When it comes to lunchtime at WJ, many students find themselves draining their wallets and spending money at G-Square. Flippin’ Pizza and Chipotle are quick and delicious options, but usually don’t provide students with the proper nutrition they need. Packing healthy lunches are easy, quick and free!
It is important for everyone to be packing healthy lunches. Athletes especially need to be eating well throughout the day. After school practice is exhausting, especially if you don’t have the proper meals to keep yourself energized. Varsity basketball player Phillip Stubin always prepares the perfect meal before games/practices to give him the right amount of energy.
“It is important to eat fruits and vegetables all of the time, but before games and practices I always have fruit and some form of protein,” Stubin said.
Packing a lunch rather than going out and buying something can result in a healthier lunch. Yoga teacher Janice Cornell loves packing a healthy lunch the night before school.
“Packing your lunch the night before is better because you are not going to make a good lunch in the morning because you are tired and you don’t have much time to plan what you want to eat,” Cornell said.
Eating little snacks throughout the school day can keep students awake and prevent them from binge-eating at lunch or after practice; eating too much can cause fatigue. Senior Raya Seid is a member of the POMS team and has a passion for healthy eating and working out.
“I always pack my lunch the same way,” Seid said. “I have some type of main course, a fruit, a vegetable, some nuts and a bar. I try to eat as little processed food as I can, so if I have a granola bar I make sure they don’t have high fructose corn syrup.”
Here are some healthy lunch ideas that you can pack yourself!
Main Dish:
- Turkey avocado sandwich
- Cheese and crackers
- Pasta
- Leftovers from dinner (normally like a grain bowl/Buddha Bowl)
- PB&J
- Turkey and crackers
Veggies:
- Carrots
- Tomatoes
- Cucumbers
- Celery
- Snap peas
Fruit:
- Anything that is in season
Nuts:
- Almonds, peanuts, craisins
- Almonds, chocolate chips, craisins
- Raisins, peanuts, cashews
- Pistachios
Bars:
- Lara bar
- Luna bar
- Fig bar
- Cliff bar
- Beltiva bar
