Alternatives to salads?

[amberlink09]

Hey guys, my boss doesn't have a microwave in our office because she doesn't want it to smell like food, and this makes it pretty tough for me to eat. I was eating salads for a while but they just really don't seem to settle with me. I've tried switching lettuces and dressings and everything but I feel pretty bad after eating them. I'm also paleo so I can't just bring a sandwich. I could try eating out every day but that's hard to do and expensive. I've tried to just skip lunch, but of course that upsets my stomach too, and I get really bloated and awful cramps when I don't eat for a long time. Does any one have any suggestions on what I can eat for lunch? Thanks!

[kayare]

Lunch is the most difficult for me, too because I teach and usually just have a few minutes to reach into my drawer and eat at my desk. I like Larabars, bananas, a small package of cashew butter and a rice cake, and (my new favorite) the paleo muffins, the recipe recently posted. I eat a banana each day and rotate the others and feel quite satisfied so far. I'll be interested in other ideas as well!

[Lesley]

If I am going to be out for a long time I take some cold meat of some kind, either meatball, sliced cold roast beef, if you can eat chicken it's great, and so forth.
Then the muffins. They are delicious and nutritious.

I have been drinking fresh veggie juice, so I take some with me.

Otherwise I have no other suggestions.

[MaggieRedwings]

I do with leftovers from the night before but without a microwave that could be a bit hard to do. Otherwise, my standby is jelly & PB or nut butter on Schar's table crackers. Lately, I have been able to tolerate salads - took 10 years for that.

Love, Maggie

[mbeezie]

Since you are paleo you face a bigger challenge. How about some sliced meat roll ups - like turkey with guacamole, roast beef with horseradish etc. Hard cooked eggs hold up well, or egg salad. Cold shrimp and cocktail sauce. Fruit and nut butter is always a good option, like dates filled with cahew butter, or banana and almond butter. Maybe you could also try a smoothie - don't know how well it would hold up or if you could use a Magic Bullet at work. I do think salads are the best option but you could try to get really creative with them and use more meat than veggies. Many of us don't tolerate lettuce well so skip the lettuce (I tolerate arugula muich more than lettuce) and try some other options. I love roasted (or raw beets) with oranges, raw onions and walnuts and a light vinaigrette. Or an Asian chicken salad that uses cabbage instead of lettuce, with chicken, red peppers - dressing made with lime juice, fish sauce and sesame oil. There are millions of paleo recips on the web now - try doing a search and you should come up with some ideas.

Mary Beth

[amberlink09]

Thanks for the tips! I think I'll probably bring some meat and cheese rollups today and probably try the salad without a salad idea tomorrow, and maybe try some arugala if I'm feeling brave. I still feel terrible today and the only culprit I can find is the salad. I think I'll also restock on coconut flour so that I can make some muffins, unfortunately I just don't get along with nuts very well.

[tex]

unfortunately I just don't get along with nuts very well.

Don't feel like the Lone Ranger -- I can't handle them either.

Tex

[Zizzle]

I second the cold cut roll up idea, and the arugula salad over regular lettuces. I also have hard boiled eggs handy, and eat them with Old Bay seasoning. I frequently take an avocado to work too, and just add spices. An easy non-lettuce salad would be steamed broccoli, cauliflower, and carrots, with olive oil salt and pepper. It's great cold or at room temperature. I also tolerate fennel slaw (made with thin-sliced fennel bulbs), even cabbage slaw - especially purple cabbage, with a rice vinegar vinaigrette.

The only nut I tolerate whole is cashews, and I remember to chew really well!

[Leah]

Can most of you tolerate raw cabbage? I haven't tried it yet, but I love it. There are some good choices from everyone. Cold roasted chicken is great. I make a "salad" out of beets and avocado ( a little lime, salt and pepper). Lately, I have been able to eat black beans, so I add that to the salad with some cilantro.

Leah

[Lesley]

I haven't tried raw cabbage yet. I don't seem to be able to tolerate raw veggies except as juice, which gets rid of the fiber, but leaves the nutrients. I love it!
And fruits I make into a smoothie. The fiber is well and truly smooshed!

[DebE13]

Fortunately I live four blocks away from work so I bicycle home for lunch where I have full use of the kitchen & cook my lunch fresh each day. I like the "salad" ideas.

[mzh]

I don't know if your lunch problem has resolved yet but if not, you can always put warmed food in a thermos and you'll have a warm lunch without the microwave.

[maestraz]

Wow, lots of great lunch ideas, thanks. For the last year I have been rotating among only a few lunch items, but I see some ideas here to change things up.

[InTents]

If I'm in a situation where I can't use a microwave or oven, I'll also take hummus along with me (non-soy brands) as I can tolerate it and in a pinch it works great. Maybe try some cultured almond milk yogurt as well. My fav go to is baked chicken with a little avocado and applesauce.

[Polly]

Hi Amber,

My paleo lunch salad today:

tuna, chopped red pepper, chopped onions, minced Kalamata olives, and raisins. Dressing - equal parts EVOO and lemon juice. Very filling with an interesting blend of flavors.

Hugs,

Polly