Anchor ads are not supported on this page.

4S Ranch Allied Gardens Alpine Baja Balboa Park Bankers Hill Barrio Logan Bay Ho Bay Park Black Mountain Ranch Blossom Valley Bonita Bonsall Borrego Springs Boulevard Campo Cardiff-by-the-Sea Carlsbad Carmel Mountain Carmel Valley Chollas View Chula Vista City College City Heights Clairemont College Area Coronado CSU San Marcos Cuyamaca College Del Cerro Del Mar Descanso Downtown San Diego Eastlake East Village El Cajon Emerald Hills Encanto Encinitas Escondido Fallbrook Fletcher Hills Golden Hill Grant Hill Grantville Grossmont College Guatay Harbor Island Hillcrest Imperial Beach Imperial Valley Jacumba Jamacha-Lomita Jamul Julian Kearny Mesa Kensington La Jolla Lakeside La Mesa Lemon Grove Leucadia Liberty Station Lincoln Acres Lincoln Park Linda Vista Little Italy Logan Heights Mesa College Midway District MiraCosta College Miramar Miramar College Mira Mesa Mission Beach Mission Hills Mission Valley Mountain View Mount Hope Mount Laguna National City Nestor Normal Heights North Park Oak Park Ocean Beach Oceanside Old Town Otay Mesa Pacific Beach Pala Palomar College Palomar Mountain Paradise Hills Pauma Valley Pine Valley Point Loma Point Loma Nazarene Potrero Poway Rainbow Ramona Rancho Bernardo Rancho Penasquitos Rancho San Diego Rancho Santa Fe Rolando San Carlos San Marcos San Onofre Santa Ysabel Santee San Ysidro Scripps Ranch SDSU Serra Mesa Shelltown Shelter Island Sherman Heights Skyline Solana Beach Sorrento Valley Southcrest South Park Southwestern College Spring Valley Stockton Talmadge Temecula Tierrasanta Tijuana UCSD University City University Heights USD Valencia Park Valley Center Vista Warner Springs

Work lunches without waistband expansion

"It's full of protein and it doesn't give him the afternoon nappies."

Indian Madras Lentils from Costco: only a few minutes in the microwave!
Indian Madras Lentils from Costco: only a few minutes in the microwave!

My love Patrick, after a few years of working at home, got called back to work in the office a few weeks ago. He immediately started blowing our budget (and his waistline) buying lunches at the surrounding Golden Hill eateries. The Frenchie pie at Pizzeria Luigi — ham, pear, caramelized onions, blue cheese, $23.25 — has been a favorite. So has the massaman chicken curry at 55 Thai, $8.00. But they’ve caused noticeable decrease in our bank account, and increase in my man’s mid-section.

“I need to get my beach bod back,” he sighed, “since summer is just around the corner. Can you make some inquiries and compile a list of healthy lunches for your man?”

I wanted his beach bod back, too, so I got right on it.

Trader Joe’s is your friend in this,” said Regina. “They have delicious personal salads. We like the Southwest Salad with black beans, red peppers, corn, it has a nice tang to it ($3.49 for 9 ounces) or their Cobb Salad ($4.49 for 9.5 ounces.) My husband enjoys their Fig & Olive Crisps ($3.99 for 5.3 ounces) along with their Chevre Honey Goat cheese; it’s a tasty combo ($3.79 for 8 ounces). Sometimes my man has a hankering for something warm. Lentils take only a few minutes in the microwave,” she added. (Steamed Lentils, $3.29 for 17.6 ounces.) “Or I go with Indian Madras Lentils from Costco, which my hubby enjoys ($11.69 for eight 10-ounce packets).”

Sponsored
Sponsored

“I like these insulated lunchbags called Lifewit Bento Bag,” she added “They are a nice tall size, almost 10 inches, so you can pack quite a few food containers in it. They are waterproof, easy to clean and come in a nice manly gray.” ($21.99 on Amazon for the Lifewit Insulated Bento Bag.)

“I like to make a frittata for the week,” offered Bernice over lunch at Lofty Coffee, eating their fig-gruyere croissant. “Frittata is basically a crustless quiche or egg pie, which I fill with meat and veggies.”

I pried further for some cooking details.

“I take my cast-iron skillet, fry up some bacon and throw in leftover veggies from the week. Then I add a little roasted sweet potato or sun-dried tomato, salt and red pepper flakes, and about 10-12 beaten eggs. Sometimes I add some Parmesan cheese if I have it in the fridge. Then I put the skillet in the oven and bake for 15 minutes. Once cooled, I slice it up. I pack this for my husband with a little fresh salsa on the side and he loves it. It’s full of protein and it doesn’t give him the after-lunch nappies.”

Kathleen’s hubby is the chef in their home. “My husband has always made our lunches, home-cooked,” said Kathleen. He caught a fish, made stock, added rice and veggies, and of late he sends that light fish soup with me to work. I do 12-hour shifts so I eat a light lunch but by 3:00 pm I need to eat again, so I also bring cheese and apples, and sometimes berries with me for the mid-afternoon snack.”

