I am a nurse and just started a homehealth job. I dont want to get into the habit of eating fast food again and Im really tired of sliced cheese and turkey for lunch so Im asking for ideas regarding foods that can stay in a cooler and are good to eat on the road. Thanks.

That's a hard one without a microwave. There are so many healthy frozen meals you can buy now a days. Will you have access to a microwave at any point?

You can make egg salad, tuna salad, deviled eggs, chicken salad, and bring yogurt, and string cheese. I also snack on almonds because they raise good cholesterol. 20 almonds is 100 calories.

hummus or bean dip with lite tortilla chips & veggies is one of my favorites. Or, if you have a thermos, a cup of hearty lowfat black bean & beef chili is very satisfying. Depending on what you can eat, one of my favorite gourmet sandwiches is very thinly sliced roast beef with arugula or watercress, 1 tsp grated parmesan cheese, 1 tsp balsamic vinegar & olive oil on on pita.

I'm in the same boat (car) and do a bit of driving, out of town work. I always try to get a hotel with a microwave and fridge too. I'm quite a picky eater and only the black bean soup/chili sounded good to me so far. I can bring yogurt and string cheese too, but need something a little more for lunches or just snacking? Any other ideas??

If you can tolerate it get the really thin whole grain wrap bread (kinda looks like tortillas) and roll meat, shredded cheese, shredded lettuce, light dressing and diced tomato into it. I cut it into 1/2 or 1/3 depending on the size.

Other ideas:

chicken salad

shredded salad with chicken, turkey or tuna on top

bean salad

pita chips and hummus

Egg salad, chicken salad, tuna salad, hummus and veggies..

Bumble Bee makes some perfect size flavored tuna with a tiny package of crackers. They are perfect for me, and I absolutely LOVE the lemon pepper flavor. I eat it religiously once or twice a week. I also get the tiny little cans of low sodium V-8 juice. They are only 30 calories, a serving of veggies and make a perfect on the go snack. Of course fresh fruit is always an option. I love the fresh pears in the fall. I've taken to eating lettuce wraps instead of sandwhiches. I bring sliced avocado, a slice of my favorite cheese and some thin sliced deli meat and wrap it in a crisp leaf of romaine. Sometimes in throw in sprouts or salsa or something. A little messy, but sure good.

If you have time to make your own soup and freeze suitable portions ahead, a hearty Italian Wedding Soup, made with lean meatballs, escarole and a high fiber pasta with a sprinkling of parmesan is one of my favorites.

Or a can of Campbell's Select Italian Wedding Soup does well in a pinch.

you're a nurse, the health care is the gian.con I'm a student. Every day I go to school very far, or should I have to eat the fast food .I noticed fast food is really good. Can I ask you not? I eat much fast food can not fat?

Luuvanan-what is gian.con? LOL typo? But yes I am a nurse I am actually a home health nurse and I absolutely LOVE it- you pretty much set your own schedule with home health andyou make a lot more money than you would in the hospital!

Thanks for all the ideas. Im def going to give a lot of them a try. Im going shopping sunday so I already have list going :party:

If you want convenience, the deli section of my supermarket has a whole "buffet" of take and go lunch items for people like us:

Hard boiled eggs

Hummus

Spinach & artichoke dip

Cheese sticks, cubes, balls

Chef's salad

Sliced ham, turkey, roast beef

Sliced cheese

Tuna, chicken, ham salad

Chicken wings

Soup

Then, swing over to the dairy case:

Yogurt (go for Greek - higher in protein)

Soy yogurt

Cottage cheese

Dips (get some veggies - or soy crisps are even better)

Cheese spreads & crackers

In the regular grocery section:

Single servings size of Cream of Wheat and or Oatmeal (if you make it with milk and not water, it's got a lot of protien, and the COW has iron and fiber, Oatmeal the fiber)

Tuna and chicken salad kits

Peanut butter (Jif makes single serving size containers) and crackers

Single serving of light ranch dressing (all my food is dipped and moist)

Soup

Cereal & milk (Parmalat)

Nuts, nuts, nuts (always have them with me)

I bought a whole box of those little plastic cups that you get dippping sauce in at restaurants, with their lids, and take a lot of my own stuff with me.

THANK YOU so much I am so happy you did this!

Great, great, great!

Yea!

Ann

If you want convenience, the deli section of my supermarket has a whole "buffet" of take and go lunch items for people like us:

Hard boiled eggs

Hummus

Spinach & artichoke dip

Cheese sticks, cubes, balls

Chef's salad

Sliced ham, turkey, roast beef

Sliced cheese

Tuna, chicken, ham salad

Chicken wings

Soup

Then, swing over to the dairy case:

Yogurt (go for Greek - higher in protein)

Soy yogurt

Cottage cheese

Dips (get some veggies - or soy crisps are even better)

Cheese spreads & crackers

In the regular grocery section:

Single servings size of Cream of Wheat and or Oatmeal (if you make it with milk and not water, it's got a lot of protien, and the COW has iron and fiber, Oatmeal the fiber)

Tuna and chicken salad kits

Peanut butter (Jif makes single serving size containers) and crackers

Single serving of light ranch dressing (all my food is dipped and moist)

Soup

Cereal & milk (Parmalat)

Nuts, nuts, nuts (always have them with me)

I bought a whole box of those little plastic cups that you get dippping sauce in at restaurants, with their lids, and take a lot of my own stuff with me.

Dang what supermarket do you go to cuz I want one...the walmart near my house is horrible. Winn Dixie isnt much better plus theyre expensive....

I go to Publix (I think it's only a FL chain) but you should be able to get some of those things in Winn Dixie. And yes, Walmart sucks as supermarkets go. I agree.

AH I figured it was probably publix. The nearest one to me is about an hour away. Theyre supposed to be putting one about 30min away which Ill drive 30min to go to publix....I LOVE publix its like if they dont have it they dont make it...lol

Ive got the healthy lunch thing down pat. I while back I posted a thread detailing my lunch ideas, it might be helpful to you. Heres the link!

http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f9/my-lunch-ideas-check-out-78263/