Eating lunch outside of the home can be difficult to get your head around when you are trying to lead a healthy lifestyle. There is so much choice out there that it’s easy to be tempted by the fully loaded and unhealthier options on offer. Today, like my lunch box at school, many packed lunch boxes tend to be full with packets of crisps, chocolate bars and fizzy drinks.
Packing healthy snacks in your lunch box or work draw can really help you stay on track and keep you away from those foods that may lead you astray. Personally I don’t think that there is anything wrong with a chocolate bar at lunch time as part of a balanced lifestyle, but I think the issue is when it becomes a constant habit. Making some healthy lunch time swaps can help you to find that balance and leave you feeling great and increase your concentration levels at work.
Holland & Barrett have launched their Healthy Lunch Campaign to challenge everyone to make healthier swaps in their lunch box for a more nutritious lunchtime meal. I’m a massive fan of H&B already and use it regularly for my one-stop high street health food store. I’ve looked at the food and drink section on their website to get some healthy lunch box inspiration and swaps.
As mentioned above, there is nothing wrong with eating crisps and drinking fizzy drinks as part of a healthy and balanced lifestyle, it’s when they become a regular feature in your ‘diet’ that they can become an issue for some. Another worrying issue is the hidden sugar and salt in things like cereal bars, which a lot of people think would be the healthier option. Healthier alternatives such as swapping sweets for dried fruit and nuts still gives you that sugar hit, but also has some nutritional value for your body too…bonus!
What do you pack in your lunch box? Do you have any favourite healthy lunch box swaps?
* products supplied by Holland & Barrett but all opinions are my own
Nakd bars are always floating about my bag somewhere ready for when a snack attack happens!
You can’t beat a Nakd bar, love them!
Great post, son has just switched to pack lunches and I’m struggling to make it healthy but interesting
Making packed lunches interesting can be hard for kids I guess. I’m sure you’re doing a great job!
this is probably going to sound very ignorant, but i didn’t realise cereal bars were unhealthy!! But i definitely love having fruits as snacks 🙂 x
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Some are better then others. It’s all down to the hidden sugar and additives.
Quinoa chips sound very interesting! As do lentil chips. It’s amazing what they’ve got available at the moment. Definitely be keen to try those.
I always have my tuna salad for lunch, home-popped popcorn with salt and pepper and then fruit with plain yogurt. Boring but I love it – I’m such a creature of habit. Easy to make, easy to eat and I enjoy it!
Yep, it’s great to see the interesting things that are on offer these days. Have you tried hummus chips? They’re so yummy!
I do love browsing through Holland & Barrett!
When I was a kid my Mum always used to pack up a cheese salad sandwich, slice of homemade cake and an apple, with diluted apple juice to drink. We never had crisps, and as a result I’m not really fussed about having them now.
When Dan first moved in I used to make him a packed lunch each day and really enjoyed making lots of homemade pizza swirls, cheese straws with tomato dip and other fun things for his packup. I’m so much more lazy with my own one though!
I love that you made Dan’s lunch, so sweet. I think we do tend to make an effort with others peoples food than our own.
I think protein bars are such a great alternative to cereal bars. It can be so hard to find a tasty one though 🙁
That’s true, I’ve had some bad experiences in the past.
Seriously, always on the lookout for healthy lunch ideas. Thanks for some fun new things to try!
You’re welcome Camille.
Great substitution ideas! I love having dried fruit (or Medjool Dates) with lunch <3
xoxo,
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Thank you! Dried mango and dates are delicious.
Yummm all of that looks amazing and its lunch time now! Now I am starving 🙂
Hehe! Hope you found something yummy for lunch.
I love packing unsweetned dried mango, raw nuts and grapes!
Dried fruits and nuts are such a great alternative to sweeter options
These are all great alternatives! We need to all try to eat as healthy as we can.
You’re so right Carly.
I usually have a digestion helping youghurt, sparkling water, and some empanadas. But since I need to cut back on gluten I need to find something instead of the empanadas.
I’m sure that there are lots of gluten free alternatives out there made with different flours? Hope that you find something soon.
Awesome swap ideas! I need to keep this handy so I know what to grab when I want to skip the sweets & soda!
Ha! Glad that you found it helpful Brenda. 🙂
Great ideas for lunchbox alternatives. I am always trying to think up ways to take a healthier lunches to work.
Thanks Michelle.
Good for you Jessica!
I bet that can be such a struggle, but I think secretly boys like the mess.
These all look super yummy. Especially the juice and chocolate. Regardless of the fact that I’m 19, I still LOVE juice boxes.
love this article, I always find that at work I’m more tempted to eat bad food then when at home,
This is a great idea for a post! I love coconut water and gave up soda about 6 months ago. I drink it very very seldom as a little treat.
Ohh yummy! I’m constantly looking for healthier alternatives to the foods I eat. I’m pretty healthy as it is though. I ban myself from snacking, instead eating two lunches!
Katie <3
These are some great tips! I’ve been packing my lunch a lot lately, so I’ll definitely keep some of these swaps in mind 🙂
Great swaps there Jemma! I always try to have a healthy emergency snack in my bag, from Nakd bars to chopped veggies and tahini to a piece of fruit.
Great swaps!
I’m going to have to check out those quinoa chips! Those look interesting and I love quinoa.