how that goes.

[forummm]

http://forum.mrmoneymustache.com/share-your-badassity/brought-breakfast-and-lunch-to-work-for-60-days-straight/msg377219/#msg377219