Welcome to this week's post on Happy lunches. I rejoined the work force this week and so now I get to pack my lunch too - HOORAY - so exciting.
Of course it required me going in search of a cute new lunch box - goes without saying really! Though I found that they are few and far between because it's not lunch box buying season.
I did however find the perfect thing - and currently they are on special at woolworths so I bought some for the girls too.
It's about the size of a sandwich but double and has a sealed section that then folds over - hmm I think that makes no sense ... But it's really good LOL and cost $3.70 YAY ( on special i think normally they are $5.99).
I put a salad in the big section and then bits in the other part.
The loaf is this apricot loaf recipe ( try it if you haven't - really good! ) I also added a tin of salmon for my salad and a little decor container with balsamic vinegar and cold pressed oil. Fruit doesn't fit in well so you either need another container with your fruit if you chop it up or just take some whole pieces and voila - yummy clean eating lunch in just a few minutes.
There is no excuses not to take a yummy salad. I promise that it's just as fast as making a sandwich if you are organised before hand.
Some Simple Salad Making Tips
Keep all your "salad " stuff in on spot in the fridge - in a basket or container so you can just quickly pull it out
Sunday Night Prep
- chop up some sweet potato into little cubes and roast it with some macadamia nut oil. Once it's cool keep it in a container in the fridge and you can add it to each salad through the week. ( Thank you to Ben from my gym for this tip - its my favourite! )
- prepare some quinoa - pop it in the fridge to use with sweet potato or swap them for variety
- roast some chicken tenderloins
- boil some eggs and leave in their shells
To Buy
- variety of lettuce/ spinach/rocket
- "rainbow salad" from woolies - which is beet carrot and zucchini grated - or grate your own and keep in a container in the fridge
- cherry or grape tomatoes (no chopping)
- any other fruit or vege you like - cucumber, mushrooms, strawberries, celery, snow peas, radish, capsicum
- tins - chick peas, salmon or tuna ( oil free flavourings free ones)
- walnuts (packed with nutrients and are an excellent source of omega-3 fats. They are also rich in antioxidants, particularly a compound called ellagic acid, which supports the immune system and has anti-cancerous properties) or pine nuts
Making your salad
Take out your container - add your lettuce to the bottom then add which ever ingredients you have pulled out. I try to keep the chopping to a minimum so I usually choose two or three things to be chopped and the rest stay whole - strawberries, mushrooms, snowpeas are fine whole. Radish add a peppery flavour and are yummy at the moment.
Add sweet potato or quinoa or chicken or a boiled egg or add your tin of salmon or tuna to your lunch bag.
Handful of nuts - I find mine are still crunchy by lunch but you make like to keep them in a different container.
Make your dressing - you can make something like this in advance and just add it to a little container to pour on when you are ready to eat or else just mix some cold pressed olive oil with some balsamic.
Before you close it up - check you have lots of different colours and you'll know you have
Just back on the lunch box - it would be perfect for leftovers too- stir fry etc - though you would have to pop it into a bowl to heat at work.
Mel is unwell this week so you will have to make do with just my tips for happy lunches :)
