Breakfast is easy: Grab something (usually sweet) when you wake up starving and quickly satisfy your hunger. Unless you’re more than a cereal/pop tart/oatmeal person on an average morning, breakfast requires little effort.
Dinner is more difficult, but feels worth the effort. You know you’ll be eating with another adult who will appreciate what you’ve made. By dinner time, you’re ready for a nice, hearty meal (unless it’s 100 degrees outside).
Lunch, on the other hand, is annoying. There’s so much to be done, it seems like such a hassle to take time to make a lunch that requires long preparation and/or cooking time. The kids always want to eat earlier than me, so I’ve started feeding them, putting them down for naps, then eating myself. I don’t want to put a lot of time or money into lunch, so I usually just have the basics around. But I am frankly so sick of this:
.JPG)
and this
My laziness and boredom with the whole concept of lunch usually cause me to resort to a “lunch” made of this
and this
or this
or maybe leftovers, which I used to hate and are still boring, but now seem so simple.
followed by something sweet that I don’t need, but is easy to grab.
It’s sad, but true. I need some lunch inspiration. Something that is easy to make, filling, and (relatively) healthy.
Any suggestions on how to make lunch a meal I actually look forward to again?
I eat sandwiches and leftovers for dinner so I’m no help but good to know I’m not the only one!
I can not tell you how nice it is to hear you say this. I thought I was the only one who felt this way. I just don’t enjoy lunch at all!
I’m a big fan of wraps. No more trouble than a sandwich, but much more pleasing. You can toss anything in a tortilla (literally, it’s the perfect way to use up leftovers), but some of my favorites are –
Greek wrap: salad, kalamata olives, feta cheese
Hummus wrap: hummus, sliced avocado, tomatoes
BBQ wrap: leftover bbq chicken, cole slaw, tomatoes
I don’t like lunch, either. It realy doesn’t seem to be worth the effort.
For you or the kids? Or both? For you you could try the hot grilled sandwiches that I make for myself. It’s a blog post a while back…I’ll try to find the link. But yeah, I feel the same way! Especially if it happens to be right when Parker wants to eat too. Cause I can’t do both! Growing up I always hated lunch. Sandwiches? Yuck! I ALWAYS ate left overs which I absolutely loved. Atleast the kids haven’t gotten sick of the sandwiches yet!
http://s-a-sorensonfamily.blogspot.com/2010/04/yummy-hot-sandwiches.html
Even though the Sandwiches include a little butter and cheese, look at all the veggies you’re getting, especially if you like to pile them on! The best of these is definitely the tomato, cooked onion, spinach one. But replacing the spinach with cucumbers or avacado is equally as scrumptious!
If you’re a salad person, that’s easy, just toss in some unique ‘stuff’ and go. I am NOT one, so I am in the same boat as you. I would suggest, since it is grilling season, that you/hubs puts on an extra piece of chicken/burger/dog or five during evening meal. Then you spice it up the next day. Ideas (besides wraps): pizza burger, chili dog, chicken ceasar pita pockets–love these, or just slap some pizza sauce and random ingredients –or salsa if you’re in a mexican food mood, onto a tortilla and pop in the oven for a few. Grilled cheese and tomato soup could make you feel like a kid again. A really awesome soup I only made once was this chicken parmesan soup–it called for like FOUR onions minced up. I used one and it was still way too much for me, but once we skimmed the onions, it was a ton better, lol. It was VERY easy to make and I’ve just never gotten back to it. Kudos to you for the fruit. Sometimes just warming a sandwich up makes a difference, or adding a different sauce to something you normally eat. Once in a while, treat yourself to ‘something nice’ or better than you normally would. I totally agree on your points here. Drives me bonkers. My husband happily eats anything or nothing. Grr. You could also make yourself scrambled eggs or an omelet (cheap and easy), or think of your favorite places to eat lunch OUT and then try and copy that at home. That’s where the ceasar pockets/sandwiches come in for us. Panera makes them yummy, but we make them a LOT cheaper than I think $6/sandwich. Please post if you find a way out of the rut!
Wow, you always seem to be able to articulate exactly what’s on my mind!
Check out the food blog Our Best Bites (www.ourbestbites.com). It’s run by two young Mormon moms with young kids, so they get what it’s like trying to feed your family. They just had a few recent posts on this exact topic. Alot of the recipes included feta cheese and were for things like wraps, pitas, etc. I got lots of inspiration!
I’m rowing the same boat! I’ve been drinking protein shakes for over 6 months now at lunch… I like them though (there quick and easy and keep me filled til dinner) But, I’m sick of the same flavors!!!! Maybe I should buy some new flavors!!! LOL When you find some new ideas I’d LOVE to hear them myself!
Well, I am absolutely no help on this. While I pride myself for feeding my family wholesome foods for “most” meals, lunch is certainly my down-fall. In fact, in the last week, Natalie’s lunches have consisted of Top Ramen, a microwave enchilada meal, Chef Boyardee Ravioli – and then some other decent things … but can you say “Holy Sodium”???
As you can see from the comments, you’re not alone 😉
I wish I had any…lunch is such a chore for me too!
There is a grocery store located near my office so most of the time I end up running over there and just picking up something like a salad, soup, or premade sandwich. Totally boring.
I am absolutely no help at all, am I?
I actually kept pondering your post all day yesterday and thought of one other thing. When I make a big pot o’ something in the slow cooker or on the stove, I usually try to freeze at least a quart-size bag worth for future lunches. My little guy loves things like chili, homemade cream of tomato soup, lentil soup, and red beans & rice.
When it comes time for lunch, I take my quart-size bag out of the freezer, defrost/reheat, and I have a great lunch ready to go that doesn’t seem like leftovers. This amount is perfect size for lunch for the little guy & myself (with a little left over), so it would probably work well too for your family of 3 at lunchtime.
Just some more ideas…