If we don't want to eat a ham sandwich every lunchtime, we need to plan and get organized. These two key elements will allow us to eat well at lunchtime.
1) Let's plan our menus and organize a cupboard exclusively for lunch items; this reduces stress.
In addition to saving time, planning will help us eat healthier. Let's prepare our menus at the same time as our grocery list. We can use this opportunity to plan recipes with food in our refrigerator that is starting to wilt, thereby reducing food waste.
Let's store our lunch boxes, thermoses, airtight containers, and water bottles in the same place.
2) Let's set aside time to prepare and/or cook certain foods.
- Prepare a good quantity of vegetables cut into pieces. Keep them in an airtight container. That way, we'll always have a supply of raw vegetables on hand for our lunches and snacks.
- Cut up large fruits: Melons, pineapples, mangoes, and other fruits we love so much will be enjoyed with pleasure rather than ending up in our garbage.
- Double our recipes: Some people make extra portions, while others exchange them. One thing is certain: our leftovers make excellent express lunches.
3) Let's adopt a routine for our lunch box
- Monday: a hot meal in a thermos with one of the weekend leftovers;
- Tuesday: sandwich (tuna, salmon, hummus, ham, chicken, etc.);
- Wednesday: lunch in “separate components”—see the Zenit blog article on the subject.
- Thursday: a hot meal with one of the week's leftovers in a thermos;
- Friday: homemade express salad with legumes.
4) Let's add two snacks to our lunch box
Zenit snacks are ideal for lunch boxes. They are made just like at home with simple ingredients. Nut mixes, yogurt, fresh fruit, raw vegetables, and cheese cubes also make excellent snacks.
Let's stay ZEN when faced with the task of preparing a lunch box and, above all, let's not wait until the morning to pack everything. Let's do the longer tasks the night before, after dinner, while we are already handling food.