Making Lunches Easier

Not enough time?

Rushing in the morning?

Eating the same thing all the time?

Whether you head to the office every day, work from home, or you're bringing a lunch to school, figuring out what lunch is going to be and making sure that it's ready to go can be overwhelming. Check out the list below for a little bit of help with this task!

Quick tips to make lunches easier:

• Make a plan - this doesn't have to be a strict meal plan, but think of it more as a plan for meals (it's different, I swear). If you're someone who doesn't want to be at the store multiple times a week, this is the key to making sure that you have what you need on hand to assemble your lunches.

  • An important detail to add here is to be sure to check your fridge and pantry before you head to the store so that you can cross off any necessities that you already have at home!

• Have some easy frozen meals on hand - they're not terrible. Promise.

• Start with a produce base that's already prepared for you - think bagged salad, diced vegetables, etc. and then add something that cooks quickly or could be reheated.

• Prepare double portions at dinner and package up the leftovers for your lunch the next day.

• Have an easy backup meal just in case something doesn't last in the fridge, or it gets dropped, or someone else eats it before you get the chance... think cheese/crackers.

• Keep what you can at work or in your lunch bag ready to go.

  • i.e. if you didn't get a chance to assemble your meal, do it AT lunch, like nachos.

• If going out to eat is accessible to you, think about ordering meals with extra in mind, or make another meal out of a side.

  • i.e. Chinese food with rice can turn into a leftover rice bowl

• Try and prep what you can in advance - I knowwwww. It sucks. But it makes things easier for you. Pick what you HATE making later in the week and start with that.

  • For example, if you want to make meatballs from scratch, by all means. Do it Sunday! THEN, on Monday all you have to do is reheat them while you're making pasta.

• Balance out the more labor intensive meals with things that are easier and less time consuming.

  • For example, if you are planning to make rosemary garlic mashed potatoes, roasted broccoli and steak one night (planning for leftovers), maybe keep something on hand like boxed mac and cheese and a bagged salad so you've got an out if you're not feeling it!

• Pick things with multiple purposes.

  • Rice! You can make a big batch of rice and save yourself a step for multiple meals throughout the week.

• Don't be afraid to check out the prepared meals section at the grocery store - Wegmans has some great choices if you're really not feeling up for prepping anything at home.

  • If you are someone who struggles to be in the grocery store, think about what might be the best time to go to the store (early morning or later at night). Also, consider what store might be the best fit for your list.