Lunch plans?

Thanks to everyone who has posted comments and sent e-mails, and for not giving up on me?

Getting suggestions from some of you gave me an idea: I need some lunch ideas!

I'm going to be eating most of my lunches at home, alone now. Last time I did this, I ate frozen dinners, like Healthy Choice, Weight Watchers, Lean Cuisine, etc. But I got really tired of those really fast, and can't get excited about eating them again for lunch. So I wondered if any of you had any lunch-at-home suggestions?

Comments

[Karen]

Here's a link to the Orange Veggie Stew I cook up:
http://weightwatchen.com/2007/10/beef-stew-with-orange-fall-veggies-and.html

I don't add the carrots, the first 2 times I made this, the carrots really didn't get cooked all the way, so I add extra butternut squash.
I've used barley instead of the orzo, as well.
Enjoy!

[Brenda]

I would highly recommend that you check out SparkPeople at www.sparkpeople.com. It is a terrific community with loads of support, suggestions, and recipes.

It is truly about making lifestyle changes. We didn't get where we were by accident.

I was fortunate to find the Doctor's Wellness Center. I am 10 years older than you, was medically obese, and had high blood pressure. Since August 15th, I have lost 85 pounds with 6 of those being the two weeks of Christmas to New Year's in Texas, eating in restaurants. I am fitter that I have been in years! I have more energy than I have had in years. My blood pressure, cholesterol, and glucose are all normal now. I have made positive changes in my lifestyle that I can live with for the remainder of my life.

Getting healthy can be accomplished. But remember, "we can't become what we need by remaining what we are."

[Tonya]

I vary my lunches. Usually in one week I alternate between salads with fat free dressing, tuna sandwiches on wheat with low fat mayo, baked chicken, turkey burgers, and Subway 6 inch subs. The key for me is variety. I eat a different meal every day. If you eat the same boring meals, you will get tired of following WW. Hope this helps!

[Pam]

Hi Leslie! I'm pretty sure you're on the Flex plan? If so, I don't have any suggestions....only because I chose the other plan, the Core. You may want to think about reading up on this plan. If you're going to be home and can cook, you'd love this plan. It full of whole foods that are high in Fiber and most of the foods are what we've all grown up to think as comfort foods. But, before changing, make sure you know all the facts about the plan. My friends that made the switch love it. They've lost 3-4 lbs. the first week they tried it. And, if you read up on it and it sounds too good to be true, take it from me, its not. I've been on it now for 3 years and still love it. Lots of foods to choose from. Lots of breakfast foods to eat.

One last thing, if you're at home most of the day now, make sure you don't fall into the same pattern that I do. When I'm at home The refrigerator magnets pull me and my dental work in...lol. The first thing I do when I'm bored is to eat. So, I'd like to encourage you to get out of the house and stay busy. Even if you have to go to the park and walk for 10 minutes, or run up to the store to pick something up....stay busy.
Its been my only salvation to not falling into bad habits. And trust me, they really don't go away, you just have to avoid them like the flu! Keep up the good work. I'm so very excited for you. And, I'm very proud of you making the conscious effort to pick back up! Keep making those good choices, get that activity in and don't feel bad to ask for help if you need it. We all do one time or another. We're all human. :)
Chat with you soon.

[CE]

Leslie,
Eating well just requires a little prior planning. If i were you, i'd sit down and make a list of all the whole foods you like to eat (meats, veggies, dairy & eggs, etc). On Sunday, go to the market and get what you need to get through the week ahead.
To get the biggest nutritional (and WW) bang for your buck, you'll want to avoid sodium, fat, sugar & flour if possible, which pretty much eliminates any premade foods (canned, frozen).
Personally, I can't deal with a lunch that requires more than 3-5 mins to make--no way I'm going to mess with recipes most of the time. My advice is keep it simple as possible. My faves for lunch are: Minute brown rice (takes 1 min for the ready-made kind), 4-6 oz of some kind of lean, non-processed meat, and veggies. Glory makes a "sensibly seasoned" line that has lots less sodium than normal canned veggies. Birds' eye has the new "steamer" veggies, just throw in the microwave, & you are done.
A lunch like this is going to leave you a lot of room to eat a lot of stuff to fill you up (mostly veggies) but not a lot of calories. A carb in the middle of the day will help you stay full too--and give you energy for the rest of the day.
If you eat like this for a few days...you may feel justified in rewarding yourself w/a cheat meal, but get right back on track as soon as it's over. Recent studies show the brain can deal with issues that test our willpower to a point--then our resolve will begin to break down.
Good luck--and remember, "Change, to change".