8 Helpful Hints For Packing the Best Brown-Bag Lunch
When you're busy, packing a brown-bag lunch can seem like a total drag, but it doesn't have to be that way. Instead, take the time each evening or morning to put together a healthy and appetizing lunch for yourself or your kids (if you have them). Here are some helpful hints for packing a meal you'll look forward to all morning long.
— Additional reporting by Katie Sweeney
Pack in the Produce
Skip the processed foods (like single-serving packs of chips) and opt for fresh ingredients when it comes to the snacks, like chopped fruit in a mason jar, vegetable sticks with hummus, and cheese.
Pack Crave-Worthy Snacks
Nuts (or trail mix) and popcorn are great for snacking.
Make Use of Your Mason Jars
Avoid sogginess by packing food items in different containers or by perfectly layering the ingredients of a salad inside a mason jar. Mason jars (unlike Tupperware) are easier to transport in your bag and won't leak.
Turn Last Night's Leftovers Into Lunch
Turn last night's leftovers into lunch or a whole new dish. If you had steak and potatoes for dinner, throw slices of steak and chopped potato into a pita with mint, tomatoes, and store-bought hummus. Have chicken and veggies? Toss leftover chicken and veggies with cooked pasta, herbs, and crumbly cheese to make a hearty pasta salad.
Don't Forget Dessert
It's nice to finish lunch with a little something sweet. A piece of chocolate or a cookie bar are delightful ideas.
When all else fails, avocado toast guarantees a happy lunch.