When I was growing up my parents owned several restaurants in my hometown. It was awesome because I always had somewhere to work and somewhere to take my friends to hang out. I also thought it was awesome that I could eat there for free. I am starting to realize that it was in fact not so awesome. No, I am not going to blame my weight gain on my parent's restaurant. That would mean that I was taking no responsibility for what I was putting in my mouth. I know that there were salads on the menu and I chose burgers and fries instead. I also know though that if it wasn't so easy and free to get food there I wouldn't have had the opportunity to eat whatever I wanted.
I worked as a waitress for 6 years before I started my "big kid job" that I do now. I loved being a waitress! I loved always having cash in hand. I loved seeing regulatrs who felt like family and tipped me really well. I also loved that I was on my feet all day. I was constantly moving and never sedentary like I am at my current job. I used to work the lunch shift which was about 10-2. I would then clock out and order some serious food. I would be starving because I never ate breakfast. I was usually still half sleeping when I would get to work. I am not really a morning person. I honestly had to practice getting up early enough to make it to my "big kid job". Sad, I know.
Okay, so back to lunch food. I usually ordered a grilled chicken sandwich that was either covered in swiss cheese and bacon or buffalo sauce and blue cheese. Just typing it makes my mouth water. Is that bad? I would usually get the 1/2 and 1/2 with it which is 1/2 french fries and 1/2 onion rings extra crispy. I would then dip everything in homemade ranch dressing. The food at my parent's restaurant was awesome. All of the sauces were homemade and delicious. We also had two lunch specials everyday which were things like; spaghetti, meatloaf, beef stroganoff, hot turkey, hot beef, goulash, baked chicken and so on. They were either accompied by bread or mashed potatoes smothered in homemade gravy. It is no wonder that I gained approximately 50 pounds or more from freshamn year to senior year!
So, lunch no longer looks like that for me for many reasons. For starters my parent's no longer own those restaurants and I no longer live in my hometown. The most important reason though is that I am choosing a different way of life. I may not want to eat healthy right now, but I want to feel healthier and look better. So, that is my driving motivation right now. Although my lunches of yesteryear are mostly a thing of the past lunch is still my favorite meal of the day. I feel like lunch is exciting and always changing and never boring. Lunch breaks up my day and makes me realize that my work day is half over. Lunch means socializing with friends and take a much needed break. Lunch is delicious!
So, what does lunch mean for me now? What do I eat to satisfy my hunger all the way to dinner? I am a big sandwich person. Sandwich usually means carbohydrates, which I try to eat less of, so I by bread that is light, whole grain and fiber filled. I want it to make me feel full longer. I like to make wrap sandiwches, regular sandiwches, panini's, salads and soup for lunch.
Flatout Wrap sandwich with turkey, lettuce tomato and onion sprinkled with herbs and garlic powder. Side of raspberry/blackberry mixture along with some Veggie Straws.
Mixed Greens, lean beef tips, feta cheese, tomato and Newman's Own Lighten Up Roast Garlic Balsamic Dressing.
In a general sense I stay away from frozen meals. I usually find them to be less filling, more sodium filled and more carbohydrates than just making my own lunch creation. The one exception to this is Smart Ones Santa Fe Rice and Beans. It is my cure to a chipotle craving. I really miss Chipotle sometimes, so I make this Smart Ones meal and I put it over salad greens to make a sort of homemade burrito bowl. It really does the trick and makes the craving go away!
This is what it looks like before it is mixed. Yum!
This is making me really hungry for lunch. Today I have a delicious wrap sandiwch just like the one shown above! Tomorrow's post is about clothes. Those that fit, those that don't and those that hopefully will soon!
