Packing Lunch

I'm not what I consider a very prepared person...well, in some ways, definitely, but let's just say I'm not the person who lays my clothes out the night before, has lunch packed at night, etc.

I'm not really a morning person, either.  Although, once I'm up, I'm great.  My brain does its best work in the morning, and I do enjoy the still of the awakening world around me.

Packing lunch in the morning takes time.  Especially the lunch I just packed.

After a whole week of working in the office, where I'm basically at the mercy of the pricey cafeteria, I decided I had no choice but to pack lunch.  Yes, I'm thrilled about dragging yet another piece of luggage up that monstrous uphill parking lot, but it is what it is.

I made my grocery list on Sunday and planned for items that would allow me to either take salads to work or sandwiches.  I'm still not sure how to do the dressing, as I didn't see any single serving packets at Giant.  So I planned for a little of both.

Let me start out by saying that I am horrified that I am actually intending to make meals of bologna, cheese, and white bread.  I haven't bought a loaf of bread in at least a year.  Now, I'm going to make it a staple.  ugh.

I've come to the point where, although I do still love my pastries, my actual meals are mostly salads - with berries & nuts or lots of tomatoes and other veggies.  As I've said, bread normally isn't on the menu.  I limit my weekly pizza intake, which used to be almost daily.  I rarely eat red meat, and I don't even bother much with chicken if I have to make it myself.  Fish and steamed asparagus or broccoli are the most cooking I do - and a steamer isn't really cooking.

Anyway, I packed my lunch this morning.  Took the time to cut the fresh veggies - I've determined I won't be having salads with dressing.  Leave the lettuce for dinner, and just take the peppers, cucumbers, and grape tomatoes.  The lunch bag is full.  I'll be able to graze all day long.  But I still have the sandwich - after all, I still need a carb in there somewhere.

We've admitted that eating healthy costs much more than it does to eat crap.  It also takes more time to eat healthy - I know, I cut fresh strawberries for my salad every single time - which is most evenings in the summer.

The mornings start earlier each day.  Packing lunch will either be mornings or I may become organized enough to pack at night.  But "packing" is the key.  My lunch, alone, looks like I'm going camping somewhere.  And with all my other bags of goodies I drag in to work...I really could just stay for days....