Grab N Go - Be Prepared

Trena says - I would love to see some make ahead “grab and go” breakfast or lunch ideas. I'm not one to jump out of bed and eat or even look at food for a couple hours. I usually just bring hard boiled eggs and cheese to work.

Thanks for your input Trena - that's a good idea!  I'm sure we can all use some ideas for how to get out the door a little faster in the mornings.  Working out and then eating breakfast at anme is killing my schedule in the mornings - I sit, eat and relax and enjoy...and then run screaming into the shower and out the door.  Well, yes, I do get dressed first...

Now, depending on where you work and what you have, you’ll need to get creative.  I’m lucky, I have a fridge and freezer and microwave and toaster oven at my office so I can get a little free and easy with my ideas.  So, I’ll tell you what I do and in the comments, mention what you could do at your workplace and that way everyone can learn from our ideas.

Breakfast ideas:

Overnight oatmeal – make it the night before, throw it in a Tupperware and run out the door.

Quiche – make ahead, cut into squares and pack it ready to take with you.  Or freeze and keep a few pieces at work for breakfast or lunch.

Do you know you can microwave a scrambled egg?  Get a bowl, wipe it with oil or butter, crack an egg into it, scramble with a fork, cook on high for 30 seconds.  Easy peasy.

Breakfast bowl – the night before, layer a Tupperware dish with:  1/2 cup refried beans, 1/2 medium sliced avocado, 1-2 scrambled eggs, cheddar cheese.  Take with you and heat it up at work.

 

Breakfast pita/burrito – (Stage 2) the night before, load up the whole wheat pita/tortilla with your cooked eggs, veggies, beans, cheese, etc.  Wrap it up to go.

 

But what if I forget? – when I need to remember to take something with me, I put my car keys in a different spot inside my purse or clip them to the strap, then, when I reach for them, I’ll think ‘why is that different?’ and then I’ll remember – grab the food in the fridge!

Lunch ideas:

For lunch, my grab and go plan is ‘already went’ (huh?).  Each Monday I bring my backup lunch kit to work and leave it there so I can fall back on it if I need a last minute breakfast or lunch or forget to pack something the night before.  Items may vary according to your work situation and preferences, of course.

Bring fresh items in weekly: salad greens, veggies, avocado, cheese, hardboiled eggs, veggies, hummus, fruit, eggs, whole wheat bread or pitas

 

Keep on hand:  a can of tuna, a package of nori, frozen veggie burger patties, coconut water, coconut milk, protein powder, cocoa powder, truvia, olive oil, coconut oil

 

Anytime I’m stuck without lunch, I can throw together a nori rollup or salad made with veggie patty or tuna, greens, avocado, and cream cheese or even whip up a protein shake.  I use a plastic bottle with a tight lid to shake up the smoothie.

Take your dinner leftovers and freeze them and keep them at work for backup or at home for a quick breakfast, lunch or dinner.

Birthday parties at work!

Of course, less than 1 week into my P10, someone decided to surprise us all by bringing in gourmet cupcakes - I'm talking this place WON Cupcakes Wars on Food Network good.   While they were setting up and everyone getting excited, I ran to the kitchen, sliced up a banana in a bowl, sprinkled it with cocoa and sat down with everyone else.  People asked 'what flavor did you get?' and I'd smile and say "chocolate banana!".  So everyone else either ate too much cupcake...or ran out and hid under their desks until the coast was clear.  And I sat there and enjoyed myself.

Use your noggin and come up with some ways you can head trouble off at the pass!

1 serving = a whole lotta sense and a huge load off your mind!