Lunch Choices?

[Anya78]

I'm 8 weeks pregnant and I'm starving all the time (not to mention that if I go too long without eating something I start feeling queasy). I pack my lunch every day for work, but lately I'm having a hard time coming up with a variety of good ideas of food to bring, particularly because things like bean soup that I used to bring are now giving me stomach trouble. Any brilliant ideas of things that you pack? I'm going to compile a list for myself to keep on the fridge. Thanks!

[jerseyangel]

Hi Anya, Try looking here--

Open Original Shared Link

[4getgluten]

There have been a lot of great suggestions in the past on this board. Try doing a search for "lunch". Hopefully some old posts will come up. Anyway, I bring breakfast and lunch to work with me everyday. I bring an insulated lunch bag with an ice pack.

My favorites are:

corn tortillas with cheese (heat up in microwave)

rice cakes with peanut butter (I keep a jar of p-butter in my desk drawer)

Thai Kitchen rice noodle bowl (just add hot water)

fruit (an apple w/ peanut butter is a favorite)

apple sauce

hard boiled eggs

plain yoghurt

tuna salad scooped in half a red pepper

Veggie sandwich on gluten-free bread (Anna's or Kinnikinnick's)

Larabars for an easy snack

Lays classic potato chips

Boost energy drink for a quick pick-me-up (Choc. Malt is the only flavor NOT gluten-free)

Peanut M&M's when I want something sweet.

[Idahogirl]

Some more ideas:

cream cheese rolled up in lunch meat

pudding snacks (most are gluten-free)

fritos & cheese dip (there's one in the jar that is gluten-free-can't remember brand)

Progresso clam chowder (rich & creamy New England style)

baked potato-Hormel chilli w/beans is gluten-free

Healthy Choice & Weight Watchers have tons of gluten free heat up meals

cooked ahead of time:

Tinkyada elbow pasta w/Velveeta (delicious!)

Rice, chicken, broccoli, cheese w/cream of mushroom (Progresso thickened w/corn starch)

Shepherd's pie (green beans, 1 lb. hamburger, tomato soup cooked together, topped with mashed potatoes and cooked in oven)

May your belly be full and your cravings satisfied!

Lisa

[JessicaB]

Hello everyone! Im fairly new also, only been on the diet a few days before christmas. These lists help out so much. Just to let everyone know this board has helped out so much. Im so glad i found you all! I feel so supported everytime i read another persons post, it makes me feel at ease and like im not alone. I have been packing my lunch also. Heres a few things i brought so far..

Amys rice crust pizza, warmed up with extra pepperoni

Ensure drink for a pick me up

Tuna fish

Tostitos with salsa, or melted cheese

popcorn

annies gluten-free macaroni n cheese, so good ( i order it online in a case, www.annies.com)

salids

fresh fruit

peanuts

crasins

apples and pb

utz cheese puffs gluten-free! Yeah i love them

cheeseburger by itself

hmmm didnt know i would learn this quick, thanks to all of you! Any more ideas?

[jenvan]

here's a good thread on lunch ideas to ck out: Open Original Shared Link

[Carriefaith]

If you're getting hungrey too quickly, maybe try having a big breakfast. You could have eggs, gluten-free toast, and a piece of fruit. Also, I find that fruit smoothies keep me full for a while. Here is my recipe for a fruit smoothie:

1 cup of frozen blueberries (or 1 1/2 cups of frozen raspberries)

1 1/4 cups of So Good Vanilla soy milk

2 tablespoons of honey

Mix all ingredients in a blender until smooth.

[Anya78]

If you're getting hungrey too quickly, maybe try having a big breakfast. You could have eggs, gluten-free toast, and a piece of fruit. Also, I find that fruit smoothies keep me full for a while. Here is my recipe for a fruit smoothie:

1 cup of frozen blueberries (or 1 1/2 cups of frozen raspberries)

1 1/4 cups of So Good Vanilla soy milk

2 tablespoons of honey

Mix all ingredients in a blender until smooth.

The smoothies are a good idea. I think I might try making one in the morning and taking it with me to work. I usually feel queasy when I first get up so I am usually forcing down what little I do eat and by the time I get to work I'm so starving and THAT makes me queasy again! A smoothie might be a good idea, especially since I have tons of frozen blueberries and strawberries in my freezer from the summer! Thanks.

[hez]

Have you tried almonds as a snack? I was very nauseous when I had a ectopic pregnancy. Almonds help with the nausea and are good for you.

Hez

[Carriefaith]

The smoothies are a good idea. I think I might try making one in the morning and taking it with me to work. I usually feel queasy when I first get up so I am usually forcing down what little I do eat and by the time I get to work I'm so starving and THAT makes me queasy again! A smoothie might be a good idea, especially since I have tons of frozen blueberries and strawberries in my freezer from the summer! Thanks.

Taking them to work is a great idea. I've done that a few times. When I have smoothies in the morning I'm hardly even hungrey by lunch time!

[Anya78]

Have you tried almonds as a snack? I was very nauseous when I had a ectopic pregnancy. Almonds help with the nausea and are good for you.

Hez

Funny you should mention almonds because I'm been obsessed with them lately! I eat sliced almonds on my gluten-free cereal in the morning (Maple Buckwheat Flakes...I highly recommend adding almonds, reminds me of a non-gluten-free cereal I used to eat before the celiac diagnosis), plus I eat them all the time for a snack or put sliced almonds or walnuts in my yogurt.

[jpsych]

Does anyone know if philadelphia cream cheese is gluten free? Thanks!

[jnifred]

yep, as far as I know it is. Eat it all the time anyway (Philly Cream Cheese that is).

plain old carrot sticks are a good munchy. I gnaw on them all day.

Another smoothie recipe that my kids love is

one banana

one cup yougrt

one can pears

refill can with frozen strawberries and dump in, blend and enjoy

[Mango04]

My new favorite thing to pack for lunch is turkey sandwiches on corn thins instead of gluten-free bread. I just put one or two slices of smoked turkey on two corn thins w/ mayo....yummy...it's way better than it sounds, and really quick and easy to make.

[francelajoie]

The Food Smart List you can download on this site is amazing. Tells you if alot of the stuff in grocerie stores and restaurants are gluten free.

My favorite lunch is pasta salad. I cut up some grape tomatoes, cucumbers, black olives and crumble feta with a homade white balsamic vinegrette. It is filling and great!

[minibabe]

I sometimes use left overs from the night before. If we have rice, and there are vegies left over I will combine the rice and the veggies and I will have a nice healthy lunch.

[kathy1]

Some more ideas:

Healthy Choice & Weight Watchers have tons of gluten free heat up meals

Lisa

Which varities of the healthy Choice and WW entrees are gluten-free? I never would of thought there would be mainstream gluten-free items in the supermarket freezer.Great news!!

[Smunkeemom]

I found when I was pregnant things went better when I ate 6 small meals rather than 3 large ones, some of my favorite snacks were, apples with peanut butter, celery with peanut butter, and tortillas with lunch meat and cheese.

I think you can gluten free all of that, protien takes a while to digest and should be able to keep some of the hunger away.

I pack lunches for my kids for various things, and they really like baby carrots, brocoli, and yogurt to dip it in.