Reader Help: Healthy Summer Meals on the Go

by Caitlin

So hey, guess what? I play on an adult kickball team. It's a summer league, we play on the mall here in DC. Yes, THE mall, with all the monuments! It's super pretty, like so:

Untouched iPhone photo taken at the end of our game last week. How beautiful is that sky?

Since this is summer in DC, that mostly means we play in temps of about 95 degrees with 90 percent humidity. Which is just as fun as it sounds. Here's a picture of how I coped with that last year. 

It was hot, the beer was cold, and it was most certainly not Bud Light. 

So anyway. We gather on the mall on Thursday nights in the summer. We have silly nicknames and we bring our own music to get our competitive kickball juices flowing. (Although our music comes in the form of an iPod and speakers, unlike the team we unfortunately lost to in the playoffs last year that "has an indefensibly large boom box," as eloquently stated by our team captain.)

Despite this revelry, I will have you know that we take our kickball seriously. Well, seriously enough. Exactly the right amount of seriously! Oh, let's just hear from Captain Dave on that again, shall we? As he declared to the team in the season-opening email:

"This is a recreational league, but we play to win. Despite what your New-Agey parents may have tried to teach you, winning is always more fun than losing. " INDEED.

Since it is not kosher to drink on the Mall and we don't want any (more) tickets from park rangers, now is a good time to tell you that it is SPRITE in those cups. 

One time last year some team members hand-fed a squirrel a packet of almond butter. This is food related and I still kind of can't believe it happened so even though it is totally incongruous I am sharing this here on Food Lush. I am not making this up. Here, look. 

Justin's Almond Butter -- with honey! Squirrels be so PICKY.

My friend's face has been blurred to prevent her from a law-suit from the squirrel family should it turn out that our woodland creature friend is allergic to nuts.

Thank you for indulging me. I will be sure to let you know if our squirrel friend returns this year.

Moving right along.

Basically, this is summer camp for adults. But there are no moms to show up with orange slices to help keep us going. One must be one's own soccer mom. Although, now that I really think about it, considering this is a team of adults that is at least 50% gay men with 0% minivans and 100% more flipcup played at bars, it is basically the opposite of soccer moms? 

I digress.

What happens on Thursdays in the summer is that I get up at my normal time, go to work, work all day, change, go to my kickball game, fret about squeezing in something remotely healthy for dinner, and find myself at our sponsor bar afterward, elbow deep in a plate of tater tots at 9pm while promising myself that NEXT week I will plan better and eat something healthy for dinner.

Lather, rinse, repeat. 

Well, that was last year. So far this year I have brought my dinner to every game, and we are also undefeated! COINCIDENCE?

Okay, so we've only had one game and our game was technically a tie and I technically also had some wings at the bar after but still. So far I've got my eye on the ball (KICKBALL METAPHOR) and I'm doing okay. But in order to keep this up all season, I'm going to need your help with some ideas (more on that in a minute). 

So, last week. The box of quinoa that had been lurking in my cupboard for months finally lured me in and last week I threw together a few quinoa and veggie bowls, one of which I brought with me Thursday night.  I had a few red peppers that were about to turn, so my husband threw them on the grill one night alongside our dinner, and I had those to use. I also threw on some feta cheese, steamed broc, and a little bit of olive oil and balsamic vinegar (I keep a jar of oil & vinegar at my desk, and I threw some on before I headed down to the field).

 
Same ingredients, different day, lunch at my desk. Yes that IS a cloth napkin, because it makes me feel self-righteous. And also because my company is very green and paper napkins that don't feel like they're sanding your face off are hard to come by. 

It was a super easy, tasty, and healthy dinner and I can definitely see myself making it again. Even if it means I have to answer lots of "What is THAT?" questions from red plastic cup slurping, Lady Gaga dancing men in matching t-shirts. (Me: "Um, it's quinoa? It's a grain? Kee ... nowauh? Um, KEENwuh? Kee...*mumble mumble*)

But so far it's about the only idea I've got.

So! Help me, dear readers! What should I bring for dinner on Thursday nights? 

Here are some things to note:

I have a fridge at work I can keep dinner in until I head to the field (where I will likely eat it while waiting for the game to start).
Sandwiches are basically out, as I am trying to stay away from wheat. I try to focus on whole foods. I love veggies, and meatless meals are welcome and even encouraged. (That includes quinoa salads! I'd love to hear your variations!)

Do you have a quinoa salad you love? A kale salad? A beefed up veggie side dish that could serve as a meal? Your favorite recommendations for a hummus, veggie, fruit and cheese tasting plate? 

