Is Anyone Else Completely Sick Of Having To Pack A Lunch Everyday?

[frenchiemama]

Sheesh. I mean, I know it's not a huge deal. It's just something that I didn't do very often before (I'd maybe throw together a sandwich a few times a week, the rest of the time I'd either hit a place on the way in, try my luck with the wheel o' death, or order out). It just gets to be a real pain in my ass to have to think of something different to pack and make the dang thing every single night. What a boring routine. Blah.

[kid-who-needs-information]

I second that!

[Mango04]

I feel the same way sometimes! I put so much effort into preparing my food it's crazy. I mean it's worth it..and I'm trying to have fun w/ it by experimenting with some new recipes, but it can be a pain. In fact I was just thinking about how much time I spend washing dishes, because I spend so much time in the kitchen making food! Yeah blah!

[nettiebeads]

  frenchiemama said:

Sheesh. I mean, I know it's not a huge deal. It's just something that I didn't do very often before (I'd maybe throw together a sandwich a few times a week, the rest of the time I'd either hit a place on the way in, try my luck with the wheel o' death, or order out). It just gets to be a real pain in my ass to have to think of something different to pack and make the dang thing every single night. What a boring routine. Blah.

I feel that way a lot, too. But I try to think of the money I'm saving - eating out 5 meals a week can be pretty expensive.

[casnco]

  frenchiemama said:

Sheesh. I mean, I know it's not a huge deal. It's just something that I didn't do very often before (I'd maybe throw together a sandwich a few times a week, the rest of the time I'd either hit a place on the way in, try my luck with the wheel o' death, or order out). It just gets to be a real pain in my ass to have to think of something different to pack and make the dang thing every single night. What a boring routine. Blah.

I have a reputation at work as being a gormet cook. I always take left overs from the night before. I tend to cook a lot with rice and beans. It is easy and high in fiber. Most people I work with eat fast food for all three meals and maybe a snack. But yes, I am sick of all of the dishes, the bags of food I must carry with me, and making sure whatever I cook is enough for the evening meal and the next day's lunch.

While we are venting about food. How about the pot luck's! I never participate. Up to this point I have found very clever ways out of them so people don't think I am a snob. I am afraid my luck is going to run out!

[StrongerToday]

YES! YES! YES! I usually bring left-overs, which I used to completely avoid, but now I actually plan to have enough for lunch tomorrow. I do keep an emegency supply of Progresso Chicken Wild Rice soup in my drawer in case I forget or just can't stand my planned lunch.

How about we trade some lunch ideas - besides leftovers? I like to make the Bette Hagman's Childen Wild Rice salad - let me know if you want the recipe.

[Guest stef 4 dogs]

  StrongerToday said:

YES! YES! YES! I usually bring left-overs, which I used to completely avoid, but now I actually plan to have enough for lunch tomorrow. I do keep an emegency supply of Progresso Chicken Wild Rice soup in my drawer in case I forget or just can't stand my planned lunch.

How about we trade some lunch ideas - besides leftovers? I like to make the Bette Hagman's Childen Wild Rice salad - let me know if you want the recipe.

I understand that! I'm on the phone all day and have a hard time finding soft food that taste good! Before I used to eat ALOT of candy, now its just fruit. Usually on Sundays, I make hard boiled eggs and use that with my gluten free mayo for egg salad and tunafish. That with somw gluten free chips and olives I', good! Keep alot of Trader Joe's mergaine cookies on stock for my after lunch treat. Or somethimes in a hurry I go home at lunch and (I've pre cooked chicken breast) have a chicken salad with olives and apple in it. Then an ensure shake in the blender with frozen yougart for a snack. I know it seems to be a challenge! I think I do better during the week. On the weekends when I tend to eat non stop I run out of choices! What I really want is a cream filled doughnut and a bag of cheese curls !

Stef 4 dogs

[Mango04]

  casnco said:

How about the pot luck's! I never participate. Up to this point I have found very clever ways out of them so people don't think I am a snob. I am afraid my luck is going to run out!

What is your secret for getting out of them? I ususally bring some gluten-free muffins and a veggie tray and just eat my own food - but I'd LOVE to just be able to avoid potlucks completely!!!

[GlutenFreeAl]

I hear ya - it's frustrating to pack a lunch every single morning!

