Whether you work a traditional job, have a home office, or stay home caring for children, lunch can be a meal that is challenging to get right. Not only is it be difficult to find the time to eat but it can be even more of a struggle to consume the right foods once you find the time for a lunch break. Add to that the need to follow a candida diet, and it may seem easier to skip the meal altogether; however, it is possible to squeeze a quick and simple candida-friendly lunch into one’s day-even for people on the go.
While people tend to believe breakfast is the most important meal of the day, lunch packs a nutritional punch in one’s day as well. Skipping lunch means that your brain is missing out on important nutrients to keep it working at an optimal level throughout the day. A nutritious lunch can also keep the afternoon sleepiness away or at least minimize it.
Being prepared is key when it comes to making sure nutritious candida-friendly lunch happens each day. When there is no preparation, it is much easier to run to the local deli with co-workers and load up on processed foods and candida triggers such as sugars and white flour.
And, of course, few things are worse to the person with candida than the office vending machine-chips, soda, cookies, fruit juices, donuts. All of these may feed the hunger, but they also feed the candida!
However, on the flip side, for the person who stays home, it can be more tempting to get into unhealthy foods in the cabinets or pick at the children’s carb-laden lunches, if one is unprepared and without a plan.
So what’s the answer to doing lunch the right way-the candida-friendly way? Have a plan. Plain and simple. Whether you are someone who prefers planning meals for the week or day by day, write out a plan and stick to it as closely as possible.
If you are stuck when it comes to ideas for candida lunch on the go, take a look at some of the candida recipes below to get you started:
Nut Butter Sandwich
Ingredients:
1-2 Slices of sprouted grain, no yeast/sugar bread-such as Ezekiel 4:9 Bread, toasted
Sugar free, natural nut butter-such as almond, cashew, macadamia or peanut butter
Serve with some sliced veggies, an apple, and even a cheese stick and you have a well-balanced meal.
Hummus and Veggies
Ingredients:
Plain or flavored hummus-homemade or store-bought (just check the labels for sugar!)
Cucumbers and carrots
Veggies are great for dipping in hummus. A cheese stick is also a nice compliment. A bag of fresh berries or an orange is a great way to end the meal.
Green Salad with Diced Turkey or Tofu
Ingredients:
Salad Fixings-lettuce, spinach, cucumbers, peppers, shaved carrots, hard boiled eggs
Diced Turkey or Firm Tofu
Dressing made of Red Wine Vinegar and Olive Oil
Combine the ingredients and enjoy. May also sprinkle with cheese or nuts and serve with low-sugar fruit for dessert.
As long as you take the time to come up with the meal plan and purchase and prepare the foods in advance, lunch is really an easy meal to make candida-friendly. Enjoying a healthy lunch is a great way to break up your day and to make sure your body is fueled-up and ready for what the afternoon brings.
