As I stood in the supermarket this evening (and every week), I was faced with the same dilemma... What shall I buy for my lunch?! To make my decisions more complicated, I am Gluten intolerant so I often feel my options are even more limited!

This got me thinking about writing a blog on the subject as I cannot be the only one who struggles to find healthy options for any meals required whilst "on the go"?!?

Ultimately, the answer has to be to "plan your meals" although the question is with what? What if you are not fortunate to have a fridge or microwave at your place of work; what can you have then which is considered a healthy option without costing the earth?

Here I give suggestions from my experience for the three main meals:

Breakfast

If you are needing to eat breakfast away from home, my first choice would be overnight oats. Now I don't like porridge so this meal choice didn't appeal to me however once I realised it was eaten cold, I was willing to give it a go... and I love them! Made with almond milk, greek yoghurt, protein powder, porridge oats and fruit, this dish can be prepped the night before and left overnight in the fridge to set / soften the oats. To keep sugars as low as possible (however much fruits are natural sugars), I use berries (strawberries, blueberries or blackberries).

Alternatively fruit, greek yoghurt and seeds would be another simple breakfast.

As long as these are not left out of the fridge for hours, I think they are great to eat in work. If I am looking for something to have whilst travelling to work, I usually would have a berry-fruit based protein shake or a low sugar protein bar as a substitute.

Lunch

This is my worst meal of the day to find something suitable!! If I haven't prepped, the chances of finding something healthy and also Gluten Free when out and about is next to none!

If I am in the office, I will choose to make a salad the night before or will make twice as much of the evening meal and take it in with me to heat up. Should I be off-site and a salad would be difficult to eat in my surroundings, I would take a salad wrap. Lunch bag ice blocks are a great way to keep relevant foods cool if you are not near a fridge!

Buying foods such as ready-cooked meat (e.g chicken breasts) is something I would purchase if I am out and not got lunch with me however the cost of having lunch in this way would not be most money efficient so it all comes back to prepping your meals in advance.

Dinner

Dinner options would be similar to my lunch suggestions when I am working late. If I am going out to socialise after work but not eating out, having something prepped (subject to the workplace having a fridge) is the best plan. On occasions, if I am out with friends and it includes eating a meal out, I will choose a (GF) meal with the least amount of carbs and a good source of protein.

Meal times away from the home can prove difficult but if you plan well, anything is possible! Don't forget if you have no other choice than to purchase a meal out, choose as wisely as you can. Failing that, you can always class it as your cheat meal for the week so do not be too hard on yourself!!