Usually I just sit at my desk to eat and avoid the cafeteria and all of the comments about the weird food I eat. Yes, sometimes I eat cream of rice for lunch. Yes, I eat a lot of fruit. Yes, my "sandwiches" are on little corn tortillas.

This Wednesday I have a lunch meeting. Pizza and wings are generously provided.

What the heck do I do?

I feel like such a snob when I bring my bag o' fruit to things like this. I get all sorts of comments from "you're too good to eat with us?" to "you're the last person that needs to be on a diet. Eat some freaking pizza."

Grr.

[StrongerToday]

My boss graciously threw a pizza holiday luncheon - and there are TWO of us who don't eat wheat. I was very busy that day, so I asked them to start without me - then I came in a bit later with my own food. But - if you've got a meeting... that's a bit tougher. I'm getting very good and just keeping it short and simple with a "no, thanks" when offered something.

[Lollie]

Oh man, I am so with ya'll!

I have a pot luck coming up this weekend, and all the ladies already asked if I would bring a pie

I haven't even tried to come up with a pie crust yet! And I am so tired of eating only stuff I cook. I want to actually not have dishes to worry about!

Luckily, I'm a stay at home mom/artist so I'm at home, but when I get in public situations, I never know how to react!!!!!!

-Lollie

[Mango04]

  GlutenFreeAl said:

I hear ya - it's frustrating to pack a lunch every single morning!

Usually I just sit at my desk to eat and avoid the cafeteria and all of the comments about the weird food I eat. Yes, sometimes I eat cream of rice for lunch. Yes, I eat a lot of fruit. Yes, my "sandwiches" are on little corn tortillas.

This Wednesday I have a lunch meeting. Pizza and wings are generously provided.

What the heck do I do?

I feel like such a snob when I bring my bag o' fruit to things like this. I get all sorts of comments from "you're too good to eat with us?" to "you're the last person that needs to be on a diet. Eat some freaking pizza."

Grr.

LOL. I get those exact same reactions. Isn't it weird that people treat us like snobs because we're eating different food? I get really strong reactions from people just because I prefer to eat healthy too. It doesn't matter how much I try to explain it either (actually I try to go unnoticed, food-wise, but I never succeed w/ that). I am the snobby, offensive fruit and vegetable eater of the office. grrr..

[Nancym]

No, I have been a lunch packer for so many years I can't imagine doing anything different. I usually take a salad for lunch. I get the pre-washed, bagged, baby lettuce mixes. Toss on goat cheese, proscuitto, greek olives, chicken breast, whatever I have available. Splash with olive oil and vinegar (which I keep in my desk drawer). I love my lunches!

[StrongerToday]

  Laura Sturgell said:

Oh man, I am so with ya'll!

I have a pot luck coming up this weekend, and all the ladies already asked if I would bring a pie

I haven't even tried to come up with a pie crust yet! And I am so tired of eating only stuff I cook. I want to actually not have dishes to worry about!

-Lollie

The Gluten Free Pantry has a *great* pie-crust mix!!

[luvs2eat]

I've always been a lunch packer too. Before gluten-free, I used to love to buy a long baguette and slice it in thirds... and make sammies for a few days. Now I make a loaf of Manna from Anna bread on the weekend and slice it up into slices and freeze 'em in zip locs. I toast 'em and make a yummy ham and cheese or turkey sammie for work. If I don't make the bread, I just bring leftovers. I hate buying lunch... it's too $$$!!

[frenchiemama]

Oh I hate the potlucks! Those are just the worst! And even if you do go and sort of pick around the veggie tray, someone is going to ask you "Did you try my famous_____?" And you have to say no. Also, every friday they order out and I don't know what is worse, being asked and having to say no or just not being asked at all. Oh well.

[Lollie]

I had the same thing this weekend.....I had a function to attend, and when the rigatoni and ceasar salad was brought out (with garlic bread), everyone wanted to know why i wasn't eating.

I just explained it over and over and over and waited patiently for my husband to bring my rice and vegies! (I didn't know there was going to be food) I'm thinking would it be worse to get a plate and pretend-or just be the "odd man out"? Not sure!!!!

I'm going to try the pie crust!

-Lollie

P.S. The "your awfully thin" comments are killing me, too! Honestly, I would never comment on anybody's weight, small, big, or whatever!

