I had a ham sandwich in a great gluten free pita bread with red leaf lettuce and that Japanese Mayo ! Then I had the tomato sauce thinned with a small amount of heavy cream. This was your tomato sauce that you posted recently and it was the most heavenly soup!😍🍅
Thank you for these wonderful ideas, and for reminding us how great cottage cheese is -- I always forget. And a "lunch carpool" for kids is such a brilliant idea! One day I will make mom friends... My current way of doing school lunches is to make mac and cheese, roasted sweet potato, steamed broccoli, and hard-boiled eggs every weekend, and then use those to pack my son's lunch every morning, along with some cut-up fruit and a container of granola. I worry it's boring for him to eat the same things every day, but the idea of packing a different lunch every day of the week is so overwhelming! Today for lunch I had toasted pita with leftover Greek takeout dips and I felt like Martin Short's character in Only Murders in the Building, so that was great 😊
Oh that’s so funny! I just started watching the show and loved learning about his dip obsession. And it sounds like you’re giving your son so much variety- his lunch spread sounds so good!
I had aloo gobi with a roti and yogurt for lunch, made in my Instant Pot. I love Indian food, and for me, it satisfies many food cravings all at once! I used cauliflower from my favorite farm. I sometimes make grain and bean salads for lunch, or homemade veggie burgers that I have frozen. I also love having leftovers from dinner. Your lunch suggestions make me hungry!
I had some chili that I whipped up last night for me and my husband's lunches the next two days. The recipe is absolutely nothing special (seriously, it's just ground meat, two cans of tomato sauce, two cans of beans, and William's Chili Mix because that's what my mom used, and random other seasonings to amp up the flavor), but it IS special to me because my mom made it SO MUCH growing up. Now that I'm an adult and I see just how easy it is to make, I totally get why she made it all the time. The real pro tip is to basically make it half chili/half crumbled up Saltine crackers mixed right in because, again, that's why my mom did. Makes me think of her and my childhood, so overall not a bad way to eat lunch!
Thanks for sharing your memory, it sparked a happy one for me too. Love that chili to cracker ratio! In our house it was tomato juice instead of sauce and chili powder (plus a little onion). My dad could eat that for every meal for a week (probably more).
Same! I live in Texas, and back when we had the debilitating freeze in 2021, I did eat that chili for every meal for nearly a week. And it didn't get old! I need to add some onions the next time, to give it a boost.
I had some leftover frittata (inspired by Small Victories, Kitchen Sink recipe) with some smashed smoked pepper salmon on top. I also love knowing what other people are eating. :)
I’ve been super stressed because my twins are starting high school in two days. Today I had a toasted sesame bagel from Utopia Bagels (the best!!) with cream cheese, lox, the last of my tomatoes, red onion and capers. It was so comforting and just what I needed ❤️
Oh I love this sound of that tomato sandwich with the Mayo + spicy chutney !!! And love the cinnamon ricotta toast. And most of all, love the no rules…
yes, especially the NO RULES. your writing about anti-diet have come at a perfect time for me. thank you for your strong and unapologetic voice. no surprise, i am loving my food so much more and making such different, out of the box, choices as a result. totally liberating.
Yesterday was my mom's birthday, and I made her (by request) the Applesauce cake from Now & Again. So I had a piece of leftover cake and a fresh peach for lunch. :)
Ahh I just love all these ideas! The toothpick tip...will be using this all the time now.
For lunch today I'm making a big pot of instant ramen (simple and brothy, without any additions) to soothe a sore throat, and enjoying a thick slice of chocolate chip zucchini bread, to soothe the soul
I had carrots, celery, and cucumber slices with homemade hummus and pop chips. I always say I tolerate making breakfast, LOVE making dinner, and hate making lunch.
I made one of my favorite chickpea salads - it's kind of in the style of tuna or egg salad. Two cans of chickpeas, smushed lightly with a potato masher, zest and juice of a lemon, chopped olives, chopped dill pickles, a little mustard, some mayo, a diced shallot (I've also subbed in scallions or chives or onions), a big pile of diced celery, salt, pepper, dill, a sprinkle of Trader Joe's green goddess spice mix... just put it all in a big bowl and mix until it's evenly combined. It makes a lot and keeps well. It's great scooped on a plate or as the filling in a melt on toast.