“Sub sandwiches from Walmart are tasty and affordable,” replied Lorraine ($3.98 for Marketside Italian Hero Sub; $3.98 for Marketside New York Deli).

“Lunch meat and cheese on sandwich thins are also good,” she continued. “Apple slices, bananas, trail mix, string cheese and good old PB and J or PB and banana sandwiches.”

“For healthy lunches,” replied Sarah, “I pack brown rice cakes ($2.99 for 8.5 ounces of Brown Rice Organic cakes at Trader Joe's). “They go well with a little almond butter (Kirkland Creamy Almond Butter, $7.39 for 27 ounces at Costco). Also, the individual cups of guacamole from Costco, Wholly Guacamole Minis, ($13.89 for twenty 2-ounce cups) with Multigrain Tortilla chips is a quick snack ($5.99 for 24 ounces at Costco). I often also send apples, turkey slices, cheese, and sometimes carrots with him. It seems to fill my husband up and not give him that afternoon low that sometimes a high-carb lunch can do.”

“The best thing we did,” answered Meg, “was buy my husband a fridge for his office, so now he buys what he wants, stocks his office fridge, and no more kids eating Dad’s lunches. He usually brings a ham sandwich with a pickle on the side, plus cottage cheese and almonds for extra protein.”

The latest copy of the Reader

Please enjoy this clickable Reader flipbook. Linked text and ads are flash-highlighted in blue for your convenience. To enhance your viewing, please open full screen mode by clicking the icon on the far right of the black flipbook toolbar.

Here's something you might be interested in.
Submit a free classified
or view all
Previous article

Dia de los Muertos Celebration, Love Thy Neighbor(Hood): Food & Art Exploration

Events November 2-November 6, 2024
Indian Madras Lentils from Costco: only a few minutes in the microwave!
Indian Madras Lentils from Costco: only a few minutes in the microwave!

My love Patrick, after a few years of working at home, got called back to work in the office a few weeks ago. He immediately started blowing our budget (and his waistline) buying lunches at the surrounding Golden Hill eateries. The Frenchie pie at Pizzeria Luigi — ham, pear, caramelized onions, blue cheese, $23.25 — has been a favorite. So has the massaman chicken curry at 55 Thai, $8.00. But they’ve caused noticeable decrease in our bank account, and increase in my man’s mid-section.

“I need to get my beach bod back,” he sighed, “since summer is just around the corner. Can you make some inquiries and compile a list of healthy lunches for your man?”

I wanted his beach bod back, too, so I got right on it.

Trader Joe’s is your friend in this,” said Regina. “They have delicious personal salads. We like the Southwest Salad with black beans, red peppers, corn, it has a nice tang to it ($3.49 for 9 ounces) or their Cobb Salad ($4.49 for 9.5 ounces.) My husband enjoys their Fig & Olive Crisps ($3.99 for 5.3 ounces) along with their Chevre Honey Goat cheese; it’s a tasty combo ($3.79 for 8 ounces). Sometimes my man has a hankering for something warm. Lentils take only a few minutes in the microwave,” she added. (Steamed Lentils, $3.29 for 17.6 ounces.) “Or I go with Indian Madras Lentils from Costco, which my hubby enjoys ($11.69 for eight 10-ounce packets).”

Sponsored
Sponsored

“I like these insulated lunchbags called Lifewit Bento Bag,” she added “They are a nice tall size, almost 10 inches, so you can pack quite a few food containers in it. They are waterproof, easy to clean and come in a nice manly gray.” ($21.99 on Amazon for the Lifewit Insulated Bento Bag.)

“I like to make a frittata for the week,” offered Bernice over lunch at Lofty Coffee, eating their fig-gruyere croissant. “Frittata is basically a crustless quiche or egg pie, which I fill with meat and veggies.”

I pried further for some cooking details.

“I take my cast-iron skillet, fry up some bacon and throw in leftover veggies from the week. Then I add a little roasted sweet potato or sun-dried tomato, salt and red pepper flakes, and about 10-12 beaten eggs. Sometimes I add some Parmesan cheese if I have it in the fridge. Then I put the skillet in the oven and bake for 15 minutes. Once cooled, I slice it up. I pack this for my husband with a little fresh salsa on the side and he loves it. It’s full of protein and it doesn’t give him the after-lunch nappies.”

Kathleen’s hubby is the chef in their home. “My husband has always made our lunches, home-cooked,” said Kathleen. He caught a fish, made stock, added rice and veggies, and of late he sends that light fish soup with me to work. I do 12-hour shifts so I eat a light lunch but by 3:00 pm I need to eat again, so I also bring cheese and apples, and sometimes berries with me for the mid-afternoon snack.”

“Sub sandwiches from Walmart are tasty and affordable,” replied Lorraine ($3.98 for Marketside Italian Hero Sub; $3.98 for Marketside New York Deli).

“Lunch meat and cheese on sandwich thins are also good,” she continued. “Apple slices, bananas, trail mix, string cheese and good old PB and J or PB and banana sandwiches.”

