Time sure flies when your having… well it seems to fly no matter what! This is my first post in some time because sometimes life simply gets away from me! I am delighted to say however that I had the opportunity to not only take a break from posting but to take a much needed life break. My husband and I were fortunate to escape our every day chaos and take a 3 night cruise with Royal Caribbean. My wonderful mother-in-law watched our 4 children for 4 days and we had a true break of the mind, body and soul!

This was our first ever cruise. I wasn’t sure how I would feel. I was concerned about being sea sick. I was concerned about feeling trapped. I was concerned I would just not like it at all! All my concerns proved to be unfounded! My husband and I are most definitely “cruise people” and had a fabulous time! With so much to do, so much to see and so much to eat, how can you not enjoy yourself? Not to mention the views were simply spectacular!

View from our cabana on Coco Cay (Royal Caribbean’s private island)

Sunset on board the Enchantment of the Seas

This also meant a temporary break from packing lunch but not for long!

The lunch featured at the top of this post is a leftover lunch. Most of the grown-up lunches I feature on this blog are derived from family dinner leftovers. In this case, this is actually leftovers from Father’s Day. To celebrate my husband we had dinner at his favorite Mexican restaurant! Let’s face it when you go out to eat the portions you receive are often more then you can (ok should) eat. If you keep the idea of packing the leftovers for lunch in mind you may be inclined to eat a more reasonable portion. However even if you do indulge (and hey we all sometimes do) whatever amount you have leftover can still become your lunch by simply filling it out! My Easylunchboxes container is always a great way to turn today’s restaurant leftovers into a filling lunch for work tomorrow! Be honest, how many times have you brought restaurant leftovers home only to throw them out? Don’t do that! Pack them up and take them to work for lunch hour!

In this case, I have pulled my leftover Chori Pollo (Chicken with chorizo sausage) out of a sad restaurant take home tin and freshened it up. While I sat at my desk and worked I enjoyed this meal a second time! No leftovers were thrown out!

This lunch included:

• Leftover Chori Pollo  and rice which I served on a bed of lettuce harvested from my own garden.
• Way Better Snacks Sweet Potato Tortilla Chips
• Fruit salad of grapes, blueberries and strawberries

I have to admit I was pretty excited to open my lunchbox that day! This is one of my favorite eat out meals and I was happy to enjoy it just as much the second time around!

Sincerely,

Deb

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In New England central air conditioning is not a given. Contrary to what you might think our summers are hot! Really hot! At my house we simply have the air conditioners that you put in the bedroom windows. This does allow us to sleep in comfort. There is very little chance however that when the thermometer reads over 90 that I am cooking in the oven! No way! So instead we turn to the grill, a salad, the occasional take-out order or pick up a precooked rotisserie chicken. In one sitting my family will often eat everything on a rotisserie chicken but the leg and thigh which I save for lunches. I can pack one for my husband and one for myself or spread it out. In this case, I also had leftover pasta and meatballs so my husband had those and I took the chicken (I’ll be honest because it is a lower calorie option than the meatballs and pasta)!

Day one – On the first day I served my leftover rotisserie chicken with mashed potatoes (also leftover). On the side I had naval orange slices, cherries, raw snap peas, raw carrots and raw red pepper strips. The portion of mashed potatoes is relatively small (1/2 cup) as I measured for calorie counting. This meal cries out for corn-on-the-cob but I didn’t have any! Since I had no meal veggie, I went with a variety of fruits and veggies on the side as opposed to another snack option!

Day two –  The second time around I went with leftover grilled cauliflower with my chicken. Since the cauliflower was spray with cooking spray and seasoned (chili powder, garlic powder, italian seasoning, salt & pepper) it is a much lower calorie option then the mashed potatoes. This meant I could have a much bigger serving (about 1 cup here). On the side I served cucumber slices, red grapes and popcorn chips.

So even though the chicken was basically the same, eating it two days in a row still offered me a variety. I simply just mixed up what I offered it with. The bright colors of my fresh fruits and veggies also really appealed to me! I just love bright colors!

Sincerely,

Deb

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Summer is coming! I suppose for many summer is already here. I live in New England though where summer takes awhile to settle in. I do smell it coming in the air. The lawns are being mowed, the annuals are being planted, vacation plans being made and school is almost out. Yes, summer truly is coming!

Summer means more time outdoors and more time in shorts and bathing suits. For me this is all the more reason to watch what I eat! Plus when the heat is on one tends to eat less.  I try to make my calories count (when I’m good). So I am looking for ways to lighten up my food.

For example:

Using sandwich thins instead of regular bread. The sandwich thin pictured above is whole wheat and just 100 calories compared to the 80ish calories per slice that most breads are.

Using a lemon hummus to dip my fresh veggies, this is just 50 calories per 2 tablespoons compared to the 110 calories of 2 tablespoons of a ranch veggie dip.

Measuring my condiments with measuring spoons. 1 tablespoon of a typical mayo has 90 calories! If I were to squeeze the bottle right onto my sandwich I am sure I would use that and more so I measure out 1/2 tablespoon. I just don’t seem to like the reduced calories mayos so I’d rather measure and use carefully.

All in all this lunch comes in around 500 calories and includes: a chicken cutlet sandwich with mayo, cherries, red peppers, carrots, snap peas, lemon hummus, Naturebox Guacamole Bites and Beanitos Chipotle BBQ chips.

For me this is a good calorie allotment for lunch. You should adjust your calories based upon your needs! I like to use my Easylunchbox (container shown in picture) as a guide. Once you know your calorie goal you can assign each compartment an approximate calorie amount.

Looking to add calories? Try adding a slice of ham and/or cheese to the sandwich. Use regular bread.

Looking to skim calories? Skip the bread and serve your chicken over or wrapped in lettuce. Sub out the mayo. Swap the Guacamole Bites and Beanitos for popcorn.

Most importantly this lunch had variety, great flavor, was filling for me and kept me from consuming twice the calories in less healthy options at a fast food place!

Sincerely,

Deb

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