I just signed this book out of the library and it has lots of yummy ideas:
But here are a few other packable ideas:
Mains
- bagel-wich with cream cheese, thinly sliced red onion, smoked turkey (or ham or chicken), and a bit of cranberry sauce
- tuna salad sandwich on whole wheat with lettuce and tomato
- garden salad (lettuce, tomato, cucumber, carrot, etc.) topped with crumbled hard boiled egg and a homemade vinaigrette
- greek salad (romaine, black olives, feta, red onion, cucumber) with diced cooked chicken
- egg salad sandwich with lettuce and tomato on bun
- cold meatloaf sandwich on soft bread
- cobb salad (romaine, diced cooked turkey, cheese cubes, hard boiled eggs, bacon, tomato) with homemade ranch dressing or a vinaigrette
A deli rotisserie chicken can go a long way for lunches too - turn it into chicken salad for sandwiches or to top on salad, add slices/cubes to any green salad, add into a pasta salad, etc. If you have a thermos to keep things warm, you can also make quick homemade soups with rotisserie chicken or chicken chili, etc. and pack it for lunch.
I keep a list on my phone with these categories and then when I'm shopping I make sure to pick a mix from each category for snacks:
Fruits - berries, melon, pineapple, oranges, apples, bananas, etc.
Veggies - carrot sticks, celery, bell pepper, cucumber, etc.
Protein - hard boiled eggs, cooked chicken, cheese, greek yogurt, etc.
Healthy fats - olives, seeds, etc.