“For healthy lunches,” replied Sarah, “I pack brown rice cakes ($2.99 for 8.5 ounces of Brown Rice Organic cakes at Trader Joe's). “They go well with a little almond butter (Kirkland Creamy Almond Butter, $7.39 for 27 ounces at Costco). Also, the individual cups of guacamole from Costco, Wholly Guacamole Minis, ($13.89 for twenty 2-ounce cups) with Multigrain Tortilla chips is a quick snack ($5.99 for 24 ounces at Costco). I often also send apples, turkey slices, cheese, and sometimes carrots with him. It seems to fill my husband up and not give him that afternoon low that sometimes a high-carb lunch can do.”

“The best thing we did,” answered Meg, “was buy my husband a fridge for his office, so now he buys what he wants, stocks his office fridge, and no more kids eating Dad’s lunches. He usually brings a ham sandwich with a pickle on the side, plus cottage cheese and almonds for extra protein.”

Comments
Sponsored

The latest copy of the Reader

Please enjoy this clickable Reader flipbook. Linked text and ads are flash-highlighted in blue for your convenience. To enhance your viewing, please open full screen mode by clicking the icon on the far right of the black flipbook toolbar.

Here's something you might be interested in.
Submit a free classified
or view all
Previous article

Gonzo Report: Three nights of Mission Bayfest bring bliss

“This is a top-notch production.”
Next Article

The Fellini of Clairemont High

When gang showers were standard for gym class
Comments
Ask a Hipster — Advice you didn't know you needed Big Screen — Movie commentary Blurt — Music's inside track Booze News — San Diego spirits Classical Music — Immortal beauty Classifieds — Free and easy Cover Stories — Front-page features Drinks All Around — Bartenders' drink recipes Excerpts — Literary and spiritual excerpts Feast! — Food & drink reviews Feature Stories — Local news & stories Fishing Report — What’s getting hooked from ship and shore From the Archives — Spotlight on the past Golden Dreams — Talk of the town The Gonzo Report — Making the musical scene, or at least reporting from it Letters — Our inbox Movies@Home — Local movie buffs share favorites Movie Reviews — Our critics' picks and pans Musician Interviews — Up close with local artists Neighborhood News from Stringers — Hyperlocal news News Ticker — News & politics Obermeyer — San Diego politics illustrated Outdoors — Weekly changes in flora and fauna Overheard in San Diego — Eavesdropping illustrated Poetry — The old and the new Reader Travel — Travel section built by travelers Reading — The hunt for intellectuals Roam-O-Rama — SoCal's best hiking/biking trails San Diego Beer — Inside San Diego suds SD on the QT — Almost factual news Sheep and Goats — Places of worship Special Issues — The best of Street Style — San Diego streets have style Surf Diego — Real stories from those braving the waves Theater — On stage in San Diego this week Tin Fork — Silver spoon alternative Under the Radar — Matt Potter's undercover work Unforgettable — Long-ago San Diego Unreal Estate — San Diego's priciest pads Your Week — Daily event picks
4S Ranch Allied Gardens Alpine Baja Balboa Park Bankers Hill Barrio Logan Bay Ho Bay Park Black Mountain Ranch Blossom Valley Bonita Bonsall Borrego Springs Boulevard Campo Cardiff-by-the-Sea Carlsbad Carmel Mountain Carmel Valley Chollas View Chula Vista City College City Heights Clairemont College Area Coronado CSU San Marcos Cuyamaca College Del Cerro Del Mar Descanso Downtown San Diego Eastlake East Village El Cajon Emerald Hills Encanto Encinitas Escondido Fallbrook Fletcher Hills Golden Hill Grant Hill Grantville Grossmont College Guatay Harbor Island Hillcrest Imperial Beach Imperial Valley Jacumba Jamacha-Lomita Jamul Julian Kearny Mesa Kensington La Jolla Lakeside La Mesa Lemon Grove Leucadia Liberty Station Lincoln Acres Lincoln Park Linda Vista Little Italy Logan Heights Mesa College Midway District MiraCosta College Miramar Miramar College Mira Mesa Mission Beach Mission Hills Mission Valley Mountain View Mount Hope Mount Laguna National City Nestor Normal Heights North Park Oak Park Ocean Beach Oceanside Old Town Otay Mesa Pacific Beach Pala Palomar College Palomar Mountain Paradise Hills Pauma Valley Pine Valley Point Loma Point Loma Nazarene Potrero Poway Rainbow Ramona Rancho Bernardo Rancho Penasquitos Rancho San Diego Rancho Santa Fe Rolando San Carlos San Marcos San Onofre Santa Ysabel Santee San Ysidro Scripps Ranch SDSU Serra Mesa Shelltown Shelter Island Sherman Heights Skyline Solana Beach Sorrento Valley Southcrest South Park Southwestern College Spring Valley Stockton Talmadge Temecula Tierrasanta Tijuana UCSD University City University Heights USD Valencia Park Valley Center Vista Warner Springs
Close

Anchor ads are not supported on this page.

This Week’s Reader This Week’s Reader