Who doesn't love the imaginary alarm that goes off in our heads at noon on a weekday, signaling the start of lunch.  According to a Careerbuilder.com survey, 39 percent of Americans said they eat out at least three time during a work week.  Going out to eat is not without its benefits: escaping the office for a while, tasty food and convenience. However, people often don't realize how much money and calories can be saved if they bring their own lunch to work. It is reported that people who bring a lunch to work save as much as $20 to $100 dollars a week!  In our present economic climate, this amounts to "real" savings that can be better utilized elsewhere.  When you pack your own lunch, you are almost assuredly eating healthier too.  This is particularly important for people who have desk jobs, where weight gain is all too common.

If you think that bringing a lunch means sacrificing taste for five days of pb&j and cold cuts, think again. 

Try some of these tasty, innovative lunch ideas:

Luncheon Veggie Pasta

Chicken Rice Casserole

Asian Turkey Wraps

Cream of Roasted Walnut Soup

Portabello Sandwich

Chunky Chicken-Peanut Wrap

Pork Pocket Sandwiches

Grilled Salmon and Cheddar Sandwiches

Eggplant and Gouda Sandwiches

Cheesy Cluck Sandwiches

There are endless options and ways to take delicious, healthy food to work.  Many places of work are equipped with a refrigerator and/or microwave, greatly expanding your food options.  If your workplace does not have a refrigerator, invest in an insulated sack or small cooler.  No microwave, no problem: you can purchase a stainless steel thermal jar and preheat it with boiling water.  With the money saved from not going out, these items will pay for themselves in no time.

One of the best ways to combat the "not enough time to make a lunch" excuse is to cook ahead of time.  Cook a bigger meal on the weekend so that there is plenty of leftovers for the week.  Another option is to create weekly lunch menus on the weekends.  This way you don't have to waste time thinking about what to pack.  Pick out a selection of fruit, vegetables and snacks that you want to eat and portion and bag them the night before.

For more lunch ideas, try Brown Bag Lunch Ideas!