Not another sandwich!

STORY BY Lynn Haley
PHOTOGRAPHY BY Martin Lipman

Is your lunch bag screaming for something new?  Take your lunch to work?  If you’re like many Albertans, lunchtime during the week is a bonding session with whatever you threw together five minutes before leaving the house.

You owe it to yourself to shake up that lunch bag. These few simple ideas can make your mid-day break something to savour.

Step out of the ordinary

Make a batch of baked stuffed potatoes, complete with cheese, bacon, green onions and broccoli. Freeze the cooked potatoes individually in freezer bags. Take one or two for lunch—reheat in the microwave for 2 minutes and voila —a tasty treat that will have your colleagues begging for a nibble. You’ll find an easy recipe at growingalberta.com.

Cooking chicken or steak for dinner? Make one extra piece. Slice into thin strips and tuck into a tortilla shell or a pita. Add a little cheese, (buy the pre-shredded kind—it saves so much time and the resealable packages mean you only use what you need) and chopped green pepper and tomato. Wrap it up along with a little touch of salsa and you’re got lunch ready for the microwave (if you have an office fridge, buy a jar of salsa and leave it there—it adds a kick to almost anything).

Enjoy a little ethnic flavour. Make a quick batch of hummus (a hearty and nutritional dip that can be whipped up in your blender using a can of garbanzo beans and a few simple spices). Put some pita triangles in your lunch bag along with fresh veggies (buy the already cut and washed ones in your produce section) and dip to your heart’s content. See growingalberta.com for an easy hummus recipe.

Make your favourite quiche recipe into tart shells (buy frozen tart shells and save yourself the hassle of making pastry) and freeze. Take out 2-3 little quiches in the morning, add a bunch of green or red grapes and enjoy a touch of class on the job.

Add a little elegance

There’s something a little dreary about opening a paper bag. Why not treat yourself to a mid-day retreat? It’s a simple as:

• Keeping a nice china plate, real cutlery, and decorative paper napkins at work—an elegant place-setting for lunch makes you feel pampered.

• Use your walkman—insert one of those relaxation CDs that blend nature sounds with classical music. Before you know it, you’ll be miles away drenched in peace.