For a great majority of us lunchtime can be a real challenge when it comes to keeping food choices healthy. There are tantalizing treats scattered throughout your office break room and maybe your desk is in close proximity to the vending machines or break room, causing you to be even more easily tempted. However, as a migraine sufferer, you know how important it is to eat healthily and to avoid foods that might trigger migraines. It is especially important that you do not skip meals as that causes spikes in blood sugar levels which, in turn, can trigger a migraine.
By now, you probably know that I am a huge proponent for pre-planning and batch cooking. Why? Mostly because if I didn’t have the healthy foods ready to go, I would much more easily succumb to the temptation of the sweet treats and unhealthy options surrounding me, as well as being much more likely to put myself in a position of making quick but unhealthy choices which will later affect my migraine patterns. However, when I have the good, healthy options available to me and ready to go, I am much more likely to achieve success, not skip meals, and eat the healthy meal I need to further prevent migraines.
Let’s face it, many of us succumb to the temptations around us and whereas for the majority, that would lead to disappointment and disgust over giving in to temptation, as a migraine sufferer, an even bigger obstacle is that by either skipping the meal or succumbing to temptation, you are laying ourself open to triggering a migraine.
The best thing to do in these situations is to prepare your lunches ahead of time. Maybe you have no idea what to make or you even feel that’s too time consuming. After all, do you really need one more thing to add to your to-do list? I hear you loud and clear. I’m going to share with you some of my best and easiest lunches you can whip up in mere minutes so you can enjoy healthy lunches all week long.
Quinoa Bowl. Quinoa is a food that is easy to prepare, very nutritious and that is incredibly easy to take to work with you. Of course, you want a little more in your bowl than just quinoa, but you can add anything you want to make your bowl delicious and filling. Vegetables that you enjoy — possibly broccoli, zucchini, onion and a sauce of your choice. Sometimes I even put some berries and nuts in mine with a little honey, balsamic vinegar and lemon juice.
Mason Jar Salads. These are so simple, delicious and you can prepare them for the whole week in one sitting. Use mason jar’s to hold your salad ingredients so when you empty your jar into a bowl, it creates the perfect lunch salad for you. Start by putting dressing in first, then your toppings & veggies, and finish off your jar by adding your greens last. This will keep your dressing away from your greens, so they won’t get soggy. You can store these in the fridge for up to 5 days.
Lettuce Wraps. Simple enough, toss your favorite chopped veggies and any fitting leftover ingredients from your fridge in a lettuce leaf. Drizzle with a complimenting sauce, wrap it up and call it a day. These pair well with soup, so keep that in mind as you’re meal prepping for the week.
Spaghetti Squash. This is definitely one of my go-to quick, affordable and healthy lunches. I always have a spaghetti squash on hand as they’re so versatile. This is another great option for tossing in any leftover veggies from the fridge, mix with some marinara sauce and you’ve got yourself a pasta-free spaghetti that won’t disappoint.
These are just a few examples of all the delicious meals you can quickly prepare at home and take to work without too much of a hassle. Some take a little more time than others, but you can always use Sunday like I do to meal prep your meals for the entire week, so you don’t have to wake up extra early on your work days. Remember, good sleep habits are important to you as migraine sufferer, so even that extra half-hour of sleep can be important to you.
It is also important as a migraine sufferer, to take control of as many areas of your life as possible. There are many facets to migraines that make you feel out of control, but this part is definitely one part you can have control over.
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