Lunch Crunch

Meal time during working hours can be an "expansive" undertaking.  Yes, I said expansive, not expensive, although it can be expensive as well.  I meant to say expansive, because meal time while working usually causes expansion of our waistlines, hips, etc...

When we fail to plan for our meals during our busy work schedule we will often make several poor decisions.  Some of the poor decisions I have made include, eating while working, hitting the drive thru, and not planning ahead.  The latter, not planning ahead, is the catalyst for all the other poor decisions.

Eating while working is a bad move, because you do not allow yourself the time to enjoy the food.  You don't really get to taste it.  I gulped it down without even thinking about it.  This causes one of two things - A. I'm still hungry because I don't realize what I've eaten, or B. I over eat and become miserable and really didn't even enjoy myself in the process! 

SLOW DOWN!  Life is a journey not a destination.  We ALL have hectic schedules that we weave ourselves into, and that in itself is not a bad thing, but it can be if we don't allow ourselves the time WE need to be US.  Take a few minutes from the work and sit away from your desk, and bite, cut, chew and savor your food.  Your body and mental disposition will thank you for it.

As far as drive-thru's are concerned, well do we really even need to go there?  Come on.  What can you really get and enjoy from a drive thru?  Yes there are always exceptions to the rule, but let's face it.  You're already in a hurry and your going to make a healthy choice for lunch at a menu board that asks, "Do you want fries with that?  Or should I Super-size it for you?"  If you MUST have fast food, get out of the car and go inside to order.  Believe it or not, face to face meetings can keep you accountable for making better choices.

My fast food of choice - SUBWAY.  Yes, "Eat Fresh!".  When I fail to plan ahead and make my lunch, or some unfortunate events caused me to not have the time to prepare my own lunch, I rely on my friends at Subway.

A Veggie Delite salad loaded with fresh veggies (spinach, lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, bell pepper, banana peppers, and red onions) is about 60 calories without any cheese.  Have them spread the red wine vinegar on the salad and some salt, pepper and oregano.  Ready to go for about 6 bucks with tax and a water.

I have them pack some packets of red wine vinegar and ONE packet of oil.  The oil is another 45 calories by itself.  I put the oil on when I'm ready to eat so it doesn't get everything to soggy. 

These Elves led by Ernie are EVIL!

They always pack these little devils called CLUB CRACKERS in my bag.  I usually ask that they don't because I'll eat them.  The problem with eating them is this - one pack (two crackers) is more calories than the whole salad!!  One pack is 70 calories and 3 grams of fat.

Instead, if I have time and plan ahead, I pack some fat free croutons and spread them on top of my salad.

The whole meal, with 2 Tbsp of my fat free croutons, and the pack of oil and vinegar is right around 135 calories.  Yes. ONE HUNDRED THIRTY FIVE calories.  Yes, you may add the cheese if you wish.  It won't break the bank and will give you some dairy.  Stay away from the devilish elves crackers though - empty calories!

Today I actually had time to take my salad back home to eat.  I added the 1/4 grilled chicken breast that my baby girl didn't finish to the salad for some protein before my work out.

Make better choices.  Don't let the rush of our culture allow you to make poor decisions for you health!

ENJOY!