lunches

We are pumped to share one of our favorite stories from Shape here on FitSugar.

Since Hurricane Sandy, the team behind Shape.com has had a variety of temporary offices, and our latest outpost in Brooklyn is bare bones. We were thrilled with the arrival of bottled water and a minifridge on Monday, but after four weeks at our new location, we only just received a microwave today.

I've just about had all the almond butter and banana sandwiches I can handle, so after the arrival of our new fridge, I headed straight to Pinterest to find a few no-heat healthy lunches to get out of my rut. While the microwave will expand my options even further, I still plan to make the delicious recipes below and enjoy them chilled.

Vegan Hummus Spiral Wrap

This quick sandwich is packed with spinach, edamame, avocado, and carrots. What more could a girl ask for? Prevent lunchtime boredom without any extra effort by using different-flavored hummus throughout the week.

See more no-heat recipes after the break!

Whether it's the recession or our increasing need for simplicity, sandwiches are having a moment. They're one of my favorite easy lunches and very healthy if you make them right. But it's important not to get stuck in an unhealthy or unimaginative sandwich rut.

Some healthy-sandwich strategies are obvious: avoid fried foods and super-oily sauces, opt for whole-grain bread instead of sliced white. But that's only the beginning. For my seven tips on making sandwiches that are both delicious and nutritious, read more

Back to school means back to the kitchen to create healthy lunches for the kids. But packing a lunch is a healthy habit whether you're a kid, a mom, or just someone who wants to stay fit. So I've rounded up a wide array of eco-friendly lunch gadgets that will help you eat healthier while helping the earth.

From bamboo lunch sacks to adorable plastic-bag alternative like these 3greenmoms Lunch Skins (I'm partial to the orange), having cute lunch totes at your fingertips will encourage you to pack your own healthy meals. Check out my favorite finds for healthy school and work lunches below.

You've moved from brown bagging munchies to an eco-friendly lunch bag, so now it's time to upgrade its contents! Get out of the everyday sandwich rut and start getting creative with what you pack to sustain your kids.

• Shape up. Simply changing the shape of the food you are packing can make a big difference. Use cookie cutters to create sandwiches that will put a smile on your lil one's face.
• Roll it up. Use creative "packaging" to put a sandwich together. Wraps and pitas can add some interest to the lunch box, as can turning an ordinary tuna sandwich into a sushi-style roll.
• Put it on a stick. String some fruit and veggies onto a stick for a mini-kabob that looks more enticing than fruit in a baggie.
• Repurpose dinner. Cook up some extra pasta at night and mix it with fresh vegetables and some protein to make a tasty cold noodle salad.
• Build it up. Put the ingredients for a nutritious sandwich in the lunch bag and allow the kiddos to build their own creation, in the order they want.
• Make it brunch. French toast and fruit salad can easily make their way into the lunch box for a fun alternative.

For some added inspiration, check out these books filled with lunch-bag-ready recipes.

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