This is one of my best healthy eating and cooking tips. Every time I cook dinner, I want the time and effort put into it to last. So I double my recipes in order to have enough for dinner that night and leftovers for at least the next day's lunches.
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When done cooking, portion out your meal into dinner dishes and into lunch containers right away and then you won't have to take the time to dish it up for lunch in the morning. This means you're more likely to eat the healthy homemade meal you cooked even when you are short on time.
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I do this, too. As I am filling my dinner plate, I put portions in my little three-compartment lunch container. Instant lunch for next day PLUS portion control. While dinner is cooking I get my breakfast for the next morning organized, also. I measure out my cereal or yogurt, get my banana or blueberries ready, etc. This has been one of my best weight loss strategies.
STRAY_CAT3/26/2010 6:46:00 PM
I always double recipes to have leftovers -- sometimes I quadruple them and freeze them! If I'm making a casserole, I make a second one for the freezer. I have a huuuuuge slow cooker and I like to fill it up with something once a week; that way I have lots to freeze and for me and my husband to eat for lunch. The only challenge is making sure to keep the freezer organized and to know what's in it so you don't wind up wasting food because it's been in the freezer so long you don't want to eat it anymore!
RINDYS110/17/2010 10:47:00 PM
I call these "planned overs" not left overs.
MIPALADY231/4/2013 7:42:00 AM
ALWAYS - Hubby is always surprised that I want even the tiniest bit of left overs. It's usually not even a "full" portiong but for me it's perfect for an at work lunch portion.
SUEINNORMAL12/9/2010 9:24:00 AM
Invest in a Food Weight Scale. It is so easy to use. You can get one at Wal-Mart for $5. It has been a great help in meal planning!!
TONIABLAKE4/16/2010 9:57:00 PM
I am not a sandwich girl, so lunch for me is always a chore to create. Leftover dinner is always my favorite go-to-lunch.
LOMAREN3/25/2010 6:49:00 PM
I have been thinking of doing this for some time now and after reading all the comments I am going to do beginning immediately!! I'm sure this will help me not only with meal planning, but will save me money in the long run; I won't be tossing leftovers in the garbage because there wasn't quite enough for another meal. Also I buy frozen light dinners at the grocery store to have on hand when I'm short on time... freezing my own meals will help me have a more tastier healthy meal and will help my budget too. Thanks for sharing.
BLUEANGELLK3/25/2010 6:00:00 PM
Sometimes I have enough to portion out and put into the freezer for later
LAURA90213/25/2010 2:18:00 PM
I try to do the same thing. It makes things much easier when you don't have to think about what's for lunch!
IILAAD653/25/2010 2:18:00 PM
This helps stretch my budget PLUS I don't have to think about what to have for lunch, it's already in the fridge!!!
HAPPYMOM83/25/2010 1:54:00 PM
I do this every day. I never have to worry about at least one of my daily meals that way and it makes it easier to eat healthy foods when I prepare them myself.
DIETER2710/15/2012 3:54:00 PM
I do this everyday. It helps me know that my husband and son have extra for lunches to take to work.
MFLYNN89/29/2012 1:13:00 PM
interesting
NAOLEE8/27/2012 4:52:00 PM
That is a great idea. I told mu husband it's better to eat homemade dinner from the day before because our homemade is healthier.
YORKIE_GIRL8/5/2012 8:31:00 PM
I do this too - saves money, time, your health, & no stress thinking of what's for lunch tomorrow.
NHEMBERGER7/13/2012 8:56:00 AM
We do this alot! My boyfriend & I take turns cooking dinner & pack the left overs for lunch! Great time saver & we know we're eating healthy!
SBALLIET5/8/2012 11:11:00 AM
I have yet to learn how to cook for one so I always have lots of leftovers. I purchased a bunch of square sandwich containers and store my leftovers as meals in these containers, its good for lunch or dinner if I don't feel like cooking the next night.
CALIGIRL10754/26/2011 10:46:00 PM
I do this often !
JASI2712/13/2010 1:05:00 PM
I try to do this, but when the family sees it in the fridge it becomes fair game! LOL I have had to start marking it with my name!
JMAC239/25/2010 5:55:00 PM
Agreed. It stretches the money you spend on dinner and also makes the effort to cook healthy worth it, because you are not just getting one healthy meal you are getting several. I always make enough to last more than one meal.
2KITTIES7/14/2010 1:27:00 PM
I do the same thing! Keeps me healthy and since there are no other food sources here at work (vending machines, etc.) I bring only what I should be eating and nothing more!
SOPHIELEIGH6/1/2010 10:43:00 AM
Just make sure to put the extra portions away before you eat so you don't end up eating your lunch portion with your dinner portion!
DAISY22035/7/2010 7:00:00 PM
I do this too! Espeically with veggies and soups and lean meats.. it really makes the next day or two easy for lunch!
SWEETSUGAR74/20/2010 1:56:00 PM
Yes this is perfect.
Then you have more time for other things also
73STRAWBERRIES3/31/2010 7:38:00 AM
I do this for my husband all the time. That way I know that he is eating healthy.
MIMIKK53/26/2010 12:54:00 PM
This is what I try to do several times per week. It sure takes the load off of trying to think what is for dinner or lunch whichever the case my be. Thanks for sharing!
GEODAWG3/26/2010 8:43:00 AM
Good ideas!
COWCUTTER053/25/2010 7:59:00 PM
This is what I do too. I love having left overs for lunch the next day!
GRAMMAOFFIVE3/25/2010 7:33:00 PM
I do this every time I am cooking. My hubby takes a lunch everyday and I want to be sure that he is eating well also.
Related Secrets
Leftovers
When cooking dinner the night before, I cook up an extra portion, it means you control what you eat and you are not tempted to buy something for lunch
Have started preparing brown-bag lunches for the next day right after dinner the night before...so its set in stone what I will eat. At breakfast the next morning, I log what I am eating and I "Pre-log" my lunch...it helps me stick to it.
After dinner (and preparing tomorrow's lunch), I log dinner and "Pre-log" an evening snack.
I do not know whether it is just the benefit of pre-planning or the guilt of cheating on myself....this works for me.
I eat a salad every day for lunch. When it's time to get it ready, I prepare twice as much and put half in the refrigerator for later. That way, I know I'll get those vegetables in at dinner time and I won't have to make any more food decisions as my day begins to slow down. And if I find something better for dinner, I have a salad all ready for tomorrow!!
