My friend and I were at the grocery store and my friend was trying to figure out what to bring for lunch. She's gotten tired of her sandwiches being soggy and always bringing frozen meals. She's bored of lunch. I figure she's not the only one trying to battle this boredom. So in honor of my friend and all of you who have to pack a lunch for work, I have found some awesome tips on how to pack your lunch so you can love lunchtime again.

1. Plan ahead and cook big batches: If you make something over the weekend or at the beginning of the week, make extra so you can freeze it and take to work with you. Soups, chili, and stews are some ideas of how to make a big batch and save it for later.
2. Following along with the first tip, pack something you can reheat: After a tiring (or boring) morning at work you want to bite into something that tastes just as good as it did the night before.
3. Maybe you don't have time to reheat so pack foods that can be eaten cold: Salads and sandwiches are ideal for this tip. They can be eaten right out of the fridge and on the go. Don't worry about getting bored with sandwiches or salads. There are so many different recipes and ideas out there. Get creative and create something delicious.
4. Pack your dressings/condiments on the side: To prevent sandwiches and salads from getting soggy or wilting pack the dressings separately. Another great idea is to have things for salads like croutons, sunflower seeds, etc. on hand at your desk so anytime you bring your salad you can dress it up a little.
5. Make sure to pack something that will fill you up: We've all had an experience where we eat, and then half an hour later we're hungry again. To make sure this doesn't happen pack lunches that have beans, brown rice, quinoa or other fiber-rich foods.
6. Pack leftovers: Is your fridge full of different meals? Why not take some of it for lunch? This way you clean out your fridge, save money, and can skip the Pb&j.
7. Use prepared foods: Don't be afraid to use things like pre-packed tuna fish and crackers, hummus, or a salad mix in your lunch. Not only are these good items that will keep you full but they can cut down on the prep time in the kitchen.
8. Pack a little treat: If you're like me and miss the little treats my mom would put in my school lunch, remember to pack a little something you love. This way you'll have something to look forward to when you pull out your lunch.
9. Don't forget the basics: There are five things that you should always have in your office, or place of work. These include:
   • Basic dishes and a set of utensils: eating off of real dishes and using actual silverware will make you feel less like you're in the office and more like you're eating at home, or in a restaurant.
   • A cloth napkin: cloth napkins are nicer and more eco-friendly than paper towels or napkins. It might fancy up your lunch a bit as well.
   • A paring knife: if you have fresh fruit or veggies this can come in handy to cut with.
   • Salt, pepper and other seasonings: you never know when you'll have a bland lunch or when someone else will.

There you have it. Nine tips on how to beat the boredom. If you have any suggestions or recipes leave us comment!