Lose Weight Lunch Box

My packable lunches are a slight deviation from the weight loss meals I ate all summer (you can see those healthy meals here!). These lunches are more in line with my plate diet, except instead of splitting the grains and fruits into their own category, I’ve been eating 1/4 of the meal carbs- so I choose between a grain or a fruit).

For weight loss, I’ve found the Macro plate ideal with 1/2 your meal from veggies. Then for weight maintenance, I use the Myplate meal plan method, and get some extra carbs!

Instead, I’ve been using some meal prep lunch containers I found at Walmart (super cheap, only $3.46 for 5 of them). These have had the best seal, and my dressing doesn’t leak to the other compartments. (

The Lose Weight And Save Money Lifestyle

If you don’t have a Walmart close by, I also got these red containers on Amazon. However, I was not as impressed with these. The dressing does leak to the other compartment. If you don’t have liquids in here, these will work ok.

I started grad school this fall and I’ve been packing my lunch too take to school and sharing it on my stories.

If you won’t be eating your lunch for a few hours, I recommend adding a bit of lemon juice to the apples to keep them from turning brown!

Cheap Healthy Lunch Ideas For Work

The best formula I have found for a good weight loss lunch is to balance half your meal with vegetables, ¼ with a protein, and ¼ with a whole grain or carbohydrate. This formula not only keeps you satisfied until dinner, but also makes sure you get the proper amount of vitamins and minerals your body needs to get through the rest of the day.

Increasing the volume of my meals gives me the chance to feel extra full and satisfied, have large portions, and still be able to lose weight. This is only possible by including high volume, low calorie foods like vegetables. Adding greens, cauliflower, zucchini, asparagus, cucumbers, broccoli, etc. can all be combined to make a big meal and still help you lose weight.

If you included more vegetables into your diet every single day, and used them to displace higher calorie foods, you can lose 10 lbs. Swapping something like spiralized zucchini or shirataki noodles for pasta can save you 150 calories per serving. Do this simple swap every day for 6 months, and you’d lose ten pounds!

Healthy Bento Box Ideas

You can prep all these healthy lunches in advance. In fact, I usually prep the proteins (chicken, ground turkey, or steak) and then I just need to add the veggies the morning I’m taking that lunch to school or work.

Hi! I'm Amy Roskelley, a health & fitness professional and the owner of Health Beet website and blog. I have a Bachelors of Science in Community Health from BYU. Masters of Business (University of Utah) Certified Personal Trainer (ACE), RRCA Running coach, Certified Personal Chef (IAP), and Certified as a Nutrition & Wellness Consultant (AFPA), Certified Mind, Body, Eating Coach. (IPE).The compact food container, which originated in Japan, features anywhere from two to five compartments, each meant for a different meal element. While moms have been using them to pack their kids nutrient-packed meals, the boxes are winning over adults who want to eat more balanced, portion-controlled meals on the go—without using every Tupperware container in their kitchen.

These boxes have been popping up all over Instagram, with fit foodies sharing images of their healthy lunches and on-the-go weight loss snack combos. Looking to get in on the trend? We've rounded up some of the most delicious-looking bento boxes on Instagram to help fuel your lunchtime inspiration:

Healthy Lunches For Weight Loss

This protein-filled lunchbox features Applegate Farms turkey, raw nuts, cucumber slices, grapes, celery and almond butter for dunking. We're big fans of the nut spread because it contains a compound that limits the amount of fat the body can absorb — not to mention the flavor we can't get enough of! Never tried it? Next time you're at the store, pick up a jar instead of your typical PB to shake up your daily diet.

A veggie-packed salad fills this box's main compartment while raspberry-topped yogurt, almonds and vitamin C-rich orange segments take up the smaller spaces. We love how Instagrammer Valerie pairs her meal with a bloat-busting lemon and mint detox water. Lemon peels contain an enzyme that gives sluggish bowels a kick, which can de-puff your belly almost instantly.

VEGGIE LETTUCE CUPS, EDAMAME & FRUIT BENTO BOX A photo posted by Belinda Smith (@therootcauseau) on Aug 11, 2015 at 3:44am PDT

What Is A Good Lunch Recipe For Someone Currently Losing Weight?