That sounds sooooo good and like what one of my coworkers at the farm ate all the time for lunch (he called it “ch-una”). Love that it just gets better as it sits in the fridge!!
I LOVE leftovers. The last couple of days lunch had been leftover egg bake (with hash browns, cream cheese, onions, and bacon) with chili garlic sauce and sliced grape tomatoes, local melon, and a couple of bite size candy bars. If you can find Kalona brand cottage cheese at your local grocer (I buy mine at Whole Foods in MN), give it a try. It's so good! (I've signed up for your next two classes-new attendee here! So excited!)
I'm also on #teamleftovers!!! And am surprised this hasn't popped up more in here! Weeknight dinners I mostly plan to be leftover-conducive so lunch is taken care of. Figuring out the packaging goes a long way, like has been mentioned -- dressing separate, sometimes keep the sandwich fillings separate from the bread, cold stuff in one container & things that need heated in another, etc
I had a ham sandwich in a great gluten free pita bread with red leaf lettuce and that Japanese Mayo ! Then I had the tomato sauce thinned with a small amount of heavy cream. This was your tomato sauce that you posted recently and it was the most heavenly soup!😍🍅
Oh this sounds like a perfect combo (kewpie forever!) and I’m so glad you enjoyed the sauce-as-soup!
Thank you for these wonderful ideas, and for reminding us how great cottage cheese is -- I always forget. And a "lunch carpool" for kids is such a brilliant idea! One day I will make mom friends... My current way of doing school lunches is to make mac and cheese, roasted sweet potato, steamed broccoli, and hard-boiled eggs every weekend, and then use those to pack my son's lunch every morning, along with some cut-up fruit and a container of granola. I worry it's boring for him to eat the same things every day, but the idea of packing a different lunch every day of the week is so overwhelming! Today for lunch I had toasted pita with leftover Greek takeout dips and I felt like Martin Short's character in Only Murders in the Building, so that was great 😊
Dips for dinner (or lunch) is the greatest thing to come out of that show.
😂
Oh that’s so funny! I just started watching the show and loved learning about his dip obsession. And it sounds like you’re giving your son so much variety- his lunch spread sounds so good!
I had aloo gobi with a roti and yogurt for lunch, made in my Instant Pot. I love Indian food, and for me, it satisfies many food cravings all at once! I used cauliflower from my favorite farm. I sometimes make grain and bean salads for lunch, or homemade veggie burgers that I have frozen. I also love having leftovers from dinner. Your lunch suggestions make me hungry!
And your lunch suggestions make me hungry!!! Sounds amazing.
I had some chili that I whipped up last night for me and my husband's lunches the next two days. The recipe is absolutely nothing special (seriously, it's just ground meat, two cans of tomato sauce, two cans of beans, and William's Chili Mix because that's what my mom used, and random other seasonings to amp up the flavor), but it IS special to me because my mom made it SO MUCH growing up. Now that I'm an adult and I see just how easy it is to make, I totally get why she made it all the time. The real pro tip is to basically make it half chili/half crumbled up Saltine crackers mixed right in because, again, that's why my mom did. Makes me think of her and my childhood, so overall not a bad way to eat lunch!
I love everything about this.
Thanks for sharing your memory, it sparked a happy one for me too. Love that chili to cracker ratio! In our house it was tomato juice instead of sauce and chili powder (plus a little onion). My dad could eat that for every meal for a week (probably more).
Same! I live in Texas, and back when we had the debilitating freeze in 2021, I did eat that chili for every meal for nearly a week. And it didn't get old! I need to add some onions the next time, to give it a boost.
I had some leftover frittata (inspired by Small Victories, Kitchen Sink recipe) with some smashed smoked pepper salmon on top. I also love knowing what other people are eating. :)
❤️❤️
I’ve been super stressed because my twins are starting high school in two days. Today I had a toasted sesame bagel from Utopia Bagels (the best!!) with cream cheese, lox, the last of my tomatoes, red onion and capers. It was so comforting and just what I needed ❤️
Where is utopia bagels??? And you’ve also described one of my favorite foods of all time. Good luck with high school!!!
Thank you!
It’s in Queens—if you’re ever down here, you must try! I think Goldbelly also ships.
this is excellent intel!
I had a salad and some grilled chicken in a pita with tomatoes onions and yogurt. It was good.
That sounds perfect (and a nice way to extend your vacation which I lived through vicariously on IG!! 😂)
thank you for this huge list, julia.
room temperature is totally the way to go.
with tomato season still happening today's lunch was toasted focaccia with a schmear of hellman's
and then another schmear of Brooklyn Delhi spicy mango chutney with tons of tomatoes on top.
(would've been easier eating it over the sink)
i eat all of these types of "lunches" all day long. no rules about what to eat when.
ricotta on grainy toast with cinnamon liberally sprinkled on top is a favorite around here.
my 98 year old mum eats it for dinner several nights a week.
i see my local shop has "good culture" so i'm buying that pronto. i'm psyched.
thanks again for this brilliantly comprehensive lunch "essay".
you always make food exciting and normal and real.
love, jude
Oh I love this sound of that tomato sandwich with the Mayo + spicy chutney !!! And love the cinnamon ricotta toast. And most of all, love the no rules…
yes, especially the NO RULES. your writing about anti-diet have come at a perfect time for me. thank you for your strong and unapologetic voice. no surprise, i am loving my food so much more and making such different, out of the box, choices as a result. totally liberating.
I can't begin to tell you how happy it makes me to hear this <3
okay, one last thing. i am so glad we've met!
Yesterday was my mom's birthday, and I made her (by request) the Applesauce cake from Now & Again. So I had a piece of leftover cake and a fresh peach for lunch. :)
Awww amazing all around!!
Ahh I just love all these ideas! The toothpick tip...will be using this all the time now.
For lunch today I'm making a big pot of instant ramen (simple and brothy, without any additions) to soothe a sore throat, and enjoying a thick slice of chocolate chip zucchini bread, to soothe the soul
Sounds perfect. Hope your throat is better real soon.
I had carrots, celery, and cucumber slices with homemade hummus and pop chips. I always say I tolerate making breakfast, LOVE making dinner, and hate making lunch.
Then absolutely don’t! Love an assembled lunch like what you described.
I made one of my favorite chickpea salads - it's kind of in the style of tuna or egg salad. Two cans of chickpeas, smushed lightly with a potato masher, zest and juice of a lemon, chopped olives, chopped dill pickles, a little mustard, some mayo, a diced shallot (I've also subbed in scallions or chives or onions), a big pile of diced celery, salt, pepper, dill, a sprinkle of Trader Joe's green goddess spice mix... just put it all in a big bowl and mix until it's evenly combined. It makes a lot and keeps well. It's great scooped on a plate or as the filling in a melt on toast.
That sounds sooooo good and like what one of my coworkers at the farm ate all the time for lunch (he called it “ch-una”). Love that it just gets better as it sits in the fridge!!
This is such a great post!! For lunch today I had coffee ice cream and goldfish crackers. It’s just one of those days! Cottage is on my dinner menu.
The perfect combo for lunch!
Agreed!
YUM.
You always know what's on my mind. I have never been all about cottage cheese but maybe I need to give it a go.
Today was day #3 of chickpeas in a tomato-y broth, all pantry stuff.
Let me know how it goes! Yes to pantry stuff!!!
Tuna salad with pita chips with sliced persian cucumber, pineapple tomato and avo, S&P to add as desired - so good!!
Ooo that sounds so refreshing and great!!!!!
I LOVE leftovers. The last couple of days lunch had been leftover egg bake (with hash browns, cream cheese, onions, and bacon) with chili garlic sauce and sliced grape tomatoes, local melon, and a couple of bite size candy bars. If you can find Kalona brand cottage cheese at your local grocer (I buy mine at Whole Foods in MN), give it a try. It's so good! (I've signed up for your next two classes-new attendee here! So excited!)
I am so with you on #teamleftovers. And can’t wait to see you in class — thanks for signing up!!
I'm also on #teamleftovers!!! And am surprised this hasn't popped up more in here! Weeknight dinners I mostly plan to be leftover-conducive so lunch is taken care of. Figuring out the packaging goes a long way, like has been mentioned -- dressing separate, sometimes keep the sandwich fillings separate from the bread, cold stuff in one container & things that need heated in another, etc