Posted by Anonymous on Dec 09, 2006 · Member since Dec 1969 · 11789 posts
What do you guys pack for lunch when going to work or elsewhere? I always packed PB&J or salads but am getting a bit tired of it.
Posted by pinkorange on Dec 09, 2006 · Member since Oct 2006 · 24 posts
Onigiri -- Japanese rice ball is my favorite lunch, but I think it is too much work for me to make a rice ball, so I usually put steamed rice in a small container, and left over meal into the other.
I eat a huge breakfast (probably my biggest meal within a day), so I always have left over from the breakfast. I don't have to prepare anything special for lunch.
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Posted by Anonymous on Dec 09, 2006 · Member since Dec 1969 · 11789 posts
Here are some things that I bring with me:
A small container of homemade or store-bought hummus, pita or Triscuit-type crackers, and a couple of pieces of fruit. If fresh fruit is scarce, I bring trailmix. I'm a big fan of muffins and find that a good pumpkin muffin with lots of raisins and walnuts makes for the beginnings of a good lunch. To go with, I'll pack hummus or a tofu-based dip with veggies, some fresh/canned/dried fruit. Maybe a square of dark chocolate, just to be polite.
Other quick options are soups in a thermos--or, one you can heat in a microwave, leftover pasta with a hearty sauce--I include veggies and some rinsed, canned beans to this. Dinner leftovers are a favorite of mine and I pack them into my thermos. Packing food that you normally eat at home can get you out of this food rut. It's great to make something special for your lunchbox, but don't forget your old favorites 'cause they'll be just as good at school or the office.
Posted by idioglossia on Dec 09, 2006 · Member since Jul 2005 · 234 posts
My favourite thing for lunch is a tahini sandwich. Spread tahini on two slices of toasted whole grain bread and top with fresh mushrooms, green onions, lettuce/spinach.
Posted by Duckalucky on Dec 09, 2006 · Member since Aug 2006 · 1127 posts
All of the above!
Also, raw veggies and savory scones are satisfying to pack-- they're finger-foody, and are easy to enjoy cold and un-dressed-up.
Don't overlook grain dishes like tabouli and pasta salads. Or a wrap! The same old salad can look pretty interesting all wrapped up snugly in a whole wheat tortilla!
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Posted by cheerio on Dec 09, 2006 · Member since Jul 2006 · 70 posts
Here's what I usually pack:
Some sandwich ideas----•peanut/almond/cashew butter with blackstrap molasses/sliced banana/fruit spread (***If you're tired of PB and haven't tried other nut butters.....give some of them a shot! Almond butter and blackstrap molasses is my personal fave.) •hummus w/ sliced tomatoe, cucumber, alfalfa sprouts, shredded carrots, romaine lettuce (pretty much whatever you have on hand). I especially like it in pita bread. •Tofu or tempeh---perhaps marinated and baked, or pan-fried.....You can even buy packaged marinated tofu (WhiteWave or Wildwood brands, for example)---ready to use as is! •Tofu salad---mix tofu w/ chopped bell pepper/celery/carrot, mayo, mustard, a pinch of turmeric (for yellow color), dried herbs (marjoram and tarragon are great), fresh herbs (chopped parsley and chives, maybe), minced garlic, minced onion, a drop of lemon juice, a dash of cayenne---whatever you like! Great on hearty whole grain bread or in pita. Add lettuce and tomatoe to make it deluxe.
Also consider grain salads or bean salads (or bean-and-grain salads).......
Sides---- •Raw veggies w/ hummus •celery sticks w/ nut butter and raisins •Fresh fruit •dried fruit, maybe mixed w/ soy nuts, seeds, nuts, chocolate chips, dry cereal, etc. to make trail mix •soy nuts •soy milk in aseptic juice-box-style cartons •soy yogurts •muffins (preferably homemade) •granola bars
Packing lunch doesn't have to be boring....it CAN be fun!!! :D
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Posted by PhillyVeggie on Dec 09, 2006 · Member since Sep 2006 · 15 posts
I got really into vegan cooking at the same time I started my new job, so I really have been enjoying planning work lunches (I know, I know... I'm a bit of a weirdo). I am a single vegan, so instead of tailoring dishes to serve just one person, I make BIG batches of a couple of yummy things over the weekend, keep them in the fridge, and dole out single serving sizes for lunch. I always include some other stuff too, so I don't get bored.
Example: I just whipped up a big batch of delicious, hearty lentil barley soup. I also made a loaf of multigrain bread.
