Community Newspaper Special Sections Bergen County Fall Dining Guide | Page 22
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2016 FALL DINING GUIDE
Five ways to say goodbye
to your ‘sad desk lunch’
There’s a lot that can
get between you and a
much-needed healthy lunch
at work. Getting away from your
desk and getting creative with your
midday meal will have you enjoying
what you eat at work from now on.
WALK AWAY FROM YOUR DESK
Do you eat at your desk every day? You have a
lunch break for a reason; so use it. You’re busy
and need a few minutes to recharge throughout
the day. You’ll come back refreshed and ready to
be productive for the rest of the afternoon. Eating
at your desk also means you’re probably multitasking, not paying attention to your food. Leaving
your desk will help you become a more mindful
eater and you’ll enjoy your meal more. Take a
walk, socialize with coworkers, do something that
gets you up and moving for at least 15 minutes.
BAKE UP A BATCH OF HEALTHY CHIPS
Step away from the snack machine. You don’t
need those stale potato chips. You can bake your
own with only six ingredients. Thickly slice two
pounds of potatoes and coat them with olive oil
and one tablespoon of salt. Season with cayenne
and ground pepper. Arrange the slices on a
greased baking sheet and bake at 400 degrees for
30 minutes until potatoes are crisp and golden
brown. Then, spread them out on parchment
paper, sprinkle with salt and enjoy. Pack a
handful of chips in your lunch each day for more
crunch and less guilt.
STRAY FROM THE PB AND J
Peanut butter and jelly might be a staple, but
it’s time for a grown-up work lunch. You can find
sandwich fixings that are not only easy and quick,
but take your lunch to the next level. Try a gourmet
chicken salad like the no-mayo Avocado Chicken
Salad from Willow Tree Farm. It’s a better-foryou option, saving you calories and fat, because
it’s made with Aveyo, a spread simply containing
Hass avocado, white vinegar, olive oil, sea salt
and lime juice. It takes the place of eggs and
most of the oil, while still maintaining that classic
creamy texture and flavor.
FIND A NEW WAY TO PACK YOUR SALAD
Forget about soggy, wilted lettuce. One of the
best ways to pack a salad is in a quart-sized canning jar. Put your dressing on the bottom, add in
your lettuce, veggies and any other salad toppings. Everything stays separate until it’s time to
toss together. Simply pour the salad out into a
bowl and you’re ready to eat. Your salad will also
last for a couple of days in the fridge, so you can
make a few days’ worth of lunches ahead of time.
MAKE YOUR LUNCH AT WORK
Are you always running out of time to pack a
lunch? Choose a lunch you can throw together in
minutes. A chicken salad wrap, tuna melt, pita
pocket sandwich with hummus or a Greek yogurt
parfait are all relatively simple, healthy meals you
can prepare in the office. Keep the ingredients on
hand and lunch will be a no-brainer.
Make sad desk lunches a thing of the past
with these tips. ◆
(Brandpoint)
BRANDPOINT
Y
ou’re running out the door, already late
and thinking about that important 8 a.m.
meeting. Lunch is the last thing on your
mind. In fact, you usually just pick
something up from the deli line or local
fast food place and hurry back to your desk. Sound
familiar? You’re not alone. Only one in five people
actually ditch their desks during their lunch hour.
When you feel your stomach growl, it’s all too easy
to grab something from the vending machine or –
if you remember – to pack a cold turkey sandwich.
But there are plenty of easy ways to spice up your
lunchtime routine at work. Here are some tips to
improve your mediocre midday meal: