Good healthy school lunches for grown-ups?

[eyesroll]

School will be upon me next week (eeeek!) and my SO starts his classes in September.

We've got our bento boxes (as well as regular insulated lunch bags).

I know many (most?) days will be the previous night's leftovers plus some carrots or fruit or whatever, but what other suggestions do you have? (I have access to a fridge and microwave; my SO's dining area has a microwave only.)

I'm going to hold off on buying lunch or bringing a frozen dinner as long as I can. (I know during finals and at due dates, all bets are off, but it's not going to be that bad all the time.)

Thanks!

[yellerpup]

1. I sent soft tacos in hubby's lunch today

Canned fat-free refried beans smeared on a flour tortilla and sprinkled with cheddar (or any cheese you like or no cheese at all). At lunch time nuke for one minute then fold around lettuce chiffonade and home made salsa cruda. I put in left over lean pork strips today, but any leftover meat or fish would probably go just as well. Easy gets easier if you use ready made salsa. Leftover pasta microwaves well, too, including rice noodle dishes like Thai.

Edited for clarity.

[livetohike]

2. LeftyMom posted this site a while ago on the Veggie Forum

http://veganlunchbox.blogspot.com/

It's a great site with some wonderful ideas and recipes.

[eyesroll]

3. I've seen Vegan Lunch Box before...and the ideas are cool...my concern,

though, is that a lot of those recipes will take more time than I have. I'll look around for the quicker ones.

I have used her Magical Loaf generator and it worked beautifully.

Thanks to both of you!

[supernova]

4. I cook my lunch on Sunday afternoon/evening

and then box it up. During the week, I just take a container out of the fridge and go.

I usually have some protein (OK, meat), a veg. Sometimes fruit, too. I think about not just lunch, but snacks. That way, I don't visit the vending machine in the late morning and afternoon either. I like something like nuts and cheese for snacks. I usually have tea or water to drink.

Anyway, if you don't mind eating similar things for several days, it works out very well and doesn't take a lot of time.

[NMDemDist2]

5. i always take GORP (trail mix)

the nuts and chocolate are a good pick me up with no muss no fuss

crackers and peanut butter with an apple and cheese,

applesauce is another nummy lunch thing IMO

[hvn_nbr_2]

6. If you like smoothies...

No, I don't mean the commercial ice-and-sugar-with-artificial-flavorings kind. I mean real food smoothies that you make yourself in your own blender. I've discovered that it works to make the smoothie at home, pour it into a jar, and take it to work that way. It will separate but just shake it up when you're ready for lunch. You won't want to do it every day, but once or twice a week, it can make a nice variation that can also be low-cal, high-cal, health nut, sugar high, or whatever your taste is. You'll want to keep it in the fridge at work, and your SO will probably need a lunch cooler plus some Blue Ice or something similar.

[pdxbecca]

7. Hummus

I just made hummus last night and it was good! It's really easy to make and you could make a sandwich with it or use it as a dip for veggies.:9

[SoCalDem]

8. Make your own tv dinners with "weekend cooking"

make some beef stew, some roast beef, some baked chicken, spaghetti etc.. make some home made mashed potatoes or braised potatoes, cook up some corn & green beans.. and wham.. you go several yummy tv dinners to freeze and microwave for lunch :) and you only spent a morning at the stove, since you can cook them all at the same time.

[calico1]

9. Have you ever seen this site?:

http://www.fabulousfoods.com/features/brnbag/brnbag.html