Easy Lunch Idea: Ziplock Mexican Salad

While I love getting fresh air when I step out to buy lunch on the days I don’t bring my own, it’s an expensive date with fresh air. I had a wake up call when a salad cost $14 last week! Oh New York City how I love you and hate you all at the same time! That hefty receipt urged to start bringing my own lunch again. It can’t be that hard, especially since I’m not traveling this month. Each Sunday I have plenty of time to enjoy Fairway shopping trips and stock the fridge.

This week and last week’s lunch was inspired by Anne but has been slightly altered and renamed a Ziplock Mexican salad.

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So, next time you’re looking for an easy lunch option that is portable and flavorful, just grab a gallon Ziplock and stuff it full with the below delicious ingredients! I was able to buy a week’s worth of ingredients for just $23, which averages $4.25 per day!

  • 4 handfuls of baby spinach
  • 2 handfuls of cherry tomatoes
  • 3 handfuls of chopped red and orange peppers
  • Any random leftover cooked vegetables you have in your fridge (this week I have sautéed mushrooms)
  • 1 handful chopped red onion
  • 1/2 cup brown rice, seasoned with salt, pepper, cayenne pepper, and chili powder
  • 1/2 cup of rinsed, drained black beans
  • 1/4 cup shredded extra sharp Cheddar cheese
  • 1/4 avocado, chopped
  • 1/4 cup mango salsa

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The Ziplock salad not be pretty but it’s delicious and filling! I love pairing my salads with some crunch so often pack a serving of baked chips or crackers with an apple. This keeps me full until my afternoon snack of yogurt, cottage cheese, or grapefruit and almonds.

What’s your favorite easy lunch option?

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6 Comments

  1. GiGi Eats Celebrities March 5, 2013 / 4:29 am

    Love this! 🙂 My food never looks all that pretty, but it tastes AMAZING! ha ha!! That’s all that really matters!

    My favorite easy lunch option is grilling up bison or beef burgers (grass-fed of course, lol) and wrapping them up in tin foil and throwing them in my purse! LOL! I am a burger in the purse kind of girl!

  2. Maureen March 5, 2013 / 12:45 pm

    Great idea! I’m trying to bring my lunch to work more often as well so I will have to try this. Usually I bring leftovers from the previous night’s dinner for lunch, which can get pretty boring. I find that I eat a lot of pasta, so I always lie to add a handful or two of spinach to my leftover pasta to get some extra veggies.

  3. NYC Fit GIrl March 5, 2013 / 3:22 pm

    Your salad looks great! I love getting salads on lunch too but you are right they do get really expensive!

  4. emily:2:design:cents March 5, 2013 / 4:42 pm

    I’m definitely guilty of spending $14+ on salads in the city, too easy!

  5. Sarah March 5, 2013 / 8:58 pm

    Super smart idea- I wonder if I could get my husband to start taking salads again if they were guaranteed not to leak!

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