Quick, healthy & easy meals for a teacher on the go

[Anonymous]

Hello everyone,

Thanks for opening this as I know it's a somewhat frequent topic, however my situation is a bit different than many of the posts so I hope it does warrant a new post- I appreciate your ideas!

I'm a teacher (single, so cooking/eating for one) and grad student trying to plan easy meals that take very little prep time, both for dinner when I come home exhausted at the end of the day and lunch (right now I have no access to a fridge/microwave, although that may change).

I don't mind eating most things at room temperature, as long as they can sit out for 4 or so hours. Every day I am out of the house for 10-15 hours, so I usually have to buy something along the way, which is fine, but I'm trying to eat healthfully as well which is hard given how little time I have. I love fresh fruits and veggies (and basically all food groups, omnivore with no allergies). I also love cooking but just do not have the time now.

If you have any tips or suggestions, please post! Thank you!

My ideas...
Breakfast
oatmeal with almond butter/peanut butter

Lunch
hummus with pretzels/carrots

[Anonymous]

You could do simple sandwiches with veggies, e.g., tomato or cucumber sandwich. Also, get one of those flat freeze packs and an insulated lunch bag. That will keep your lunch nice and cool until you eat it. How about salads? Make a big pot of something during the weekend and eat it when you come home for dinner. Or cook and freeze for later use.

[Anonymous]

My friend is a teacher and she buys chobani yogurt that she can eat quick at work in the morning. It has a lot of protein so it keeps her full. She also brings almonds for a midmorning snack. Lunch is usually a sandwich with some pop chips.

Dinner...could you put something in the crock pot? My crockpot turns off automatically when the time is up, so you don't have to worry about having mush by the time you get home. If you make enough, you can freeze or just eat leftovers. When I was single, I was the leftover queen.

Hope this helps.

[Anonymous]

Make a big pot of pasta salad w veggies on Sunday night. It'll last a few days. Then Wednesday or thurs make a new pot of pasta salad.

[Anonymous]

Hi OP! You are me. Or we are very similar.

I have insulated lunchboxes and cold packs for at least two meals a day. I don't bring breakfast because, if I eat in the morning, I do so at home. I like oatmeal, hardboiled eggs, or a fruit smoothie with yogurt, protein powder and frozen fruit.

Lately, for the other meals, I've been cooking one major meal on sunday for lunches, and having singular cold items for the other days. I do go out once a week for dinner and also use those leftovers...but for simplicity sake, here is a typical week.

Sunday: make lentil soup in crock pot and tabbouleh salad (augmented by cannellinis or whatever other protein might work)

Monday: lentil soup. sliced tomato or cucumber. sliced cheese. ww tortilla or crackers. banana or other fruit.

Tuesday: hummus, crackers. fruit. carrots. tabbouleh.

Wednesday: end of lentil soup. side of basmati rice. fruit. maybe some hummos and crackers.

Thursday: leftovers (pasta, likely), fruit, and a chocolate bar because by now my sweet tooth is killing me.

I cook again on Thursday because I get home early. Usual choices are a quiche and a fruit muffin recipe with half the flour replaced by protein powder.

Friday: something leftover from Thursday. A muffin. More cucumbers. A martini after work.

Weekend is a sweep of leftovers and a new plan based on my washington green grocers delivery.

Hope this helps.

[Anonymous]

Here are some lunch/snack ideas:

-crackers and individual packets of nut or peanut butter like Justin's brand (or sun butter if your school doesn't allow nuts; you may have to buy the latter online)
-jerky
-dried fruit, fruit cups, fresh fruit
-chips & individual packet of salsa
-granola & yogurt
-individually wrapped cheese sticks
-fresh veggies & individual packets of ranch dressing

[Anonymous]

Insulated bag is a must!

Big salad packed in a plastic container that fits inside your bag. You can add tofu, hard boiled eggs, nuts, sunflower seeds to make it more substantial.

Asian noodle salad that's heavy on the veggies and light on the noodle (you should be able to make assemble this quickly if you buy some prepared dressing).

Make sure you are eating enough: multiple fruits and vegetables + hummus +nuts+ another main dish + a stash of emergency snacks.

At home you could do stuff like rotisserie chicken (if you eat meat). If this is just short term, I would got to TJ and get a bunch of prepared meals and frozen vegetables to make your life easier.

[Anonymous]

I'm a teacher and have many of the same issues. I'm fortunate to have an hour break (although many times I miss/forego it to get work done) and end up going to Panera, which is right across the street. Not good for my waistline or wallet.

Anyway, I ran across this and found it helpful. Hope you do too:

http://www.weareteachers.com/community/weareteachers-blog/blog-wat/2012/08/13/healthy-school-lunches-for-teachers

[Anonymous]

I am also a teacher but thankfully have access too micro and fridge.

I am really into nut butters lately- almond especially. Sandwiches with that and some jam or jelly on pita is really yummy. I also really enjoy apples dipped in Peanut Butter. Jiff makes natural ready-to-go PB that's in little disposable containers. Wasteful, but very convenient and a good portion size.

If you make a salad with quinoa and whatever fresh veggies, olives, peppers, chicken, cheese, etc. that you like, you can keep a big bowl of it in the fridge for the work week and just add oil and vinegar to individual portions as you pack them in the mornings. That is very tasty room temp. Our current favorite combo is tomatoes, kalamata olives, feta, chicken, and quinoa with red wine vinegar and olive oil. Quinoa is filling and full of protein.

[Anonymous]

^I have no idea why I capitalized peanut butter- must be tired!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:^I have no idea why I capitalized peanut butter- must be tired!

Or hungry?