Serious Eats - seriouseats.com

I generally eat in my room by myself at lunch. I don't have easy access to a microwave or fridge, so I pack my lunches in a container that has an ice pack built in. I tend to make things that are ok to eat cold or at room temperature (although, I can eat most leftovers without needing to nuke them). My lunch box has two smallish containers. I fill one with yogurt and raw oats for breakfast (I bring along a seperate container of fruit) and one with a snack (fruit and cheese or edamame, sometimes dumplings). The larger bottom container gets brown rice, a protein and steamed veggies most days (although I did bring a sandwich today).

Starkist. I've actually discovered that I prefer the taste of the light tuna to the white albacore. Not sure why. And, in either case, I get mine water packed. Oil packed may be tastier, but my waistline can't take the extra calories.

My favorite thing to eat with mayo is seafood. To about 1 cup of low fat mayo I add 2 t. soy sauce, 1 T. sambal oelek, 2 t. sesame oil, 4 chopped scallions and one 6 oz. package of cooked lump crab meat. This mixture I then combine with about a pound and a half of sauteed shrimp, squid and scallops (in any combination). Run the whole thing under the broiler until bubbly and brown in places and serve over hot white rice with Asian style pickles. It's absolutely awesome!!!!

a bowl of chocolate chips and a glass (or two) of tawny port

buttered popcorn and a budget value dry white wine

brie, almonds, sliced baguette and any wine

I think there's a pattern here...

Soda. I've lived on Massachusetts my whole life. Only very rarely did I hear anyone call a soda "tonic" - and even then it was my grandmother.

My pleasure, fozziebayer!

For the hummus, soak 3/4 c. dried garbanzos overnight, then drain and rinse. Saute 1 chopped onion and 2 chopped garlic cloves in a little olive oil until onion is soft. Transfer onion and garlic to the pot with the beans, cover with water, and simmer until the beans are tender and most of the liquid is gone. Mash beans in food processor with 1 1/2 T. tahini, 2 1/2 T. lemon juice (bottled is okay), and 1 t. garlic powder (yeah, yeah, I know, but it works!) You might need a little salt if the tahini is unsalted. To pack this for lunch, put some in a shallow plastic container and drizzle a little olive oil over it. Put chopped cuke, tomato, and green onion in a little separate container. Add some quartered pitas in a baggie and you're set.

This is the best, most flavorful hummus I've ever had, but some folks might find it a little too garlicky. I've never had any complaints, though--even people who hate beans like this recipe, especially with the vegetables on top.

I've been able to come home for lunch most of the time, where I'll usually cook a quick tilapia fillet in the skillet and steam up some veggies or just destroy any leftovers. Favorite desk munchies include the good old standby granola bar or some munchies: cashews and dried cranberries, yogurt, apple or banana with peanut butter, string cheese, triscuits & laughing cow cheese, or a new favorite, toasted pepitas and raisins.

I'll be biking to work soon since the weather is so nice, but that will mean not coming home for lunch. I'm psyched to keep up the healthy munchies and try out more salads (like the stetson chop salad I'm trying my butt off to recreate: pearl couscous (the fat kind), chopped baby greens, corn, diced tomato, pepitas, raisins, and probably a red wine vinegarette). I'm also a hug leftover fan, so I've already started planning out stuff I like that I can make in mass quantities like casseroles (so very few that I like) and other filling dishes that are great cold.

@whoizzit: I marinate my tri tip in one package of onion soup mix (the dehydrated kind...and don't rehydrate) and a bottle of red wine, with quite a few crushed cloves of garlic thrown in...I also throw in fresh citrus juice, when I have some...lime is my fave. I leave it in the fridge for 3-4 hours and then grill it. It's scrumptious. Extra good with salsa and avocado on fresh tortillas--tri tip burritos, yum!

1. Jambalaya
2. Smoked Brisket
3. Chicken Cordon Bleu
4. Jagerschnitzle
5. Lasagna

mmm... good stuff!

I thought about this thread as I was eating a pretty average buffet lunch with my mom and wishing there was some place a little nicer we could have gone. When you're 100 miles from anywhere, Applebees sounds pretty fancy. The cafe was where Mom wanted to go and that's what counts. I drove up (about 80 miles) to go to church with her and spend the day. As I said, lunch was so-so, but the day was beautiful and it was nice to have time for just the 2 of us. Mom's 87 and pretty amazing. She just bought her first pair of blue jeans as well as a 42" flat screen HDTV. One of the best things for me was channel surfing and coming across a replay of the KU-Memphis game. Watching the end of that game on the big screen was great!