[Rusla]

I always take my fruit to work. When it is food day I bring something that is gluten-free and make sure I get first scoop. That way I have something to eat. It was amazing how many people would say "why are you so fat?"

And it is usually seniors who figure they have the right to do that to people. One said that one day to a female driver I was standing with when I was driving bus. I told the woman she was heavy because we are forced to eat all our rude customers.

[WGibs]

I've always been a lunch packer, so this is old habit for me. And I agree with Nancym -- I usually make a gorgeous salad and people are always jealous. I will admit that I sometimes feel a little anxious knowing I can't have a day when I just run to the deli for a sandwich, but all the prep and hauling around of tupperwares is the norm for me.

As for people bugging me about it, I know it's not really their business, but I usually say something like "No thank you, I can't eat wheat" instead of just "No thank you." If asked for more detail, I say it makes me sick. I haven't been challenged at all after that, and I think it helps people to know that it's not snobbery, and they shouldn't come back every day to offer you something else, hoping they'll break down those healthy eating habits. It's easier for me to be reasonably honest about it, without going into a big thing over it. Depending upon the person though, I have been known to use the phrase "wheat allergy" even though it's not true. People understand the seriousness of that and they aren't going to try to get you to eat something that you're allergic to. Then again, I live in the Bay area, where people are for the most part very open minded and used to people making different diet choices.

Also, add me to the list of people with pizza meetings on the horizon! Mine is tomorrow, but I'm not too worried about it...most people in my department know that I don't eat gluten. I'm going to take a black bean tamale, raw veggies, and an apple. I may pack a gluten-free cookie for dessert -- I usually don't for lunch, but I don't want to feel deprived if there's dessert for everyone else. I bet people will wish they had my lunch instead of greasy pizza!

[Lollie]

  Rusla said:

One said that one day to a female driver I was standing with when I was driving bus. I told the woman she was heavy because we are forced to eat all our rude customers.

I love it!

Good for you!!!!!!

-Lollie

[jenvan]

I have always been a lunch packer too. Can't stand to run around or go out on my lunch break, except every once in a while. I like to sit, chill with a book and enjoy the whole hour One tip for speeding things up a bit for me... I have a salad spinner, Oxo brand, love it! I fill the thing with salad and veggies at the beginning of the week and it stays fresh the entire week. I just scoop some out into a bowl to take to work. Better than making a new one each morning... Leftovers help too. I have been getting tired of it lately--but I will persevere! Oh, Amy's gives me relief when I need a packing break too

[teebs in WV]

Last Friday we had a 'women's network' lunch at work. A few of the women that I work with know about my dietary restrictions, but most people don't. They had pizza, salad, and fruit salad for lunch. I didn't even bother checking to see what was on the menu since I am not yet very comfortable eating anything that doesn't come from my kitchen, so I brought my own lunch (a salad). I got the usual "you aren't dieting, are you? my gosh - you are already so skinny - you need to eat something". No matter how many times I said no thank you, they wouldn't let up. I finally said "I have a disease" - and I know that by that point I said it in a not very polite manner. Well, that shut them up.

That's the part that bothers me the most. Trying to explain why I can't eat something. Most people won't just take "no thank you" for an answer. I like the suggestion that someone else posted regarding saying "I can't eat wheat", but I could of heard some of these people saying "we're not having wheat - we are having pizza" or "there's no wheat in salad dressing".

[Nancym]

  Rusla said:

And it is usually seniors who figure they have the right to do that to people. One said that one day to a female driver I was standing with when I was driving bus. I told the woman she was heavy because we are forced to eat all our rude customers.

LOL! Oh my, oh my. That is hilarious.

[tarnalberry]

I've always packed a lunch, and found that it offered me a much wider set of options than going out. Not to mention it didn't take as much time out of my day.

[codetalker]

  casnco said:

Up to this point I have found very clever ways out of them so people don't think I am a snob. I am afraid my luck is going to run out!

I get the same thing at work. There are a couple of people who bristle at my "snobbishness" when I do not eat with everyone else. My director, in particular, has a real problem with it. I got myself out of a catered lunch once and he could not understand why I could not attend because "they have carrot sticks. You can eat that can't you?" He seemed to totally ignore that while I would be eating carrot sticks for 2 hours, everyone else would be having soup, appetizer, carrot/celery sticks w/ dips, sauce-covered meat, two vegetables, rolls and dessert. It boggles the mind.