low carb packed lunch

How to Make a Healthy Low Carb Packed Lunch.

So rather than spending money on greasy fast foods or expensive salads, why not consider packing your low carb packed lunch instead? Likewise, packing a healthier lunch for kids can be equally challenging, as we know that they can be picky eaters. However, it is simply not right to feed a child a packed lunch made up of junk either. In the following, we will look at the 3 things you should remember when packing lunch, how to teach kids about healthy eating, some healthy packed lunch ideas, and tips to packing lunch without stress.

Things to Remember When Packing low carb packed lunch --

Pack enough protein

When packing a healthy low carb packed lunch, many people, particularly women, have a tendency to focus on choosing low fat, low calorie foods that are low in protein.

Protein is critical for a growing child.

Bring healthy snacks

Pack a snack for mid-morning and one for mid-afternoon.

Watch out for energy bars and pre-packaged snacks that are loaded with sugar. Low fat or fat-free snacks often contain more sugar than the regular version.

Don't drink your calories.

Ounce for ounce, fruit juice has as much sugar as regular soda. Teaching Kids about Healthy Eating --

The best way to get your children to eat healthy is through education. Helping your kids learn how to eat healthy is just as important as any other parental duties, and equally challenging and rewarding.

Take the kids grocery shopping or if they are older, let them helps to cook. When shopping, ask them to help pick out an assortment of colorful fruits and veggies. Get them eat the real foods. Challenge them to eat foods that are closest to their natural state. Reward them for eating "real" foods. Give them a say in choosing their food. Sometimes the kids balk at veggies and think the color green is reserved for frogs. Be patient with new food. Healthy low carb packed lunch Ideas --

Sandwiches

 

To cut down on unhealthy hydrogenated fats, skip the usual store-bought mayo and use mustard instead. Use leftover roast beef, pork, or chicken from dinner. Slice up a quarter of an avocado for its healthy fats.

When you buy peanut butter, check that it does not contain partially hydrogenated oil. Organic peanut butter is preferred as regular peanuts have significant pesticide load.

Other Leftovers

Fruits and Veggies

For a well-balanced low carb packed lunch, remember to bring some veggies and/or a piece of fruit.

Use leftover cooked vegetables from dinner.

Pack raw carrots sticks, sugar snap peas, celery sticks, sliced cucumber, red bell pepper strips, or cherry tomatoes. If made right, salads are delicious. Snacks

Most flavored yogurts are presweetened; a 6-oz container often has at least 3 teaspoons (12 grams) of added sugar.

Cottage cheese with fruit

 

Trail mix with unsalted nuts and dried fruits

Hummus with cut-up vegetables or whole grain crackers

Peanut or almond butter with fruit

Cheese with whole grain crackers

Baked veggie chips and fruit chips

homemade cookies with whole grain flour and less sugar

Homemade granola with less sugar

 

Whole grain cereal with less than 4 grams of sugar

Stress-Free low carb packed lunch Tips --

If your morning is always a big rush, prepare your low carb packed lunch the night before.

You could cook extra dinner and have the leftovers for lunch. Pack it in a container the night before and reheat it at work. Rinse the thermos with hot water before adding hot food so that it will keep warm longer.

Keep them in separate containers.

With a little planning, packing your low carb packed lunch is not an insurmountable task. Keep educating your children about healthy eating and help them learn to navigate the minefields of our modern day food habits.

Remember to incorporate enough protein and some colorful veggies into your healthy low carb packed lunch.

Different Kinds of Prepared low carb packed lunch Meals.

There are a few varieties of prepared meals available, such as the TV dinner or one made by a weight loss programmed. As for the meals bought prepared to assist weight-loss most of these advantages still apply. However, now there is the fact that these meals are put together to reach a certain calorie level or, more specifically, come under a certain calorie level. This is to make the process of weight loss much easier as you do not have to take the time to calculate the amount of calories in each individual ingredient. FromJapan, there are now Bento boxes, which are small and compact and come in plastic boxes. Bento boxes generally serve the same purpose as a TV dinner does in theUnited States, as Bento originates from a word meaning convenient. It can be bought cheaply from convenience stores, or it can be made at home, or a gourmet version can be found to buy in restaurants. The meals may be delivered to their homes and can be heated through, easily. These meals may be very simple or they may be more complex or gourmet.

 

Pre-made meals are one way in which many people experience gourmet meals, as it may be cheaper than a restaurant and there are fewer errors made like there is if a somewhat inexperienced chef were to make the meal. It is possible to order a series of planned meals from various places, also.

Complicated meals are also ordered around the holiday seasons such as Thanksgiving and Christmas. On the other end of the spectrum, there are the usual packed lunches, which are prepared meals that children can take to school.

Low Carb Packed Lunch Recipes - Sugar Free and Fat Free.

GIVE YOUR FAMILY A HEALTHY BALANCED DIET

Drinking water will stimulate your body's waste elimination system. We need to follow a balanced healthy eating plan without leaving you feeling deprived. Being organized is the key to success failing to plan is planning to fail.

Check your Portions weigh and measure suggested portions to get your daily nutritional requirement.

Always eat at least five portions of Fruit and Vegetables each day as they provide fiber, water, vitamins and minerals you need these to keep your body healthy. Bread: seeded, granary or whole meal is recommended, also whole meal pita bread and tortilla wraps.

Cereals: Wholegrain breakfast cereals, bran-based cereals, porridge and no added sugar muesli.

Potatoes: Sweet potatoes and boiled new potatoes in skins.

Pasta: Preferably whole meal. Apples and pears with the skin, peaches, plums, mango and cherries are good choices for lower G.I fruits.
 

