STYLETHREAD -- LET'S TALK SHOP!

Do you have a refigerator and freezer there? A microwave? If you have this then you can bring just about anything you like! I bring left overs most of the time.  I like the morningstar farms chicken patties and I make chicken sandwiches, Boca Burgers are good, corn dogs... veggies, lean pockets are good, spagetti.

I second the pita and wrap ideas. I used to bag a whole wheat wrap or pita spread with hummus, filled with two slices turkey, lettuce, tomato (mmm I should start making this again!) Also, you could throw a few snack foods together to make a meal: soy chips, cottage cheese or string cheese, nuts, baby carrots, fruit, etc.

Lately, I've been bringing Lean Cuisines for the days I'm not eating out.  I'm trying to get better about making dinner every night so I'll have leftovers to bring.

As for salad, I like to bring the ingredients together in a tupperware container, anything that I don't want to mix I put in separate baggies,  at lunchtime I just add dressing.

Burritos are also easy to make and heat up for lunch. 

 

I pack my lunch most days--I often make enough for my dinner to bring as lunch the next day.  If not, I make yummy sandwiches--I use croissants or pita with turkey or ham, tomatoes, cheese, and avocado, with either a bit of mayo or hummus.  I think the avocado helps make it not so boring. 

I make salads too--either the bagged kind or I mix spinach and romaine, then add chicken breast and dressing.  I sometimes make my own vinaigrette with olove oil, basil, parsley, and cider vinegar.  In summers, I make chicken salad (basically just chicken, mayo, and spices) or tomato salad (tomatoes marinated in the vinaigrette above). 

Usually I also bring some fresh fruit and a piece of chocolate.  On days my refigerator and cupboards are bare, I bring Lean Cuisines and an apple sauce, or tuna and cottage cheese (not mixed together, although that doesn't sounds bad).  Also, I do all of this at night, otherwise it would never get done in the morning.

Sometimes, I also make my own coffee to save money.  In the summer I make iced coffee (I mix it with a lot of cream or milk to make it like a bottled Frappucino) and in winters I brew coffee beans.  Sometimes I add International Coffees (in Vienesse Chocolate Cafe) to make it like a mocha, but any of those mixes will do--do you know what I am talking about? 

Hope this gives you some ideas. 

-- Edited by jacL at 19:43, 2005-05-03

-- Edited by jacL at 19:45, 2005-05-03

I just discovered some pretty good wrap/sandwich recipies here: http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/recipes/list_maindish.html

The Mix & Match Sandwich & Wrap Ideas, omg the Gobbler sounds delish!

-- Edited by Alikat at 19:08, 2005-05-04

 

there is a farmer's market...kinda far away called Jerry's Farmer's Market (it's on Milwaukee).

it's Suuuuuuuuuuuuper cheap (i can't buy produce at Jewel anymore, i feel like i'm getting ripped off).  it's nice cuz you can buy a ton of fruits and veggies, AND you eat healthier with all that stuff. 

i do a lot of salads, fruit, wraps with hummus, pita sandwiches, cottage cheese/mandarin oranges, and lean cuisine and amy's frozen stuff.

7901 N Milwaukee Ave Niles, IL
 

it's definitely farther, but it's so worth it.  basically i think you take addison west to elston (N) and you just follow that.  it took 20 minutes from lakeview. i would do mapquest though.  i know it's open on weekends.  it's a farmer's market but it looks like a grocery store. 

some things i bought (just so you can get an idea of prices)

seedless grapes: $0.69 (usually $0.99 on sale at jewel)

fuji apples: $0.79 (usually $1.49 at jewel)

lettuce: 3 bunches of romaine for $1.50

tomatoes: i can't remember but i think $0.89 at jewel $3.99

strawberries: $0.98 for a container of HUGE strawberries ($2.99 at jewel)

sometimes my bf and i will go and we'll take my brother, some friends, etc...that way it seems like it makes it more worth it for the drive. HTH.