Jump to content
×
Are you looking for the BariatricPal Store? Go now!

lunch and dinner meal ideas for work ??



Recommended Posts

i work fulltime and never have time to cook. i need ideas for quick and easy meals for lunch and dinner. ive been having lean cusine meals for dinner but i know processed food is something i should stay away from. I am also staying away from any carbs such as bread, pastas,and rice. For lunch ive been having a few pieces of cheese, a couple slices of turkey breast and some carrots. Im getting bored of this quickly. I also bring raw veggies or fruits to work as well as almonds. I have access to a microwave at work.Please let me know if you have any lunch or dinner ideas! Thank you so much.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Angie - if you like roast chicken you can always buy a whole roasted chicken already cooked from the store. Just portion it out for lunch. Green giant makes microwaveable singles of some veggies or you can have some raw veggies to go with? Or how about canned tuna or even the ready made tuna in the pouches? Or canned chicken? If you can handle red meat there are the pre cooked frozen Italian or Swedish meatballs in the frozen section? I don't have a whole bunch of time either so I'm always looking for quick and convenient myself.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

CAn you cook on weekends.

hili , chicken parm cupcake meatloaf , tuna fish, chicken saladalso in can, egg salad

wendy

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Angie - I feel for you. I was working full time and part time at night. Just quit the PT job so I can have some time to cook and eat properly but I am the queen of convenience with meals ready in 5-10 minutes. Sometimes when I had a some time I would stroll the deli counter and frozen food section just to see what was around and wasn't totally bad for you. I wish you lots of luck. It's a bit tougher with no time for cooking but it is possible! :-)

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I eat a lot of salads with canned chicken on top for the protein...

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

jewelsm1127- thank you so much. i appreicate everything you've said. I am determined to find some time to do some shopping and maybe even cooking. And MadeinMO- thank you that sounds so perfect. I am going to try it. Regarding the canned chicken- am i able to heat it up or is it better to eat cold?

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Angie - you are very welcome. And I've never done it but I don't see why you can't heat up the canned chicken. I've seen hot recipes that use the canned chicken as a base.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Beware those refrigerated,frozen and canned foods they are loaded with sodium and processed foods can hurt your weightless . Try making meals on weekends or a few times a week. That includes these store bought chickens most are injected with sodium to flavor as they cook.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

What about making a crockpot of chili and then having it for lunch? eggs? Quiche? Veggie burgers? Try to cook on the weekends and then portion out your lunches for the week.

Sent from my iPhone using LapBandTalk

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I get a roasted chicken from costco and can make my lunch from it for a whole week. I weigh out 3 ounces of chicken. Use a half cup plastic container put about it eighth of a cup low fat cheese then add either salsa or spaghetti sauce. At work I put the chicken on a plate and then empty the contents of the plastic container on to chicken microwave and you're done. I like those mini sweet peppers that you can buy now. No cutting just wash and go. You can include a couple grapes or cherries if you want for dessert.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

on sundays, i make time to prepare my lunch (dinners) for the week. i prepare all my veggies (from farmers market) and meats (bought in bulk) and measure out to my portion sizes and put in little lock and lock containers.

the extra is put in single servings in the freezer for dinners. we could ALOT on the grill.

it takes alittle more time/effort but is def worth it to know what you are eating and not all the processed items.

when you open my fridge, you have little containers of fruit (all kinds as hub takes these for his lunch also) veggies, some steamed, some fresh, some par boiled and meats (dinners) prepared. def worth it to just grab and go.

nothing wrong with a boxed lunch every so often. but eating fresh veggies/fruit is easy to do also.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now

  • Trending Products

  • Trending Topics

  • Recent Status Updates

    • Doughgurl

      2 days until I fly out to San Diego to have my Bypass Surg. in Tiajuana Mexico. Not gonna lie, the nerves are starting to surface. I don't fear the surgery itself, or the fact that I'm traveling alone, but its the aftermath that I'm stressing about the most, after this 8 week wait. I'm excited to finally be here, but I am really dreading the post surgical chapter. I know its going to be tough, real tough and I think I'm just in my head to much now that the day i here. Wish me luck, Hopefully I'm one of the lucky ones, and everything goes smoothly. Cant wait to give an exciting update,. If there is anyone else have a June bypass or even a recent one, Id love to have someone to compare war stories with. Also, anyone near San Antonio Tx? See ya soon with the future me. 💜
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • LeighaTR

