Breakfast and Lunch Options

 Last week I referenced planning better for breakfast and lunch so I thought I would share my basic plan for each meal and how I bounce off of that for more ideas.  I share this because I struggle with these simple meals and, if I don't plan, I tend to grab whatever and sometimes that is cookies HA!  I am also someone who can eat the same thing almost every day and not care - I just tweak it a little here and there.  

First up, because it is how the photos loaded, is lunch! 

My basic go to lunch includes:  Two slices rolled deli meat (turkey or ham), veggies, fruit and hard boiled eggs.  How I serve that food varies!  

1. Lunch Meat - most of the time I just roll it and eat it but sometimes I spread a little cream cheese in the ham and roll it around a pickle or a green onion.  Or I'll add a little seasoning to the cream cheese, like dill, spread it on the turkey and roll that around some sliced peppers or cucumber.  

2. Veggies - Veggies and dip are an easy choice.  I also like celery with peanut butter or garden veggie cream cheese.  Another option is just a garden salad with my favorite dressing. 

3. Fruit - whatever I have in the fridge!  Oranges, Apples, Grapes, etc. 

4. Hard Boiled Eggs - you will notice in the photo that it is actually egg salad which I love.  It depends on the eggs - I over boiled this set of eggs so they were "dry" - made eating them plain a little difficult!  

As you can see there are lots of different ways I can do the same basic things. My goal with lunch is to be full until dinner!!  Eating lots of veggies really helps with that as well as getting that protein in too! 

Next, breakfast! 

My go to breakfast is a bagel thin with cream cheese, fruit and a hard boiled egg.  The key for breakfast for me - it HAS to be simple . .. like throw it in the toaster simple.  I am not a morning person and don't want to have plan time to make breakfast.  My kids both eat a bowl of cereal and that is all they want - all other breakfast foods are reserved for dinner! 

1. I love bagel thins.  I like plain and everything bagels and get my flavor of cream cheese based on the bagels I pick out!  

2. fruit - again, whatever fruit I have in the house.  I happened to have some of the cream cheese fruit dips left from New Years Eve so that is a nice treat!  

3. Just a simple hard boiled egg.  I add a little salt and just eat it for the protein.  

Sometimes I add a little babybel cheese for some added protein.  

Other options for breakfast to mix things up a little are:

1. Cream of Wheat - Yes, I love it, especially on the really cold days.  

2. Left over Breakfast Quiche or Casserole.  When we've had it for dinner and there are leftovers - it makes for the best breakfast.

3. English Muffins - if I get tired of bagel thins, I'll switch it up for a week with English Muffins with peanut butter.  

4. Frozen Waffles - this doesn't keep me full but sometimes I just like to have them with some peanut butter for a treat. 

I have found that having a base for each meal has really helped me eat better and snack less during the day.