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clean eating, cooking, Food, fruit, Health, healthy food, Home, instagram, Lunch box, Pregnancy, salad
Hey Everyone,
A few days ago, a follower on my Instagram account asked how I organize my food for work… which inspired me to do this post. I’m currently in my 22nd week of pregnancy, and time is flying by! I have been fortunate so far, and I think a lot of that has to do with diet. Don’t get me wrong, I have a HUGE sweet tooth which I indulge from time to time, but for the most part I try to stick with healthy food.
Pregnancy has brought on a whole new meaning to the word “snacking.” I feel like I constantly need to be putting food in my system. However, not wanting to become a whale this summer, and with a girlfriend’s wedding just 10 weeks after my delivery date approaching, I’m motivated to stay on track and give this little one some really awesome food:)
There are a few things to remember when packing for the office:
- Timeframe: How long will you be there? How many meals/snacks do you need?
- Variety: Try to remember your food groups ladies! protein, veggies, fruit, carbs, etc. and make sure you have some of each of the groups
- Packaging: How will you pack the items so they stay fresh? (i.e. separating sauces and dressings so things don’t get soggy)
Here’s how I organize my time frame: if I’m in the office from 9-5, I usually have breakfast before I leave the house, even if its a protein shake and an apple. Then I know i’ll need something in between that and my lunch, like some fruit to snack on. I’ll need lunch, and probably some more veggies in the later afternoon before leaving to head home.
So… keeping variety in mind, here’s and example of what I’d pack:
- 1 cup of fruit
- 1 cup of veggies (carrots, celery etc.)
- 1 jar or container of salad with at least 3 ingredients for variety
- 1 cup of brown rice
- 1 protein like chicken, and almonds, hummus, or beans
This gives me a little bit of everything I need. There are some good items that you can keep at the office to make life a little easier too:
- salad dressing
- bread (if you like sandwiches)
- plenty of water
- condiments like mustard
- extra fruit (apples, or cuties are great)
I pack the items at night after dinner, or while I’m putting dinner together, so I have them ready to go on the shelf the next morning.
If you want to make a sandwich, just put all the inside ingredients in a tupperware, and assemble at the office so your sandwich is fresh and ready to go!
Here are some photos of my “lunchbox” from the past few weeks. I’ve been doing this more of late, since my schedule has had me coming in 4 days a week instead of 2, and I’m finally feeling like I’ve gotten a system that works and keeps me from getting drained during the day from this “little one” inside me 🙂
I hope you all find some useful tips for your lunchbox! Ladies, please remember it’s better to pack extra then not enough, and find ourselves struggling to get through the day! You can never overdo it on the veggies so reach for those more than anything else! We also have to try to keep these babies healthy and growing! 🙂
Lots of Love,
Mrs. B