So for lunch on Monday, I might bring a bowl of the soup and a hunk of bread with a salad of beets and sesame seeds on baby arugula.
On Tuesday, my sides might be some steamed broccoli and an apple.
If you make a few things you love on the weekend, gathering together exciting, tasty lunches on Monday morning will become a much less daunting task :)
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Posted by Duckalucky on Dec 09, 2006 · Member since Aug 2006 · 1127 posts
And divided containers can be your friends! I have some divided plastic airtight containers (the infinitely-reusable kind) that allow for one plentiful segment and two smaller ones. The bento approach need not be costly (although I lust after the Mr. Bento and Laptop Lunchbox too, idioglossia! I did get some for gifts this year... and having handled them, I'm even more covetous!) If you have a container store handy or a nearby housewares department with lots of plastics, troll for something you'll reuse for attractively square-meal lunches a lot, and you won't be sorry.
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Posted by Wendie on Dec 10, 2006 · Member since Sep 2002 · 150 posts
I love pitas stuffed with salad or a tortilla rolled with salad in it. You can add whatever you want to your salad. I just put a small amount of dressing in to give it flavour. If I'm using a tortilla I wrap it tightly in foil wrap.
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Posted by jenniferhughes on Dec 11, 2006 · Member since Aug 2006 · 1828 posts
I just got the laptop lunch boxs, THEY RULE... and jennifer mccann's (vegan lunchbox.com) new cookbook.
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Posted by yabbitgirl on Dec 11, 2006 · Member since Apr 2006 · 14266 posts
See if you can find Tofu Gan (smoked tofu) in your area. It's dark brown outside, ivory inside and about half an inch to an inch thick. I like it as is, sliced, in sandwiches on wholegrain bread, or you could marinade and fry the slices, for a sandwich or as part of a salad. It doesn't have a very smoky taste but it has a good flavour and a chewable texture which is very satisfying. Tupperware has little cups with lids that hold about a quarter cup, you could use them for sauces and dressings for take-along food. The wrap idea is great, try the garbanzo taco idea wrapped up in a soft wheat tortilla with a little salsa or such in one of those cuplets mentioned above. Even if you can't warm it at work, it will sit happily at room temp and "it eats very well" as Gary Rhoades would say.
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Posted by pinkorange on Dec 12, 2006 · Member since Oct 2006 · 24 posts
I like the salsa sandwitch with tahini.
I bring sliced bread with tahini on and salsa in the separate container. Just before I eat, I put the salsa on the bread and make sandwitches. It's eay prep. When I bring this, I usually bring soy yogurt and some fruit (banana, orange, apple) together.
Onigiri -- Japanese rice ball is my favorite lunch, but I think it is too much work for me to make a rice ball, so I usually put steamed rice in a small container, and left over meal into the other.
I eat a huge breakfast (probably my biggest meal within a day), so I always have left over from the breakfast. I don't have to prepare anything special for lunch.
Here are some things that I bring with me:
A small container of homemade or store-bought hummus, pita or Triscuit-type crackers, and a couple of pieces of fruit. If fresh fruit is scarce, I bring trailmix.
I'm a big fan of muffins and find that a good pumpkin muffin with lots of raisins and walnuts makes for the beginnings of a good lunch. To go with, I'll pack hummus or a tofu-based dip with veggies, some fresh/canned/dried fruit. Maybe a square of dark chocolate, just to be polite.
Other quick options are soups in a thermos--or, one you can heat in a microwave, leftover pasta with a hearty sauce--I include veggies and some rinsed, canned beans to this. Dinner leftovers are a favorite of mine and I pack them into my thermos. Packing food that you normally eat at home can get you out of this food rut. It's great to make something special for your lunchbox, but don't forget your old favorites 'cause they'll be just as good at school or the office.
Warmly,Rosevebert
My favourite thing for lunch is a tahini sandwich. Spread tahini on two slices of toasted whole grain bread and top with fresh mushrooms, green onions, lettuce/spinach.
Otherwise I do the leftover thing... or juice, raw veggies, fruit and lots of nuts (raw cashews are my favourite). I'd really like to get into the bento box/thermos thing (http://www.amazon.com/Zojirushi-Bento-Stainless-Steel-lined-Silver/dp/B000246GSE), like the crazy vegan lunchbox lady (http://veganlunchbox.blogspot.com/), but I doubt I'll ever find the time to get that creative!
All of the above!
