What’s For Lunch?!
Written by Rachel, Posted in Leftovers, Lunch, Menu Planning, Thoughts
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
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
Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner | Notes | |
Monday |
Fruit and Yogurt |
Tuna Sandwich Carrot and Apple Slices Cookie |
Roasted Butternut Squash Soup Apple and Gruyère Crostini Green Salad |
|
Tuesday | Omelete | (Nothing wrong with) Peanut Butter and Jelly! Pear Yogurt |
Roast Beef Mashed Potatoes Wilted Greens |
Try mixing in some leftover Butternut Squash Soup to the eggs before cooking, along with a tiny bit of milk. |
Wednesday | Hard Boiled Eggs Toast |
Roast Beef Sandwich Sliced Bell Pepper Apple Cookie |
Pasta Carbonara Roasted Salmon |
Make extra eggs to use in sandwiches. Use leftover Butternut Squash Soup to make pasta sauce. Freeze leftover salmon. Use leftover roast beef for sandwich. |
Thursday |
Oatmeal Fruit |
Egg Salad Sandwich Sliced Carrots Pear Yogurt |
Roast Chicken Rice Pilaf Roasted Veggies |
|
Friday | Bagel with Cream Cheese Cold Salmon Fruit |
Leftover Pasta Carbonara Leftover Chicken Green Salad Cookie |
Philly Cheese Steak Pizza Green Salad Fruit |
|
Saturday | Potato and Veggie Hash | Beef Burrito Chips and Salsa Green Salad Cookie |
Stir Fry | Hash: Use leftover mashed potatoes (use chop up raw ones) and leftover roasted veggies. Burrito: Use leftover beef, and add a bit of tomato paste to leftover rice pilaf. You could add some beans as well. Stir Fry: Reheat meat and add to whatever veggies you have on hand. You could use leftover rice pilaf and toss it with a bit of sesame oil or soy sauce. |
Sunday | Smoothie Toast with Peanut Butter |
Salmon Salad with Crispy Potatoes Fruit |
End of the Week Soup | (Mashed Potato Soup could work well – add some Butternut Squash Soup to it if you have some left.) |