Grab it and go: Quick lunch ideas

It’s been a crazy week. We’ve all had those times. Take a look at the calendar. Nine appointments a day with no time penciled in for a meal. If you’re like me, you can’t just pop in at the fast food restaurant…only one that I know of has any sort of vegetarian food you can eat on the run. And, frankly, it’s just too expensive to eat at one of those places anyhow.
Except for the fact that I love bread and desserts, I try to eat healthy foods. So when I have one of “those” days, I try to take a deep breath in the morning and put together a healthy midday meal that I can throw in the lunch bag and go.
· Sometimes, I grab a bunch of grapes: sweet little treats in their own little edible packaging. A mini-loaf of wheat bread goes well with the grapes. A light, soft cheese is a wonder accompaniment as well.
· Sometimes, a jar of peanut butter and a banana have to suffice as a meal. You can just eat a couple of spoonfuls of the peanut butter (don’t overdo this treat; there is lots of fat in there). A half dozen or so pretzel sticks give this meal a little crunch that goes well with this sweet-salty meal.
· Sometimes, I try to bring along a bit of cheese and some crackers. Try a variety of cheeses, but stay away from the spicy ones (like pepper jack) if you’re eating on the run. You don’t want to upset your stomach. Crackers are small and easy to eat on the go. Give some of the high-fiber varieties that are out there or make a multi-grain bread and toast up some slices before you head out the door.
· My favorite meal on the go is a jar of yogurt with some fresh fruit.
Yogurt is a great source of protein and calcium. The good stuff (unlike my first attempt at the homemade stuff we saw here a few weeks back) is soft and creamy with a bit of a bite to it. It is equally good with fruit or vegetables, complementing the taste of whatever you mix in.
For fast lunches, fruit is more refreshing and the natural sugars help perk you up to give you some energy for the rest of the day. Bananas come pre-packaged in a biodegradable skin. Apples, blueberries, strawberries, nectarines, peaches and plums are easy to carry and you can eat them in their entirety. While mangos taste great with yogurt, they’re a bit messy to eat on the go.
Throughout the year, you can find a fruit which can be easily mixed with the yogurt. Whatever is in your fruit bowl can easily be mixed in. Don’t be afraid to experiment with mixing some flavors. Strawberries and plums blend well. Apples and oranges? Don’t compare them, just mix them together with your yogurt.
Just try whatever you have. Grab it and go.