Packing Lunch for Work: Time Saving Tips and Meal Ideas

When I was working full time in an office, packing my lunch was a constant struggle. I always WANTED to bring a healthy and wholesome lunch to eat, but if I didn’t plan ahead it would never actually happen.

There were so many weeks when I’d end up eating out almost every day, which was such a waste of money. Not only the money I was spending to buy lunch every day, but also the money I’d spent at the grocery the weekend before on food that I INTENDED on eating all week, but never actually used because I couldn’t get my shit together.

Below I’ve rounded up some really easy lunches that you could throw together the night before (or prep the Sunday before)! For me, if I didn’t prep my lunch the night before (or at least have a plan of what I was going to bring the next day), I wouldn’t end up bringing anything.

Here are some tips to make packing easier:

• PLAN AHEAD. This is the make-or-break in my mind. If you don’t have a plan and don’t prep a few things to make it easier on yourself, you won’t do it.
• Invest in a nice lunch box/bag and food storage containers that you love! This is kind of like the way new workout clothes motivate you to work out 🙂 I’ve linked a few really nice and functional ones below. And don’t forget, big mason jars work great for salads:

• Switch things up from week to week. Don’t let yourself get into a rut making the same things every week! Look beyond the same sandwich or salad! Make Pinterest your best friend and come up with clever ideas based on inspiration you find there.
• Keep it SIMPLE so it never feels like a time consuming, overwhelming chore. No shame in buying a rotisserie chicken and instant rice.
• Bring a few snacks as well! I know for me, I always had to have a mid-morning and mid-afternoon snack to keep me going. Otherwise, I would end up eating my lunch early, and then be starving again at 2 or 3pm…and sometimes would still end up eating out.
• If you have a roomy refrigerator at your office, pack a few days worth of food and just leave it there! That way you don’t have to worry about packing every day. Or, you could consider getting your own mini-fridge so that you can just stock it once or twice a week!
• If you make a big dinner, just pack some of your leftovers in your lunch container right then and there! It will make it so much easier to just grab as you’re running out the door the next morning.
• Buy a freaking Instant Pot. It’s truly meal prepping magic. You can prep chicken, rice, hard-boiled eggs, pretty much anything you want for the week… and it does it crazy fast.
• Chop/prep your fruits and veggies right when you get home from the grocery store. I always do this because I’ve found that if I don’t, most of them go to waste. I peel and chop all my veggies and keep them in a big bag in the fridge, and do the same thing with fruit. It also helps me reach for a healthier snack when I open the fridge because the nicely chopped fruits and veggies are right there and ready to be snacked on!
• Keep small containers of your favorite condiments/salad dressings at work. These take up a lot of room in your lunch bag!
• Leave a permanent note to yourself to remember your lunch in the mornings. Put it somewhere you know you’ll see it as you’re walking out!

Now for the LUNCH IDEAS:

1. Big salads are always a great option, and you can get creative with your toppings! Here are a few ways you can prep things ahead of time:

• Make a big batch of chicken, tofu, chickpeas or quinoa ahead of time and keep them in a container in the fridge. Same with chopped veggies you’ll use for toppings!
• Place your lettuce and toppings into several mason jars or lunch containers at one time so that all you have to do is add your protein and grab some dressing on the way out.
• Here are a few ideas of different recipes to try from Ambitious Kitchen:

• Other salad combos I love:
  • Spinach, avocado, strawberries, feta, walnuts and balsamic with choice of protein
  • Kale, 1/2 avocado, olive oil, dijon mustard, coconut aminos, lemon juice. Mix all together with hands and then top with hemp seeds or choice of protein
  • Trader Joe’s Balela salad with added avocado over a bed of spinach
  • Medditerrean/Greek salad: some combo of romaine, tomatoes, cucumbers, feta, black olives, greek dressing

2. Can’t go wrong with a wrap/sandwich

• This is one of those things that is great to just bring to work with you for the whole week. You can bring a package of wraps (or your favorite bread), your favorite cheese, a package of turkey or hummus, plus whatever other toppings like in them and just whip them up right then and there!
• Personal favorite wrap/sandwich combos:
  • Whole grain wrap or toast with hummus, avocado, spinach, red bell pepper, cucumbers, feta cheese and italian or greek dressing
  • Turkey, swiss, lettuce, tomato, mustard
  • Cucumber and avocado sandwich:
    • Herbed goat cheese (room temp so it’s spreadable)
      Romaine lettuce
      Cucumber
      Avocado
      Squeeze of fresh lemon juice
      Alfalfa sprouts (optional)
      Salt and black pepper to taste
  • Healthier chicken salad (this is a great one to prep ahead of time)!:
    • Rotisserie chicken
      1/2 tbs Primal Kitchen mayo
      Chopped celery
      Chopped walnuts
      Dried cherries or cranberries
      Fresh ground black pepper
      Optional: apple or purple grapes

3. Get creative with different combinations of whole grain or cauliflower rice bowls!

• Rice bowls are so easy to prep ahead of time. You can make a big batch of rice, a big batch of chicken or tofu, and then just switch up your combos of veggies/other toppings throughout the week!
• My favorite thing to do with veggies to cut down on time is to do a big roast about twice a week. I usually just preheat the oven to 350, lay the raw veggies on a cookie sheet, spray with olive oil and sprinkle with salt/pepper, and roast until they start to brown on the edges. Switch it up and do a different combo of veggies mid-way through the week.
• Use different sauces to toss everything in the change up the flavor! Maybe one week you do more of an Asian inspired bowl with a peanut sauce (you can buy this pre-made to make it super quick and easy), and the next week you do more of a Mexican bowl with guac, salsa and black beans. Get creative, but keep it simple!

4. Lastly, here are a few healthy snack ideas:

• Fresh fruit or chopped veggies
• Banana or honey crisp apple with a nut-butter (I like to buy the little pouches because they’re super convenient for on-the-go. RX bar and Justin’s both have amazing ones).
• Veggies or pita chips with hummus. You can buy the small on-the-go packs of Hummus so that they’re pre-portioned for you and all you have to do is grab one!
• Cheese stick with turkey slices
• Trail mix or raw nuts
• Hard boiled eggs
• Your favorite bar– mine is RX Bar

I hope this post helps if you’re in a packed lunch rut! It can be so easy to make things like this last on the priority list when you’re a busy working woman, but it’s just as important to take care of yourself then it is to take care of anyone else. Making small changes to make yourself more of a priority can completely change the outcome of your day.

Don’t forget, you can never pour from an empty cup. Leave any questions below!