The Importance of Eating a Healthy Lunch

This week’s September Success challenge is all about healthy lunch – and, of course, those 3 mile walks!

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Eating a healthy lunch is important for so many reasons!

• Food gives us our energy. Eating a nutrient-packed lunch helps us avoid a mid-afternoon crash!
• Skipping lunch leaves us starving by the time we get home from work or running errands. This leads to binge eating or the temptation to hit the drive-thru.
• Taking time out of your busy day to eat lunch with a friend or co-worker helps you refresh and relationship build, two things that are great for our spirits!

So what should you eat to get the nutrition you need? The key to healthy lunches lies in two components: simplicity and the brown bag. Stock up on simple, nutritious ingredients and pack your lunch the day before. By making your own meals, you are more likely to stick with your meal plan – and not eating out will save you calories, as prepared foods are often loaded with extra preservatives and sauces that add up quickly.

Leslie gives seven great, healthy lunch ideas on the second cooking disk of Walk, Eat, Lose, including a turkey and provolone sandwich on whole wheat bread, with fruit. If you don’t have the DVD set, here are two lunch recipes from Leslie’s book, Eat Smart, Walk Strong, to get you on the right track!

Turkey Pesto Wrap

• 1 whole wheat tortilla
• 1 tablespoon homemade pesto (store-bought works, too)
• 2 slices turkey breast
• 1/2 carrot shredded, or thinly sliced
• Other veggies of choice

1. Spread the pesto evenly over the tortilla.

2. Layer the turkey over the pesto.

3. Sprinkle with carrot or any other vegetables you like.

4. Wrap your sandwich up like you fold a burrito (sides in, bottom up, top down). Devour!

Makes 1 sandwich

Black Bean, Orange, and Cucumber Salad

• 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
• Juice of 1/2 lime
• 1 clove garlic, pressed
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 15-ounce cans black beans, drained
• 1 large cucumber, peeled and diced
• 2 large oranges, peeled and diced

1. Combine the olive oil, lime juice, garlic and salt in a large bowl. Mix.

2. Add the beans, cucumber and oranges, toss gently so as not to break up the beans, and serve.

Serves 6 to 8

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We’d love to hear how you plan to eat healthy lunches this week. Leave your tips and ideas in the comments!

Walk ON!