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How to Add More Veggies to Your Lunch

FitSugar — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 14:02:26 PST

Adding more vegetables to your lunch routine will give you great midday nourishment and an extra punch of energy to carry you through the afternoon slump. We've already shared some surprising ways to sneak vegetables into your breakfast, so here are three more tips to amp up your daily veggie intake:

Upgrade your sandwich. You may not consider some of your favorite vegetables sandwich-friendly, but test your taste buds and experiment. Think about tossing cooked beets, a layer of hummus, sprouts, or artichoke hearts between the bread. Wary about mixing textures? Add some simple crunch with sliced onions.

Keep reading for more vegetable lunch ideas.

11 Ways to Cut Calories From a Lunchtime Sandwich

Jenny Sugar — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 01:14:04 PST

Want a balanced lunch that offers fiber and protein? A sandwich has your back, but choose the wrong add-ons and condiments, and it's a whole day's worth of calories in a few bites. Here are ways to cut calories from this favorite lunchable - they may not be huge amounts, but keep in mind that little bits definitely add up.

Whole-wheat pita (170) instead of two slices of whole-wheat bread (200): saves 30 calories
Spinach wrap (180) instead of a sun-dried tomato and basil wrap (210): saves 30 calories
Two pieces of Romaine lettuce (10) instead of a whole-wheat wrap (120): saves 110 calories
Go open-faced: Eat one side of a whole wheat roll (190) instead of the whole roll (380): saves 190 calories
Two ounces of sliced roasted turkey (60) instead of two ounces of sliced ham (70): saves 10 calories

Keep reading to find out other ways to save sandwich calories.

How to Save 100 Calories at Breakfast, Brunch, Lunch, Cocktail Hour, and Dinner

Heather Dale — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 14:50:04 PDT

What starts out as an innocent meal, can easily turn into a caloric catastrophe. Eating too many calories, regardless of your current physical activity level, can wreak havoc on your body. To help you get healthy, and possibly shed a few pounds, here are multiple ways to save calories at every meal!

Source: Flickr User boellstiftung

What Do You Know About These Lunch Calorie-Savers?

Leta Shy — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 03:06:59 PDT

Weekday lunches are my time to be healthy. While I relax my rules on the weekend, I usually eat a salad or a veggie-filled sandwich while at work. But even with my healthy lunch habit, I know that just a few swaps and substitutions can make my lunch even healthier. What do you know about these five ways to a healthier lunch? Take this quiz and see!

Take the Quiz

Healthy Lunches: Skip This, Pack This

Jenny Sugar — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 18:09:04 PDT

Heading back to school in a couple weeks means packing lunches for you and your kiddos. Seemingly healthy choices may not be as beneficial as you think, so here are some ways to pack a healthy lunch.

Skip This	Pack This	Reasons Why
Deli meat	Sliced tofu, roasted meat, or grilled chicken	They'll offer protein without added sodium and fat.
Wheat Thins	Triscuits	Triscuits are made with whole wheat flour instead of enriched flour, so they offer more fiber per serving, plus fewer calories.
Cream cheese on a bagel	Natural peanut butter on a bagel	The nut butter might offer more calories, but it's also higher in fiber, lower in saturated fat, and higher in protein.
Orange juice	Orange	Opt for the actual fruit to increase your lunch's fiber content and save you liquid calories.
Regular pasta	Whole wheat pasta	Whether it's your kid's mac 'n' cheese or lasagna for yourself, always opt for whole wheat pasta for added fiber.
Goldfish	Annie's Whole Wheat Cheddar Bunnies	The Cheddar Bunnies are made with whole wheat flour instead of enriched flour. They're also lower in saturated fat and offer more fiber per serving.

Keep on reading to find out what else you should skip when packing lunch.

Tips For Packing the Perfect Lunch

Katie Sweeney — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 03:38:30 PDT

It's hard to believe that many schools are starting the new year this week. Although your schedule will be more hectic, don't skip lunch when you head back to school! Instead, take the time each evening or morning to put together a healthy and appetizing lunch. Here are some helpful hints for packing the best brown bag.

Be creative! Try not to make the same thing every day. If you have a sandwich on Monday, bring a salad on Tuesday. Variety is the key to not getting stuck in a peanut-butter-and-jelly rut.
Skip the processed foods (like single serving packs of chips) and opt for fresh ingredients, like sandwiches and salads that are made with in-season herbs, greens, fruit, vegetables, and cheese. Nuts, sliced carrots, and popcorn are great for snacking.
Avoid sogginess by packing food items in different containers. Place salad dressing in a small tupperware and greens in a large ziplock baggie. Dress and assemble the salad just before you plan on eating.

Keep reading for the rest of my tips.

Brown Bag Your Way Back to School: 10 Healthy Sandwiches

Michele Foley — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 12:20:33 PDT

Whether you're heading back to school or spend your days in an office, bringing your lunch cuts calories and saves money. It also takes a little planning. To make things easier on you, here are 10 healthy sandwich ideas that are so good, you'll have friends begging to trade lunches with you.

10 Sandwiches to Jazz Up Your Lunchbox

Katie Sweeney — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 04:44:44 PDT

Portable and delicious, the sandwich was virtually made to be enjoyed at lunchtime, and everyone from the average kindergartner to the president of the United States has been known to eat them come noon. I'm a fan of bringing my lunch to work and am always looking for ways to make the sandwich more exciting. To encourage you to pack a lunch instead of purchasing one during the workweek, here are 10 scrumptious sandwiches.

Meet My New Favorite Spinach Salad

Katie Sweeney — Wed, 16 Mar 2011 04:09:08 PDT

During the work week, I try to eat a veggie-packed salad for lunch everyday. Yesterday's was so delicious, I snapped a photo and decided to share the recipe with you. It's a spinach salad with roasted red peppers, garbanzo beans, and sautéed eggplant.

The thing that makes it especially flavorful is the vinaigrette - it's a mixture of sherry vinegar, Dijon mustard, and smoky harissa. Although you may have to hunt down the harissa (or you could make your own), this salad is worth it.

Since I like to have something crunchy at all my meals, I enjoyed a handful of toasted almonds on the side. For a more substantial meal like dinner, offer the salad with chicken or fish. Ready for the recipe? Read more.

Yummy Links: From Communal Tables to Bacon Cupcakes

YumSugar — Tue, 01 Feb 2011 11:40:12 PST

How do you feel about communal tables? - Inside Scoop SF
Do you know how much sugar you consume? It could be a lot more than you think. - Eater
Oprah and her 378 staffers are doing a week-long vegan challenge. - Huffington Post Food
Learn how Snoop Dogg makes seven-layer dip. - The Feast NY
Are you interested in Martha Bakes, Martha Stewart's instructional baking show? - Fork in the Road
Watch Peta's new porn-tastic veggie video. - Grub Street SF
Why the farm lunch is a necessity. - The Atlantic
Must make: chocolate cupcakes with maple cream cheese frosting and bacon streusel! - Endless Simmer

Source: Flickr User bhamsandwich