The new school semester starts tomorrow. Sadly, it will be my last semester of undergrad. I’m going to miss it—can’t I just be a lifetime student?
As you may know, being a college student requires some creativity when it comes to healthy eating. While, I didn’t go away to college—I still managed to gain the freshman 15 (+ some). This was due to my loss of motivation, rather than to lack of access to healthy foods. You can read more about my story here.
The point is: whether you’re in any level of school, college, or even the working world it can be hard to pack healthy (and interesting) lunches. Insert: the lunchbox challenge.
What is it?
I am initiating the lunchbox challenge to force myself to pack healthy, tasty, and interesting lunches each day of the week. It’s so easy to get stuck in a lunchbox rut (if you will)—in which you start packing the same thing over and over for sake of simplicity. I’m totally guilty of this (hello, hummus wrap + apple + larabar)!
I encourage you to join me in the lunchbox challenge! E-mail me (thenewhealthy@gmail.com) or simply leave me a comment if you want to be a part of it! Challenge yourself to get out of your lunchbox comfort zone!
Tomorrow will kick off the first day of the challenge!
The first week will be: 4 days, 4 wraps. <—I’m at school 3 days a week + work 1 day a week, hence the 4 days! If you have a 5-day a week schedule—then do 5 days, 5 wraps!
Are you ready to get your wrap on?
For the next 4 days, I will be making different (and hopefully yummy) wraps! I’m also going to be a little more creative with my sides. Veggies, fruits, and larabars will most likely make an appearance—but I’m going to try and change it up each day.
Not only does adding variety to your diet make eating healthy more fun and easier to stick with, but it also helps you get a larger variety of nutrients! Triple plus.
Note: I’m using the word ‘diet’ to describe the food you consume, not in terms of dieting for weight loss.
First things first: I ordered a new lunchbox (one for myself and one for Adam). A laptop lunches Bento box to be exact!
I’ll also be throwing some of Adam’s lunches in the mix just for fun.
Are you ready to see what I’m filling my lunch box with?
I’ll be back in the morning with Day 1 of 4 days, 4 wraps!
Are you ready to get your wrap on?
<3 Stefanie
P.S. I did Zumba for the first time today and it was SUCH A BLAST!! Have you guys ever tried it?
44 comments:
Once I get back to classes in a few weeks I will SO be joining you!!
I'm super jealous you got to Zumba it up today! I've wanted to try it so badly!
I lurve wraps! I pack them all the time because you can stuff just about anything into those babies and nobody has to know the odd food combinations you like :)Can't wait to get some good filling ideas.
i have never tried zumba, but it looks so fun!
Love the lunch challenge! If I had a job or somewhere to go I would join you!
Love the bento lunch boxes! So cool!!!
I am actually going to a training friday for zumba and will be a teacher! It is alot of fun! I am excited to teach! Zumba they say is going to be hot this year!
I am SO in! I get in such a lunch rut and literally pack the same thing every day, just switching an item or two (snacks or sides). I definitely have to switch it up, this is perfect! I'm more of a grain girl than a wrap girl, though, so I'll be switching up that thang instead:)
I am determined to lose the weight I put on in the past 2years! I'm going to Trader Joe's tomorrow, what do you suggest to buy for some healthy lunches and dinners??
Oh my goodness, SUPER cute lunchbox! Love it! I'm always back home at lunch time (I have to come home to let our doggie out) otherwise I would totally join this. :) Good luck!
@Amanda Hey Amanda! I posted a list of healthy foods to buy here: http://www.the-new-healthy.com/2010/12/q-all-about-food.html
E-mail me (thenewhealthy@gmail.com) and I will tell you what I bought at Trader Joe's! :)
Fun, fun! This will be great to see what you come up with! I promised readers i'd be sharing my husband's lunches on P&C so hopefully we can give each other lots of good ideas! =)
xoXOxo
Jenn @ Peas & Crayons
Your new lunchbox is ADORABLE!! Ah, yes, school starts for me tomorrow, too! But it's no different than any other day for me... mine is all online, and I work during the day. Annnyway, I suggest you incorporate some hummus into one of your wraps! Hummus is oh-so-yummy!
I take my lunch to work everyday and sometimes get in a major rut!! I'm totally game for this challenge!
I can get into the lunch rut. Can't wait to see what fun creations you come up with!
Oooh cute! I just bought a new lunchbox this weekend and I can't wait to use it tomorrow!
Lovely, great,fun Love the lunch challenge!Amanda.
I love that lunchbox! If I had somewhere to go (school, work) I would do this challenge... I stay at home with my little one... our lunch is always a salad with a side of some protein and a piece of whole wheat bread. :)
That is the cutest lunchbox ever!! I always try to brown bag it when I'm on campus as well. Unfortunately a lot of times I'm just too lazy and end up spending a buncha $$$ for something subpar. What a great challenge idea!
