Alternatives to the Boring Salad or Sandwich

Wraps?. Do wraps count as different from a sandwich? That's what I usually have when I'm sick of sandwiches or salads - plus they're a bit better for you than a sandwich bc you avoid the carbs in bread, and don't really miss them. You can try a spinach wrap for some extra nutrients. Hope that helps.

Creative Salad Lunches. I am a big fan of salad for lunch, as heavier lunches make the afternoon at work rough. But, I know what you mean about trying to keep them interesting, and easy. What i do is to stock my pantry with canned goods that can easily be thrown into a salad to create a nice twist. For instance, sliced olives, artichoke hearts, water chestnuts, baby corn, black beans, chick peas, tuna/crab meat are all good options. I also sometimes get a bag of mixed, frozen veggies. I make my lunch the night before, so I throw some of the above combo (frozen veggies thaw by lunch the next day) in with lettuce, sliced tomatoes, cucumbers, and mushrooms, and I've got a meal! Mix and match to keep it interesting.

Great Lunches. For starters, a salad or sandwich only has to be as boring as you let it be. For salads try varying your ingredients. Pick a couple of these for your next salad: sliced strawberries, grapes, grapefruit sections, mandarin oranges, pepper slices, avocado, walnuts, sunflower seeds, pecans, blue or feta cheese, the list is endless. Instead of a sandwich make a wrap or stuff a pita. Again be creative with the ingredients, balance sweet fruity flavors with something crunchy. If you have access to a microwave you can always bake a sweet potato to go with a salad and/or some leftover rotisserie chicken. Soups, stews, and lowfat pasta salads with lots of veggies are also good options. Whatever you do, make it special, like a real meal not an afterthought. Pack a cloth napkin and real silverware. Take time to savor your food and enjoy it. Lunch should be something you look forward to. A time to relax and rejuvenate.