Being a mother often leaves us as the last person in the household to be cared for on many days – not because we don’t care about our own well-being but because we get so caught up in caring for everyone else that time runs out before we make time for our own exercise, healthy eating and check-ups with the doctor.
But the truth is, steps need to be taken to balance it all out and we need to be making adequate plans to care for our own well-being. The reason for that is because we will be better for our kids and for our spouses and…ultimately ourselves if we take the time to build in quality self- care practices.
So let’s start with healthy lunch ideas, shall we? Because I’m guessing that many of you have coffee (or some other caffeinated beverage) as your “breakfast” as you work hard to feed your kids a balanced meal before they head off to school while simultaneously packing a healthy lunch…for them.
But what about you? What are you feeding yourself for lunch? Are you skipping that meal in favor of getting one more thing done on your to-do list?
I get it, I do. I’m with you on these days where I go the whole day giving quality care to everyone around me and then come to realize at the end of the day that I have yet to feed myself a quality meal. Coffee and cereal along with the occasional granola bar  does not make for a healthy diet.
But, rather than require that you figure it all out in one post, I’m going to focus on giving you some solid lunch ideas that you can go to in a pinch.
Breakfast, I’m guessing, is a bowl of cereal or granola bar and dinner is for another post – but lunch…I’m guessing you’re looking for more than the PB&J your toddler is eating or you’re hoping for something that will promote weight health while keeping your palette happy.
So, here are some options:
Try this Buffalo Chicken Wrap for only 275 calories from Fitness.com via EatingWell.com – it’s tasty and easy to put together. The recipe states it takes 35 minutes or less, but after reading the commentary you’ll find that the recipe works well for leftover chicken breast or the pre-cooked version minimizing your prep-time.
Shape Magazine put together 10 Quick and Healthy Brown Bag Lunches that you can put together in 10 minutes or less….yes please!
Livestrong.com offers up 20 of the best lunches “on the go” that you’ll want to check out. My favorite on the list? The Shrimp and Basil Pizza
At 253 calories, this Tuscan Tuna Salad Wrap is a perfect option for a healthy lunch that you can put together with ease.
You are not last on the family totem pole – so take a few extra minutes to plan out healthy lunches that work on the go or at-home, depending on what works for your situation.
You are a better mother when you are healthy – so take care of yourself and start with a healthy lunch.
What are your go-to healthy lunch recipes?
Image: Schilling 2 via Flickr
