Une femme ties on the feedbag
And snacks.
I'm sure some of you are thinking, "Really?? She's just now figuring this out?!?"
It's been decades since I've brown-bagged on a regular basis. I've been really resistant, mostly because the planning and prep required an investment of time, but also because in the past I'd frequently find myself tucking into my lonely little sandwich at 10:30 when morning hunger hit, and then have nothing to eat come lunchtime. And I thought I needed the freedom and spontaneity to choose my déjeuner based on my mood on any given day.
I know, we're all supposed to be emulating those French Women who reportedly Never Snack. But I don't function well physically or mentally if I go more than 4.5-5 hours without food (trust me, you don't want to be around when my blood sugar drops!) and with my commute/work schedule the stretch between mealtimes can be upwards of 6-7 hours. So now most work days I generally pack a lunch and two snacks.
I know you'll ask ;-) so here's what's on the menu above:
AM Snack: cottage cheese mixed with cinammon & diced apple
Lunch: wrap sandwich, salad, fruit
PM Snack: raw veggies, a small chunk of cheese
One thing I've learned in recent years is that I need a little protein with every meal or snack. It helps keep the aforementioned blood sugar levels well...level. Usually I prepare and pack it all up the night before, and have my assembly line down to a science so that it doesn't take more than 20 minutes (including making a sandwich for le monsieur).
Side benefits:
- Even if I buy the fancy sliced lunch meat at the deli counter it's still less expensive (and certainly healthier) than buying lunch from a deli or fast-food joint or the taco truck.
- It ultimately saves more time than it requires to put together (no more having to dash somewhere, wait in line).
- No worries now if I am suddenly scheduled on a conference call that starts at 11:30 and goes on for two hours.
- It frees up mental energy from daily decision making about what to eat, which is actually a huge relief!
And for salads, these are brilliant!
There's a small container for your dressing that snaps right into the lid. I don't know about you, but I love being able to have a fresh salad for lunch!
Do you pack a lunch regularly? What are some of your favorite foods to brown bag? What do you use to transport your movable feast?
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