Congrats on your last quarter as an undergrad! :) I have 2 more left!
I love the lunch idea! I'm horrible at lunches...and planning.
I'm with you on the college/student thing. I tried to stay a student forever :) But, after my three degrees, I realized that more than anything, continuing school just leads to debt! Once you transition out of it, I'm sure you'll love it---finding a job that is enjoyable to you is the best feeling ever. You get paid for doing something you like!
Although...I do find myself missing school a little, and I have to stop myself from exploring new courses and programs...so hearing about your semester will be interesting to me! I can live vicariously :)
I've never tried Zumba---I'm afraid I'll be awful at it!
Good luck on your first day back to school :)
Zumba is SO fun, depending on the instructor!! I love it though!
Your lunchbox challenge is awesome! I'm pretty good about packing lunches and eating a variety, although I wasn't always. I used to pack the same thing every day (hummus wrap and carrot sticks and maybe a yogurt), now since my blog, I love taking leftovers and this gives me a lot more variety in my lunch which equals a wider variety of nutrients!! yay!
Sounds like a great challenge. I pack my lunch for work on most days and it would be great to get some new and interesting ideas for my lunches.
LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Zumba and in fact, my class Friday I think was the best zumba class I ever attended. My instructor was not playing around! There were actually people who walked out b/c they couldn't handle it. I stuck it out and while, yes, I felt a little-light headed by the end, it was light-headed in an amazing kinda way! Lol!
Good luck on your challenge. I'm totally guilty of lunch ruts and have to pull myself out every now and again.
just went to the laptop lunches website.. i'm in love! i can't wait for school to start again (well sort of) so I can try out some new lunches. Thanks for the great website pick :)
I start classes next week so I'm definitely going to take the lunchbox challenge. I'm sooo guilty of packing an uninspired lunch, lugging it to school/work and then ditching it and picking up something else. Excited about the new combinations you've come up with!
@Meg Yes you should! What type of schedule are you on that you still have a few weeks off?! Lucky duck! :)
If you can find a Zumba--do it! Granted it depends on the music/instructor, but my first was a BLAST!
@mollyrunsfresh Haha exactly! No one has to know until you post it all over the internet (like me) and then your weird wrap secret it out! ;)
@Christina It really is!
@Katie ♥ That is so awesome that you will be teaching Zumba!! Where will you be teaching and how do you go about getting certified? I'm intrigued! :)
@chefkatelyn Yay! If you'd like you can e-mail me pictures of your lunches and I'll do a round-up at the end of the week!! :)
Grains are good too! :)
@thisitalianfamily Thanks! You're lucky that you get to go home for lunch! :)
@Jennifer Ooh fun! I'm excited to see what you pack for your hubby? Does he like healthy foods?
@Allison @ Happy Tales Thank you! :)
Hummus has always been a staple in my house--so you will most def. see some hummus in my wraps! Except maybe not, since I'm trying to switch it up! But we'll see.
@Lauren George Yay! :) E-mail me pictures if you want to be included in the round-up at the end of the week! (thenewhealthy@gmail.com)
@MeriNew lunchboxes are so fun! What kind of lunchbox did you get?
@Daksha Thank you!
@Kate @ Diethood.com Staying home with your little one is amazing!! And your go-to lunch sounds great!
@squigglefloey Thanks girl! There are pretty much zero healthy options at my school cafeteria, so packed lunches are a must! :)
@Lisa @ Thrive Style Three degrees? I had no idea! What are your degrees in Mrs. Brainiac? ;)
I would LOVE to be a student forever--I just love learning! But yes, debt is most certainly an issue. Eh, if only school were free!
Feel free to live vicariously through me. I will mentioning school A LOT. It will be my busiest semester yet. :)
@thehealthyapron I think it def. depends on the instructor + the music + the environment! But for my first class that was all great!
Blogging totally encourages creativity and change! :)
@Cynthia I hope you get some new ideas!
@Andrea ME too!! I've only had 1 class and I'm already looking forward to the next!! I would love a challenging class like that! I'm all about pushing my limits!
@JenATX You're welcome! Aren't they all soo cute? I wanted to buy it all!
@Carla Yay!!! If you want me to include your lunches in a round-up, shoot me an e-mail with pictures! :)
Love this idea, but I don't think I can do it this week :( No time for the grocery store! Can't wait to see the ideas though! :)
What a fun challenge! (And a great way to save $$$)
I'm so happy you are doing this! I start school again next week and will be packing everyday. Looking forward to inspiration through your site!
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