Oh Lunch...

I've recently moved from Champaign-Urbana to Peoria, IL. It's a nice change. Peoria is about twice the size, still a bit of a college town, so there's always something to do, for relatively reasonable prices.

With a move comes new employment! I'm still looking for, what I like to call, a big girl job, but w/ only a years worth of experience under my belt in an internship, and in this economy, I have yet to see the fruits of my labors. Regardless, I have some child-care work (my go to money maker), and as was bound to happen, I am going to need to start bringing my own lunch with me. Yikes!

You see, previously, I either ate with the kids I watched (there are no lunch breaks in child care, but there is free food, yay!), or I had time off to go home and make food. But currently, three days a week, I'm working in two different cities in one day, both 30 min from home, and 30 min from each other. So, a sack lunch it is.

One problem. I have no idea what to make for lunch.

What does one usually make for lunch? Salads... sandwiches, soup, easy mac...

I like salads, but honestly, I'm not good at that whole breakfast thing (this may change... if it does, I'll blog about that then), so I've gotten into a habit of a European lunch. Big meal in the middle of the day, smaller one later for dinner.

First of all, I highly suggest this system. It really gives you an amazing burst of energy mid day. I remember when I started eating really good lunches, because one of my clients worked from home, so she made the most awesome Israeli or Russian food for lunch and her, myself, and the kids all ate together. I was amazed that I felt so damn good at 2pm! Previously, by the mid afternoon, I was ready for another nap. I'd go home, plop onto the couch, eat a snack, and veg until I felt I could power through the rest of the day. If I worked until 5, that last 3 hrs were brutal.

But amazingly, when I ate, I had energy. Funny how calories work, haha!

So, what I like to do (though this requires cooking, and sometimes that's just so much work!), since I skip breakfast, or I only eat a quick bite, I prefer to have a decent lunch. This has previously been whatever I could get my hands on. Then at 3ish, I eat a big meal. This would really be my dinner. Then at 7ish, I'd eat a snack. That's more like "supper".

Again, this is mostly theoretical, because it requires planning, and cooking, two things I hate doing on a regular basis.

So, yeah... No idea what I'm supposed to put IN my lunch. Salads are not substantial, gluten free sandwiches kinda suck, anything canned or with the word "easy" in it is NOT gonna happen.

I... wha... Rice? I have no idea... I guess left overs from the previous nights dinner... I'm not really sure, I'll let you now how this all works out...