As I write this post, I’m starving and want to eat everything in the fridge. Hopefully this will make for more good ideas and not just me giving in and eating everything in sight.

My friend, Jo, asked me to write about lunches. She said she needed some suggestion for what to make. Yes, let’s menu plan. One of my favorite things to do!

Husband works close enough to walk to work. So, he comes home for lunch a couple of times a week. I usually make his lunch the other days. Not because I have to, but because I enjoy it. It saves us money, and he’s eating healthier than if he were eating frozen burritos or fast food every day. Here are some ideas for lunches, whether you’re eating them at home, at a desk, at a picnic table…

Leftovers! Before you put food into the fridge, portion it into single servings. If it will freeze well, put those portions into the freezer (labeled – use some tape and a market to write what’s in there), and they’ll be easy to reheat. Foods like: Chili and Cornbread, Lentil Stew, Tomato Soup (if you’re not a fan of the cold grilled cheese, try it with a ham and cheese sandwich), and Roasted Butternut Squash Soup freeze well. Some leftovers are good cold (in my opinion, Husband strongly disagrees). As long as foods are cooled quickly and stored at a proper temperature, it’s totally safe to eat them cold. I think my favorite is cold chicken, but I also kinda like cold grilled cheese, I don’t know why.

I get in a food rut sometimes, but it really helps when I have a menu planned out. So I’ve done that for you. Some easy lunch ideas (if you’re a list person) and a weekly menu (if you’re a menu person… I’m both, so you get one of each) planned out for you with ideas for how to use leftovers for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. I hope this makes for less food ruts and poor lunches!! 🙂

Quick Lunch Ideas

Tuna Sandwich, Carrot and Apple Slices, Cookies

Peanut Butter and Jam Sandwich, Pear, Yogurt

Ham and Cheese Sandwich

Apple and Gruyère Sandwich

Pear and Cheddar Sandwich

Cheddar, Lettuce, and Tomato Sandwich with leftover Roasted Butternut Squash Soup

Grilled Cheese Sandwich with Roasted Butternut Squash Soup or Roasted Tomato Soup

Roast Beef Sandwich with Tomato (pack the tomato separately so it doesn’t sog up the sandwich), lettuce, and spicy mustard; sliced bell pepper, apple, cookies

Egg Salad Sandwich, Sliced Carrots, Pear, Yogurt

Santa Fe Quesadillas

Leftover Pasta

Leftover Soup

Leftover Chili or Stew

Burritos (with leftover rice, beans, beef or chicken, and veggies), chips and salsa, simple green salad, cookies

Salmon Salad with Crispy Potatoes

Weekly Menu

 Happy Eating!