Brown-bagging it? Think outside the box

Somewhere in our busy lives, we have lost sight of the importance of “brown bagging” or bringing our own lunch to work or school. Perhaps it was those embarrassing notes our Mom or Dad put in our lunchbox back in our school days that made it “uncool” to bring your own lunch, or maybe it was a left over that was a bit past its prime. Irrespective of the cause, we have all become too familiar with heading out to the nearest deli or restaurant to pick up something for lunch, viewing it as a necessity when in fact it is not.

There is no doubt that it feels good to get out of the office and take a break from the day. Many of us enjoy going out and socializing with a co-worker over lunch. Most often, we have come into work unprepared and need to grab something to eat (and hopefully not skipping lunch all together!). Regardless of the cause, for many of us it has become a habit to pick up lunch- one that could be affecting our wallets and our waistlines.

When we are eating a meal out at a restaurant, we are not in full control. The food is likely prepared with more salt (and other hidden ingredients) than we would use.  Often, portions are too large, and we may have limited healthy choices.  Why face the temptation?

Cooking and food preparation at home is the key to a healthy lifestyle. Sure, there are some good choices when dining out, but when you are working in your own kitchen, you are in full control of the meal. You also can make sure you have a set portion and you will not overindulge or make a poor choice because you are hungry.  Bringing lunch with you to work is all about planning. Here are Pop’s tips to lunchbox success:

At lunchtime, it's easy to fall into a rut. To jazz up this midday meal for your kids or yourself, take some brown-bagging tips from a registered dietitian.

Keep things interesting through variation, said Samantha Coogan, an instructor at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. A healthy lunch can be delicious and affordable, she said. Here are some of her suggestions:

•     If you're a parent, try to add a new fruit or vegetable each week for your child to try.

•    Think beyond the supermarket. You might save money by buying fresh fruit and vegetables at dollar stores and discount markets, Coogan said.

•    Pack more than lunch. College students often get hungry during long classes. It's smart to pack both your lunch and enough snacks to get you through the day, Coogan said.

•    Watch those organic labels. You might assume that "organic" produce is 100 percent organic, but advertisers can get away with using that label on products that are less than half organic, Coogan said. Be careful to make sure you're not paying more without getting a full organic product to show for it.

•    Don't assume gluten-free is better for you. Gluten-free products aren't necessarily healthy, Coogan said. They're made for people whose bodies have a hard time processing gluten proteins in wheat, she said.

•     Watch the sugar to avoid the afternoon blahs. "To stay alert and productive during the second half of your day, avoid extra sugar," Coogan said. "Whether brown-bagging it or ordering out, minimize the soda, cookies and other sweets. The greater the processed sugar intake, the harder the afternoon crash." Fruit paired with a protein or fat like peanut butter will keep you going without the need for a caffeine boost, she said.

    

    HealthDay

 

Brown-bagging it? Think outside the box

Somewhere in our busy lives, we have lost sight of the importance of brown bagging or bringing our own lunch to work or school. Perhaps it was those embarrassing notes our Mom or Dad put in our lunchbox back in our school days that made it uncool to bring your own lunch, or maybe it was a left over that was a bit past its prime. Irrespective of the cause, we have all become too familiar with heading out to the nearest deli or restaurant to pick up something for lunch, viewing it as a necessity when in fact it is not. There is no doubt that it feels good to get out of the office and take a break from the day. Many of us enjoy going out and socializing with a co-worker over lunch. Most often, we have come into work unprepared and need to grab something to eat (and hopefully not skipping lunch all together!). Regardless of the cause, for many of us it has become a habit to pick up lunch- one that could be affecting our wallets and our waistlines. When we are eating a meal out at a restaurant, we are not in full control. The food is likely prepared with more salt (and other hidden ingredients) than we would use. Often, portions are too large, and we may have limited healthy choices. Why face the temptation? Cooking and food preparation at home is the key to a healthy lifestyle. Sure, there are some good choices when dining out, but when you are working in your own kitchen, you are in full control of the meal. You also can make sure you have a set portion and you will not overindulge or make a poor choice because you are hungry. Bringing lunch with you to work is all about planning. Here are Pops tips to lunchbox success: At lunchtime, its easy to fall into a rut. To jazz up this midday meal for your kids or yourself, take some brown-bagging tips from a registered dietitian. Keep things interesting through variation, said Samantha Coogan, an instructor at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. A healthy lunch can be delicious and affordable, she said. Here are some of her suggestions: If youre a parent, try to add a new fruit or vegetable each week for your child to try. Think beyond the supermarket. You might save money by buying fresh fruit and vegetables at dollar stores and discount markets, Coogan said. Pack more than lunch. College students often get hungry during long classes. Its smart to pack both your lunch and enough snacks to get you through the day, Coogan said. Watch those organic labels. You might assume that organic produce is 100 percent organic, but advertisers can get away with using that label on products that are less than half organic, Coogan said. Be careful to make sure youre not paying more without getting a full organic product to show for it. Dont assume gluten-free is better for you. Gluten-free products arent necessarily healthy, Coogan said. Theyre made for people whose bodies have a hard time processing gluten proteins in wheat, she said. Watch the sugar to avoid the afternoon blahs. To stay alert and productive during the second half of your day, avoid extra sugar, Coogan said. Whether brown-bagging it or ordering out, minimize the soda, cookies and other sweets. The greater the processed sugar intake, the harder the afternoon crash. Fruit paired with a protein or fat like peanut butter will keep you going without the need for a caffeine boost, she said. HealthDay