Bean sprouts, tomatoes, curettes and celery are very low G.I. By following this healthy guide, I have lost over 4 stone and maintained my target weight and live a healthier lifestyle. Chicken & Mushroom Curry

Serves 4 - 140 calories - 4g fat per portion

450g 1lb uncooked diced boneless chicken breast

2 tablespoons curry paste

1 medium onion, chopped

2 tablespoons curry powder

2 cloves garlic, crushed

336g (12oz) mushrooms, sliced

1 tablespoon flour to thicken

3/4 pint stock made with chicken stock cube

Stir well to ensure all the chicken and vegetables are coated with the spices.

Cook for 2-3 minutes. Mix the flour with a little water to form a paste and stir into the curry to thicken. Low Fat Dessert- Lemon and Lime Cheesecake

Serves 8 - approximately 157 calories - 11.1 g fat per serving

7 low fat digestive biscuits, crushed

56g (2oz) low fat spread

1 packet sugar free lemon & lime jelly

2 medium sized eggs (separated)

168g (6oz) low fat cream cheese

140g (5oz) low fat yogurt

Gently melt low fat spread in a nonstick pan. Beat together low fat cream cheese and the 2 egg yolks, add yogurt and cooled jelly. Spread over the biscuit crumbs. Once you reach your target weight it is very important to maintain a healthier lifestyle to keep fit and healthy and enjoy and have a stress free life.

Being on and maintaining a low carb packed lunch can be a challenge. Most already prepared foods such as frozen dinners are going to contain carbs. The biggest carb offenders are foods made with flour and sugar.

Always choose water or diet soda - Most juices and of course sugar sodas will be off limits. These can seriously hurt you're low carb packed lunch and are simply wasted carbs that can be used for nourishment.

Choose unsalted versions of peanuts, cashews and almonds.

Cheese strings for your dairy selection - Dairy is generally off limits for someone on a low carb packed lunch. Yogurt cups are a favorite for dieters but these are a big no-no for someone on a low carb packed lunch. Low fat milk and skimmed milk needs to be avoided. Cheese strings however, are fast easy and low in fat!

Always carry beef jerky - Beef jerky is an excellent way to fend off the munchies or even for a midday lunch combined with a cheese string. The pre-packaged meals and deli sandwiches are loaded with unwanted carbs, fat and calories. If you really want a sandwich then nix the bread and choose a wrap. Canned fish may also have sugars added. Labels marked "light" or "low fat" does not necessarily mean low carb packed lunch.

Fruits high in sugar such as bananas, grapes, and cherries should be avoided. Instead you should choose fruits such as apples, watermelon, nectarines and most berries.

 

There is an amazing amount of food available that you can choose from to keep on your low carb packed lunch while maintaining a busy lifestyle. Remember that "low fat" and "light" doesn't necessarily mean low carb packed lunch.

Planning Healthy Low Carb Packed Lunch for Kids.

According to the British Health Foundation, only around 1% of primary school kids packed lunches meet government nutritional standards. However if you add up the money you spend on pre-prepared kids lunches and snacks you'd be shocked at how much these unhealthy kids lunches are costing, not to mention the cost to children's health.

Making Healthy low carb packed lunch for Kids.

Swap white bread for whole meal. Mini Fruit Tarts

Packed Lunches that Kids Can Make.

Get the children involved in their own packed lunches! Kids Lunch box Planner for the Week.

Ham and cream cheese sandwich; apple; Rice Crispier cake

 

Homemade mini sausage rolls - roll some cooked mini sausages in puff pastry and bake for 10mins; mini fruit salad in a sealed container topped with yoghurt; homemade cheese twists - puff pastry cut into strips, sprinkled with grated cheese, twisted and baked for 10mins.

 

Chicken and mango wrap filled with sweet peppers and baby tomatoes; mini Fruit Tart; rice crackers filled with cream cheese

Tuna Pittas - fill a pitta bread with tuna, mayonnaise and lettuce; banana; fruit flapjack.

 

The Benefits of Bringing Low Carb Packed Lunch to Work.

Packing your own lunch is a great way to stick to those resolutions to eat better and save money. It can be frustrating and stressful to run around trying to pack low carb packed lunch in the morning so I recommend doing it the night before so you can grab your lunch bag and go. So next time you don't feel like making low carb packed lunch, remember that there are some great advantages to brown bagging it.

Benefits of Packing low carb packed lunch

Saves money.

Healthier.

Saves time. Going out to get lunch can eat up your precious break time.

Saves energy/frustration. Waiting in lines, navigating slippery sidewalks, and dealing with other hungry, cranky people are not the best us of my lunch break.

Eco-Friendly. Purchasing lunch daily results in a lot of plastic and paper bags, packaging and containers being used and thrown away.

Packing low carb packed lunch eliminates a lot of waste, especially if you use a reusable lunch bag, water bottle, and baggies.

Snacks! If you're like me, you get hungry mid-morning and mid-afternoon. When I pack my lunch at home I always include yummy snacks to keep me energized. Snacking sensibly also prevents overeating at meals. Quick low carb packed lunch and Snack Suggestions:

Leftovers - Pasta, soup, salad, quinoa cakes - just package and reheat if necessary.

Hummus and fresh cut veggies like carrots, celery, bell peppers and cherry tomatoes.

Hard boiled eggs.

Greek Yogurt - it’s higher in protein and lower in sodium and carbs than regular yogurt.

String Cheese - yes, a childhood favorite.

Peanut Butter Sandwich. I love Teddy All Natural Unsalted Peanut Butter on Whole Foods Birdseed Bread.

Single serving packs of tuna.

Salad - make a large salad and bring some with your low carb packed lunch every day. Add hardboiled eggs, quinoa, beans, leftover meat or tofu and nuts and seeds.