Taking my Lunch

I normally take my lunch to work which usually consists of leftovers or frozen meals from Trader Joe's. I decided to mix up my normal with a week of salads for lunch. I loved it so much that I am repeating it this upcoming week. I also dropped drinking soda, going on day 10. I miss the carbonation!!!!! My friend Anna suggested I try club soda with a little lime when I have a craving for a Pepsi and I might try it once I get desperate. Until then, it's lots of water and tea. Back to the lunches.. I really enjoy the selection that Trader Joe's offers. See below for my first round of Trader Joe's salads along with a few snacks I pack for my work day.

Baby Spinach salad with cranberries, walnuts, blue cheese with a raspberry vinaigrette

blueberries

Apples and Cinnamon oatmeal 

Mozzarella and Tomato salad with green onion, pine nuts and a balsamic vinaigrette 

Organic banana yogurt with blueberries

Avocado 

Lemon Chicken Salad with apples, grapes, cucumbers, roasted walnuts, champagne vinaigrette 

Tomatoes and an avocado

Classic Greek Salad with onion, kalamata olives, feta cheese, red wine vinaigrette 

Trader Joe's Flax seed chips

Organic banana yogurt with blueberries

Enjoy! 

Favorite Snacks

I love to eat. And because I have low blood sugar, I tend to eat once every 3-4 hours during the day. I have a lot of not so healthy eating habits like my closet addiction to fast food. But I like to keep my fridge stocked with really healthy foods so that when I need a quick snack, I grab for veggies or fruit. I normally shop at Trader Joes, Lucky's or Whole Foods. They have a lot of really great options for quick meals. But here are a few of my favorites.

Apple and Brie Cheese. A slice of brie and a slice of apple. Heaven.

Sesame bagel with creme cheese and salmon lox. 

Edamame 

Carrots and Marzetti Southwest Ranch

Roma Tomatoes and Mozzarella 

Trader Joes Flaxseed chips and homemade guacamole 

Snack Healthy!

Trader Joe's Lunches

I take my lunch every day and eat at my desk. This has been a routine for the past two months. For the most part, my colleagues do the same thing. Sometimes I have an early lunch and other times it can be a little later than I would like. I’m not really good with getting up early to make my lunches so I rely on Trader Joe's for my meals. If I am not eating a frozen meal, I have a salad, or am reheating dinner for the previous night. I have a few Trader Joe's favorites that are healthy, packed with veggies, and deliciously amazing! It also helps that most of these meals cost $1.99. If I went out for lunch each day that would probably be $50 a week. But because I bring my lunches, it costs me maybe $12 a week. Because there is no Trader Joe's in Columbia, when I am home on weekends, I stock up and fill up a cooler to bring back with me to keep everything cold. Here are a few of my favorite lunch options:

Chicken Chile Verde Burritos $2.99

This is half the price of the regular Mac N Cheese but that's because it's half the amount. The regular is huge and I can rarely finish it so it's nice to have a cheaper and small option when I'm not as hungry. $1.99

Huge, HUGE, huge portion!! Its noodles topped with shredded gouda, havarti, cheddar, and swiss that when heated melted for the most amazing meal! $2.99

I love this pasta with pesto and veggies. It has cherry tomatoes, zucchini, and yellow bell peppers. Seriously amazing! So filling and its only $1.99. 

My lunch today! This tortellini with cherry tomatoes, zucchini, and red bell peppers, ricotta, and spinach. So delicious!! And again, $1.99 

Enjoy the frozen food section of Trader Joe's. I'll be there Sunday!

XOXO