Also, raw veggies and savory scones are satisfying to pack-- they're finger-foody, and are easy to enjoy cold and un-dressed-up.
Don't overlook grain dishes like tabouli and pasta salads. Or a wrap! The same old salad can look pretty interesting all wrapped up snugly in a whole wheat tortilla!
Here's what I usually pack:
Some sandwich ideas----•peanut/almond/cashew butter with blackstrap molasses/sliced banana/fruit spread
(***If you're tired of PB and haven't tried other nut butters.....give some of them a shot! Almond butter and blackstrap molasses is my personal fave.)
•hummus w/ sliced tomatoe, cucumber, alfalfa sprouts, shredded carrots, romaine lettuce (pretty much whatever you have on hand). I especially like it in pita bread.
•Tofu or tempeh---perhaps marinated and baked, or pan-fried.....You can even buy packaged marinated tofu (WhiteWave or Wildwood brands, for example)---ready to use as is!
•Tofu salad---mix tofu w/ chopped bell pepper/celery/carrot, mayo, mustard, a pinch of turmeric (for yellow color), dried herbs (marjoram and tarragon are great), fresh herbs (chopped parsley and chives, maybe), minced garlic, minced onion, a drop of lemon juice, a dash of cayenne---whatever you like! Great on hearty whole grain bread or in pita. Add lettuce and tomatoe to make it deluxe.
Also consider grain salads or bean salads (or bean-and-grain salads).......
Sides----
•Raw veggies w/ hummus
•celery sticks w/ nut butter and raisins
•Fresh fruit
•dried fruit, maybe mixed w/ soy nuts, seeds, nuts, chocolate chips, dry cereal, etc. to make trail mix
•soy nuts
•soy milk in aseptic juice-box-style cartons
•soy yogurts
•muffins (preferably homemade)
•granola bars
Packing lunch doesn't have to be boring....it CAN be fun!!! :D
I got really into vegan cooking at the same time I started my new job, so I really have been enjoying planning work lunches (I know, I know... I'm a bit of a weirdo). I am a single vegan, so instead of tailoring dishes to serve just one person, I make BIG batches of a couple of yummy things over the weekend, keep them in the fridge, and dole out single serving sizes for lunch. I always include some other stuff too, so I don't get bored.
Example:
I just whipped up a big batch of delicious, hearty lentil barley soup. I also made a loaf of multigrain bread.
So for lunch on Monday, I might bring a bowl of the soup and a hunk of bread with a salad of beets and sesame seeds on baby arugula.
On Tuesday, my sides might be some steamed broccoli and an apple.
If you make a few things you love on the weekend, gathering together exciting, tasty lunches on Monday morning will become a much less daunting task :)
And divided containers can be your friends! I have some divided plastic airtight containers (the infinitely-reusable kind) that allow for one plentiful segment and two smaller ones. The bento approach need not be costly (although I lust after the Mr. Bento and Laptop Lunchbox too, idioglossia! I did get some for gifts this year... and having handled them, I'm even more covetous!) If you have a container store handy or a nearby housewares department with lots of plastics, troll for something you'll reuse for attractively square-meal lunches a lot, and you won't be sorry.
I love pitas stuffed with salad or a tortilla rolled with salad in it. You can add whatever you want to your salad. I just put a small amount of dressing in to give it flavour. If I'm using a tortilla I wrap it tightly in foil wrap.
I just got the laptop lunch boxs, THEY RULE... and jennifer mccann's (vegan lunchbox.com) new cookbook.
See if you can find Tofu Gan (smoked tofu) in your area. It's dark brown outside, ivory inside and about half an inch to an inch thick. I like it as is, sliced, in sandwiches on wholegrain bread, or you could marinade and fry the slices, for a sandwich or as part of a salad. It doesn't have a very smoky taste but it has a good flavour and a chewable texture which is very satisfying.
Tupperware has little cups with lids that hold about a quarter cup, you could use them for sauces and dressings for take-along food.
The wrap idea is great, try the garbanzo taco idea wrapped up in a soft wheat tortilla with a little salsa or such in one of those cuplets mentioned above. Even if you can't warm it at work, it will sit happily at room temp and "it eats very well" as Gary Rhoades would say.
I like the salsa sandwitch with tahini.
I bring sliced bread with tahini on and salsa in the separate container.
Just before I eat, I put the salsa on the bread and make sandwitches. It's eay prep. When I bring this, I usually bring soy yogurt and some fruit (banana, orange, apple) together.