April 13 is National Make Lunch Count Day and that’s an important one. Every day is a national something day, and National Ice Cream Sunday Day and National Chocolate Chip Cookie Day are important ones, too, of course. I mean, ice cream sundaes and chocolate chip cookies! But lots of us don’t realize how important it is to make lunch count, or we do realize, but don’t have the time to do too much about it.
I know there’s a certain point in the middle of the day where I start running out of steam, and that’s when I know I need to eat lunch. But sometimes I’m on the run, or I’m too busy, or there’s some other reason that all I can do is grab something stupid just to tide me over, knowing that I’m not really getting the nutrition I need from my lunch. So, for National Make Lunch Count Day, here are a few ideas and recipes that make it easy to prepare a lunch that counts, even when you’re busy.
Mason Jar Salads: These have been popular for a while now, and they’re genius! The idea is to layer the ingredients in advance- the night before, or even at the beginning of the week- and then grab and go. The combinations are endless, but here are a few that sound especially delicious:
Mango Black Bean Mason Jar Salad
Healthy Sandwiches: A sandwich is always easy to eat on the go; it’s easy to transport and easy to eat with one hand when you’re really busy. In order to make it count, make sure to include healthy and nutritious fillings. You can experiment with any ingredients here, too, but here are some to get you started:
Grilled Portobello and Goat Cheese Sandwich
Red Onion and Kalamata Tuna Sandwich
Egg White and Avocado Salad Sandwich
Basil Chicken Salad with Mushrooms, Walnuts, and Avocado on Whole Grain Bread
Spicy Carrot and Hummus Sandwich
Smoothies: A smoothie can be the perfect lunch on the go as long as the components are nutritious. Be sure to include healthy protein and fat, in order to make you feel satisfied and keep your blood sugar steady. Protein powder, Greek yogurt, and nut butters will do the trick.
Some other tips for making lunch count:
- Don’t eat too much or you’ll feel tired and sluggish.
- Change it up from day to day so you get a variety of nutrients and don’t get bored.
- Make sure you have a healthy balance of protein, healthy fat, and carbs.
Making lunch count will make you more productive during the second part of your day, and it will also help you lose or maintain your weight since you won’t be starving at dinner time. Give it a try and see the results!