Eating healthy meals at school or work can be easier than you thought and better for your overall health and wellness.

Wiser midday eating

Most people have experienced that period of time at school or work where hunger pangs strike and there is no other option but to run to the nearest fast food establishment and get food. Not only can this quickly empty your wallet, it is also unhealthy and can lead to eventual weight gain.

“Packing a lunch and snacks when you know you will not be home is a good idea” Heather Kirkes, M.A., RD/LD said. “It can be done in a pinch the night before or in the morning. This makes sure you know you won’t be reaching for the unhealthier foods throughout the day”.

Though this is a good idea, many people scoff at the thought of eating a peanut butter and jelly sandwich from a brown bag. What they don’t realize is that packing food for the day allows them to eat a wider array of foods and informs them on exactly what is going into their bodies. Who knows what exactly is in that greasy takeout.

Samantha Bottoms, sophomore Accounting student, is one of those who were bored with the everyday sandwich. “Instead of packing a peanut butter and jelly, I’ve started packing leftovers from my dinner the night before like salad or pasta. It makes me much more excited to eat healthier food when it’s not the same thing every day”.

Other foods that are easy to pack and are also healthy are fruits like apples and bananas, cut up vegetables, pre-portioned nuts, or a healthy granola bar.

Packing lunches is not only beneficial to the hips, but also to the wallet. Buying meals from fast food and takeout restaurants can add up quickly. Buying whole foods from the grocery store and making meals at home will ultimately help to cut the cost on lunchtime meals.

“Bringing my lunch to campus during the day really saves me” Bottoms said. “It is so hard to work or learn when I am eating bad foods or even no food at all. A packed lunch encourages me to always make my day a productive one.”