Featuring a homemade veggie patty and crunchy lettuce cups, this bento box is perfect for a Meatless Monday meal on the run. The edamame provides an additional source of plant-based protein, and the berries and cinnamon-dusted apples add a sweet flavor kick. Belinda Smith, the Instagrammer behind this delicious-looking lunch, mixes yogurt with raspberry chia jam to create a healthier, protein-filled spin on a classic fruit dip.

Chipotle, you've finally met your match! This delicious-looking bento is filled with Instagrammer Jamie's taco bar dinner leftovers. Healthy fats from avocado and water-filled fruits skyrocket the meal's satiety factor. We also like that the tortilla is kept to a small portion. Since Jamie is eating a refined grain variety, the smaller serving size ensures her blood sugar levels stay balanced, keeping hunger at bay.

Tabbouleh, the Mediterranean dish that fills the largest compartment of this bento box, is a fat-fighting machine. The olive oil used in this traditional dish is a healthy fat shown to boost satiety by increasing blood serotonin levels. But that's not all: The whole-grain bulgur, which makes up the bulk of the dish, is loaded with hunger-crushing fiber and protein. An assortment of nutrient-rich fruits and veggies rounds out the meal.

What Are Macronutrients?

VEGGIE ROLLS, OLIVES, CHEESE & FRUIT BENTO BOX A photo posted by Valerie Zalzouli (@valeriezalzouli) on Aug 12, 2015 at 2:30am PDT

Looking for some healthy vegetarian lunch inspiration? This delicious-looking meal is on point. The homemade veggie roll entrée is accompanied by a number of sides including belly-filling fruit and cashews, a nut that's rich in nail-strengthening biotin. Together, they create a light and flavorful midday pick-me-up that's sure to please your tummy and taste buds alike.

If you typically eat breakfast at your desk, skip the sugary coffee shop pastry and whip up an a.m. bento box using this one from Instagrammer Jamie as your inspiration. We love that she includes some protein- and calcium-filled Greek yogurt, an Envirokidz Peanut Choco Bar (120 calories, 8 grams of sugar) and a small serving of trail mix to keep hunger at bay until lunchtime.

What Are The Meals To Lose Weight?

Kick your vending machine cravings to the curb with this salty-n-sweet box. The veggies and fruits are filled with fiber and water so they're sure to quiet any stomach rumblings. And the creamy, calcium-filled cheese and mini M&Ms squash those 3 p.m. cravings for diet-derailing treats.

Bring the steakhouse to your office desk with this meat-filled bento box. The meal is rounded out by kale, blueberries (a fruit that has been shown to ward off cognitive decline) and cucumber, a low-cal veggie that's 95 percent water. Go ahead and whip up your own version at home — you have our permission to chomp away guilt-free!

Here, Instagrammer Valerie shows off the weekend picnic bento boxes she made for herself and her son. Her son's box contains a variety of nutrient-packed options including zig-zag veggies — a shape that's sure to make noshing on carrots and cucumbers far more enjoyable. The main attraction in Mom's box is a feta-topped salad that pairs nicely with a small serving of crunchy almonds, a nut that has been shown to reduce belly fat. She also prepared some mint and lime infused detox water.Whether you ran before work or plan to afterward, your body needs a balance of protein, carbs, and healthy fats to repair your muscles post-workout and set you up with all-day energy. Plus, a nutritious mid-day meal (and snacks!) will save you from an afternoon slump and resulting candy binge in the company cafeteria.

The Lunch Box Diet

Luckily, many of the best foods for runners are highly portable: Think turkey sandwich on whole grain bread, cucumber rounds and hummus, apple slices and cheese chunks, black bean burritos, celery sticks with peanut butter, almonds and raisins. Indeed, the more variety in your daily diet the better—you load up on runner-friendly nutrients. Packing your lunch and snacks puts portion size and nutrient density in your control—and saves you money! Here are the best ways to take your meals with you.

A layered stainless steel set that is large enough to hold six cups of food, but at 7.2 x 5.5 x 3.5 inches not so huge it will take up your entire duffel bag. Stash your turkey-on-whole-grain sandwich in the bottom compartment; the stainless steel ensures your tomato and romaine lettuce toppings stay cool and crispy. Smaller compartments are good for hummus, carrots, and pita chips, but even if you tighten the latches, the seal is not quite secure enough for salad dressing or for tossing the box around in