Never worry again about staying healthy on vacation. Just read all of the comments left yesterday re: “Healthy-eating on Vacation.” Thank you all for taking the time to leave such a plethora of good advice.
Yesterday, I mentioned some portable snack ideas for healthy eating when you’re not at home. But sometimes—especially on vacations—circumstances call for portable meals as well as snacks.
That’s where tupperware comes in!
And coolers. Coolers are your best friends. Basically anything can be turned into a portable meal if put into a tupperware container (and then, optionally, a cooler). Okay, maybe not anything. Leave the Vita-Mix ice cream at home! Another good idea is to bring part of a meal and supplement the rest with something you buy while out. And even more options are open to you if you’re strange lucky like me in that you actually prefer most foods at room temperature or cold.
Some of my favorite portable lunches include: Soups, salads, sandwiches, blended grain puddings, and stir fries. Sometimes, it’s easier to “picture” meals when there are actual pictures (go figure). So I put together a photo essay with some ideas:
Starting with the Banana Butter
And then there’s also: Strawberry Shortcake Sandwich
Either savory or sweet Love Muffins
Soups, such as “No Cream” Cream Of Broccoli Soup
Pasta salads (w/veggies and dressing, like Newman’s sesame) or any cold pasta dish
“Somewhere over the Rainbow” Sandwich
And finally, salads, such as “Colonel Mustard” Salad
I could go on and on with my portable meal photos, especially with soups, salads, and leftovers. But everyone knows what a stir fry looks like, so I’ll spare you.
Photos in order of appearance:
- Banana Butter
- Carrot Cake sandwich
- Strawberry Shortcake sandwich
- Love Muffins
- All the Way Arame Salad
- “No-Cream” Cream of Broccoli soup
- Pasta stir fry
- Somewhere over the Rainbow sandwich
- Colonel Mustard salad
.
I’ll take one of everything, please!
I’m a big fan of putting leftovers from dinner into individual serving sized pyrex containers when I’m able. Salads, soups, stews, pasta dishes, etc. all work well. That way when I’m packing food for work, all I have to do is grab a container and maybe a piece of fruit or some nuts and volia, lunch! Also works well if you need to freeze anything; grabbing a frozen pyrex with soup inside will be mostly thawed by lunch.
You can also make bean burgers and individually freeze them. Much cheaper and healthier than Boca-style burgers and just as easy to heat and eat!
We sometimes take veggie burgers on the road with us and microwave them in gas stations. Other than that, it’s Tofurky deli slices and lettuce on bread or nutbutter/agave. You definitely get fancier than us away from home. Maybe I need to step it up. 🙂
I totally agree- anything that can fit in a tupperware container is portable! I even bought these nifty containers that have different sized sections so you can pack different things without them mixing together. Sort of like an “adult lunchbox” 😀
I forgot I still had some Arame left!
I usually carry a basic PB and something sandwich around in my purse hahaha but for an actual lunch I’ll make a huge salad beast with all the components in separate containers and combine when
I sit down to eat!
Maxinthegym,
I love your idea to combine everything at the end. Good way to fix the “lettuce wilting” dilemma :).
Hummus/honey sandwiches, a la Tatianna, are simply FABU and easy to eat on the go!
I still really need to try your open-faced carrot cake sandwich!!
When I’m running around and don’t have time to eat, but am hungry, I grab a bottle of kombucha; it’s vegan, filling, and easy to consume while driving and stuff.
One of the easiest things to grab and go for me is hummus and flat bread. It travels well and is yummy!
carrot cake sandwich is my favorite idea. oh what, did you come up with it? surreee 🙂
I’m in need of a good portable lunch holder!
Katherine
Hey Katie,
umm… what do I say…. EVERYTHING LOOKS DELISH!!!!!! Wow!! Hope that you are enjoying your vacation, at my house!!!!! LOL(lots of love)!