      I am new here today... and only two weeks out from my sleeve surgery on the 23rd. I am amazed I have kept my calories down to 467 today so far... that leaves me almost 750 left for dinner and maybe a snack. This is going to be tough for two weeks... but I have to believe I can do it!
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Doughgurl

      Hey everyone. I'm new here so I thought I should introduce myself. I am 53y/o and am scheduled for Gastric Bypass on June 25th, 2025. I'm located in San Antonio, Texas. I will be having my surgery in Tiajuana Mexico. I've wanted this for years, but I always had insurance where bariatric procedures were excluded. Finally I am able to afford to pay out of pocket.  I can't wait to get started, and I hope I'm prepared for the initial period of "hell". I know what I have signed up for, but I'm sure the good to come will out way the temporary period of discomfort and feelings of regret. I'd love to find people to talk to who have been through the same procedure or experience before. So I look forward to meeting you all. Hope you have a great week!
      · 2 replies
      1. Selina333

        I'm so happy for you! You are about to change your life. I was so glad to get the sleeve done in Dec. I didn't have feelings of regret overall. And I'm down almost 60 lbs. I do feel a little sad at restaurants. I can barely eat half a kid's meal. I get adults meals often because kid ones don't have the same offerings at times. Then I feel obligated to eat on that until it's gone and that can be days. So the restaurant thing isn't great for me. All the rest is fine by me! I love feeling full with very little. I do wish I could drink when eating. And will sip at the end. Just a strong habit to stop. But I'm working on it! You will do fine! Just keep focused on your desire to be different. Not better or worse. But different. I am happy both ways but my low back doesn't like me that heavy. So I listened (also my feet!). LOL! Update us on your journey! I'm not far from you. I'm in Houston. Good luck and I hope it all goes smoothly! Would love to see pics of the town you go to for this. I've never been there. Neat you will be traveling for this! Enjoy the journey. Take it one day at a time. Sometimes a few hours at a time. Follow all recommendations as best you can. 💗

      2. Doughgurl

        Thank you so much for your well wishes. I am hoping that everything goes easy for me as well. We don't eat out much as it is, so it wont be too bad in that department. Thankfully. Also, I hear you regarding your back and feet!! I'd like to add knees to the list. Killing me as we speak! I'm only 5' so the weight has to go. Too short to carry all this weight. Menopause really did a doosey on me. (😶lol) My daughter also lives in Houston. with her Husband and my 5 grand-littles. I grew up in Beaumont, so I know Houston well, I will be sure to keep in touch and update you on my journey. I may need some advice in the future, or just motivation. Thank You so much for reaching out, I was hoping to connect with someone in the community. I really appreciate it. 💜

    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. LeighaTR

        I hope your surgery on Wednesday goes well. You will be able to do all sorts of new things as you find your new normal after surgery. I don't know this from experience yet, but I am seeing a lot of positive things from people who have had it done. Best of luck!

    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. summerseeker

        Life as a big person had limited my life to what I knew I could manage to do each day. That was eat. I hadn't anything else to look forward to. So my eating choices were the best I could dream up. I planned the cooking in managable lots in my head and filled my day with and around it.

        Now I have a whole new big, bigger, biggest, best days ever. I am out there with those skinny people doing stuff i could never have dreamt of. Food is now an after thought. It doesn't consume my day. I still enjoy the good home cooked food but I eat smaller portions. I leave food on my plate when I am full. I can no longer hear my mother's voice saying eat it all up, ther are starving children in Africa who would want that!

        I still cook for family feasts, I love cooking. I still do holidays but I have changed from the All inclusive drinking and eating everything everyday kind to Self catering accommodation. This gives me the choice of cooking or eating out as I choose. I rarely drink anymore as I usually travel alone now and I feel I need to keep aware of my surroundings.

        I don't know at what point my life expanded, was it when I lost 100 pounds? Was it when I left my walking stick at home ? Was it when I said yes to an outing instead of finding an excuse to stay home ? i look back at my last five years and wonder how loosing weight has made such a difference. Be ready to amaze yourself.

        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

  • Recent Topics

  • Hot Products

  • Sign Up For
    Our Newsletter

    Follow us for the latest news
    and special product offers!
  • Together, we have lost...
      lbs

    PatchAid Vitamin Patches

    ×