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by Alan Turnberry
For many of us, a brown bag lunch sounds merely dismal. But in this economy — a brown bag lunch is truly the best choice. You save so much money by packing your own lunch. Not only that, but you can actually have a delicious lunch easily when you brown bag it. We are happy to share with you some brown bag lunch tips that will give you a delicious lunch to help you lose weight.
Tip #1: Include a yummy salad. Your salad doesn’t have to be boring. Many people think that a salad is just iceberg lettuce with cucumbers and tomatoes. But your salad can be so much more. Try baby spinach with chopped walnuts and sliced pears and a little low-fat blue cheese dressing. Or a lettuce mix and chopped mangos with a splash of orange juice instead of dressing. Get creative and think of flavors that would really pop! Most importantly, think of things that would “sit” well, as your lunch is going to be waiting several hours for you before you eat it. Go light on the dressing so your salad isn’t soggy.
Tip #2: Always use variety. The trick to brown bagging your lunches is to have some variety during the week. When you eat the same thing over and over every day, you just get so bored with it. That’s when you are tempted to cheat and eat that double cheeseburger! So buy small portions of lunchmeat of different types so you can have different types of sandwiches each day. Get a little cheese so you can add a slice or two on top for flavoring. The grocery store deli will sell you an eighth of a pound!
Tip #3: Collect the right containers. One of the most frustrating things about brown bag lunches is not having the right containers to carry it in. Get good Rubbermaid containers, or other re-sealable containers to carry your lunch in each day. Think of high quality products that you’ll want to use each day. There are even creative re-sealable containers you can put salad in that come with a knife and fork built right into the container! Very convenient and making brown bagging it so much easier.
Tip #4: Get to know other brown baggers at work. You’ll soon discover that other brown baggers at work all have their tricks. Some make extra food at dinner that they at for lunch (some enjoy this — it all depends on what you’ve had for dinner). Others make special brown bag treats like homemade soups or trail mix for their lunches. Trade recipes and tips with each other so you can learn successful ideas. You’ll not only make some new friends, but you’ll get some great diet tips!
Tip #5: Make your lunch pretty. Even though you are brown bagging your lunch, it should be attractive. Bring a cloth placemat, nice napkins, your own silverware. Make lunch special and relaxing. You shouldn’t just shove a sandwich into your mouth in eight minutes and get back to work. Making lunch special is a way to treat yourself special — and every little detail is a way to show just how much you count. As funny as it sounds, it will all be important to your diet. So go pick out a placemat!
