Lunch

Ahh, lunch time. By 11 am I am usually starving, but try to hold off until at least 11:30...don't want to be like my grandparents. I have found that bringing my lunch to work is the easiest way to ensure I will feel good for the rest of the work day. We do have a cafeteria at Lilly, but there really isn't much that I can eat, besides a salad that costs 10 dollars. Not really, but it is very expensive. So here are a few of my favorite lunch options.

1. Baked chicken tenders. You have to be careful on buying the frozen chicken tenders in the bag. A lot of them are in chicken broth, which contains wheat. So look for the ones that just say chicken and ice water. I usually put about 1 tbsp of coconut oil (yummy flavor) and Bragg's seasoning. Again, you need to be careful on seasonings because the fillers can contain wheat. A good rule of thumb: If the seasoning has a label, then don't use it. If it doesn't have a label, then it is pure and safe.

2. I typically bring some type of vegetable, usually greenbeans (canned, no salt added) because I love them. However, usually any frozen vegetable is safe too, but always read your ingredients.

3. Then of course, fruit. I either bring a pear or an apple because these are two fruits that I know will not upset my stomach. Be cautious of citrus fruits and bananas. A lot of people with food allergies cannot handle either. For me citrus fruits cause a hard belly so I just avoid.

4. Another option, which I love because there is no prep, is leftovers. That is always a great lunch option!

5. Lastly, a breath refresher is always important. A plain mint is usually tolerable, but not gum. All gums, except Trident, contain wheat. Trident is okay, but it contains Sorbitol which can cause severe bloating. Some people might be able to handle the Sorbitol (of course I can't) so it is a trial and error to see what works for you. There are alternative gums out there, Glee gum and Spry. I recommend Spry because the flavor lasts longer and tastes the most like normal gum. Glee is good for about the first 5 minutes.

So there you have it, lunch....making me hungry. =)

Stay tuned for supplements....very important with food allergies.