BYOL–Bring your own lunch

The beginning of school is a time to think about what we will eat when we are at school or work. Close to a third of our meals are eaten outside of the home.

A Jan. 2012 survey by Accounting Principles reveals that 66 percent of American workers buy their lunch instead of packing it, and spend an average of $57 per week on lunch and coffee.

Buying your lunch can not only be expensive, but if you are on any kind of special diet, such as gluten free, sugar-free, vegetarian, or if you are health conscious about your food, then food choices on campus for purchase are very limited. Settling for the same old sandwich can get boring.

Are there any simple ways to plan a brown bag lunch? Well, yes it can be. One of the first changes should be the way in which we think about food and lunch. Think about making your lunch special, and something to be envied.

So how do you make your food the envy of others? It’s important to include food that you like. There’s no sense of packing peanut and jelly sandwich if you despise peanut butter.

A quick and easy way to have something special and ready for lunch is to make an extra dinner portion that can you pack that night and get ready for lunch the next day. One thing you might want to try is if you’re having a soup, place a portion of soup in the freezer, and when you leave it out all day and will be thawed by lunchtime.

• Collared greens, kale or cabbage

Mushroom

• 3 Portobello mushrooms, thinly sliced
• 1/2 cup cold pressed olive oil
• 1 grapefruit, juiced
• 2 teaspoon cumin, ground
• 2 teaspoon coriander
• 1 teaspoon rosemary
• 1 teaspoon celery seed
• 1 tablespoon raw apple cider vinegar

Place sliced mushrooms in a bowl and place the remaining ingredients over the top and marinate while preparing the vegetables.

Vegetables

• 1 red bell pepper, thinly sliced
• 1 yellow bell pepper, thinly sliced
• 1 orange bell pepper, thinly sliced
• 1 1/2 cup broccoli, chopped
• 1/2 cup onion, chopped
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 1 teaspoon Himalayan Crystal Salt or natural sea salt
• 1 teaspoon savory, ground
• 1/4 cup cold pressed olive oil

Place all vegetables in a bowl. Mix the cold pressed olive oil, spice and garlic and pour over the vegetables. Let marinate while preparing the cheese.

Cheese

• 1 cup sunflower seeds, soaked overnight
• 1 cup pumpkin seeds, soaked overnight
• 3 tablespoon raw apple cider vinegar
• 1/2 teaspoon oregano, dried
• 2 teaspoon onion powder
• 1 teaspoon Himalayan Crystal Salt or sea salt
• 1/4 cup or more water

Place all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth.

Putting it together:

Place the clean wrap flat and then layer the mushrooms, then vegetable and finally the cheese. Roll the wrap and enjoy.

Lunch does not always mean a sandwich. It can be salsa, hummus or fruit dips with vegetables or baked chips. There are many types of salads that can be prepared ahead of time. If you’re worried about your lunch becoming soggy, place the different components of your lunch in separate containers and then combine your salad just before eating. This is an easy way to have a very fresh, scrumptious salad for lunch.

Prepare food that will give you the physical and mental energy needed for your school or work day. Fresh fruits provide a natural mental boost. These can be included in your lunch or taken for snacks. It is important to remember to keep your blood sugar level to maintain a happy healthy life and a clear mind.

Buying a thermos is a great way to add dimension to your lunches. They not only allow you to keep things cold without a refrigerator, they also allow you to keep things warm. Think about taking soup, pasta or stir-fry in a wide mouth thermos.

When thinking about lunch, think outside of two slices of bread. Several options include bagels, tortillas, pita bread and my favorite: collard greens in place of bread. Be creative and think of your lunch as a picnic. Be sure to take time for yourself at lunch away from your work, by doing this can improve your performance.

Bringing food to school or work is a good way to save money. Investing in reusable lunch boxes and utensils can save even more money. When choosing your lunch equipment choose something that makes you happy.

If saving about $3,000 a year is something of interest to you then brown bagging your lunch is the way to go. By bringing your own lunch and coffee or beverage to school or work you could save up to $250 a month.