PS: Speaking of "Sprite," my Dad took last week's post to heart and really wanted to make sure you got a chance to see a side-by-side comparison of his "very classy cups" (his words), so he had an amateur photo shoot in the den. We love him.

Comments

[Michael]

Can't really answer your questions but I'll just throw it out there that I ate arugula last night. Mixed some lemon juice in olive oil, put on a tiny bit of pepper and nomed away. It needed something else though to make it more tasty and to be a valid salad.

[Dawn K.]

This is my go to recipe when I know we'll be short on time for the week, and need something tasty at home to keep us from the greasy drive-thrus.

It's so filling and so tasty!

http://www.eatingwell.com/recipes/tuscan_style_tuna_salad.html

[Rachel Donovan]

as a fellow kickball pro, I understand whats it like to find yourself scarfing down a slice on the go, telling yourself, next week I'll do this better. Currently my solution for all food problems is black beans. canned black beans, corn, red onions, any other veggies you have laying around, some cilantro, maybe some crumbled feta can be an easy and filling 'salad'.

[Christine]

One of my favorite salad type foods is basically 1 chopped mango, 1 can of rinsed and drained black beans, a bit of chopped red onion - maybe about a quarter of a smallish one? more or less depending on your onion tolerance, a bit of minced garlic (a small clove), a chopped jalapeno and a squeeze of lime, salt and pepper and cilantro if you like, no cilantro if you don't. Delish by itself, awesome with some gluten free whole grain chips or pita if you can find it. If I weren't packing it, I often serve it with fish in the summer time.

Good luck, especially if you're playing tonight, I'm in Philly and the hubs is in DC for the day on work stuff and it is HOT.

[Christine]

OH and you could throw in some brown rice or quinoa if you need a little more oomph.

[Katie]

(1) quinoa, diced tomatoes, black beans, diced green onions, toasted pine nuts, lemon juice, olive oil, feta cheese

(2) quinoa tabouli: diced tomatoes, diced onion, a big handful of finely chopped mint, a big handful of finely chopped parsley, lemon juice, olive oil

(3) lentils, diced carrots, diced red pepper, arugula, vinaigrette dressing

(4) chickpeas, diced tomato, kalamata olives, diced cucumber, diced and sauteed jalepeno pepper, feta cheese

[Erin]

This includes wheat, but could be made with rice or another grain.
Israeli couscous with chopped tomatoes, artichoke hearts, olives, green beans tossed with oil & balsamic vinegar. Throw in a few capers or feta (or mozzarella and basil) and you have a delicious, filling meal!
A friend brought this to a potluck picnic and it was delicious! I'm making it tonight.

I also love pasta with lemon, feta and arugula or lemon, chevre and asparagus. Can be eaten warm or cold and if you have a gluten-free pasta you like you can still avoid wheat!

[Duncan Hannah]

I face the same issue Monday and Wednesday nights when I go racing (sailboats..): Do I eat before or after?
I usually snack on something (nuts, leftovers, half sandwich), then go racing, which will get me back to the dock at 7:30ish.
Then Monday's its off to Tony's pizza for beers and pizza. If I feel like a salad, I'll have onions on the pizza and hope the feeling passes.
On Wednesdays, its off to the yacht club for beer, nachos, then cheeseburgers. All healthy, light, and oh so good for you.

I find the more beer you drink the less the bugs bite. Healthy summer tip there....

BTW, thanks for allowing me showcase my photography skills.

Other BTW: you keep oil and vinegar at your desk? Is that the way we raised you?

Love,
Dad

[Erica]

I've got nothing to offer for your dinner dilemma, but I must tell you again how much I adore you.

And now? I adore your dad, too.

[Heather]

You and your dad....RIOT.

Alas, I have no healthy options for you. I would stop at Taco Bell (hangs head).

[Swistle]

I am trying to think of the cold things people bring to picnics. Pasta salads? 7-bean salads?

I love the picture of you drinking FROM THE PITCHER and HOLDING ANOTHER PITCHER ON STAND-BY. But what I love even more is that no one is even glancing your way. Like, this is not odd to them.

[Swistle]

Oh, also, I used to bring my lunch to work, and I found I liked snacky lunches more than I'd expect. I had one of those lunch containers with, like, six compartments, and I put in cut-up apples and carrots, cheese cubes, dried cherries, almonds, raw yellow/orange peppers. I love "bite of this, bite of that" meals.

[Caitlin]

Thank you all for these truly fantastic ideas. I am making a shopping list as we speak! It would be fun to come back later in the summer and give a recap of some of the meals!

Dad, I admire your dedication to this topic and will take your notes under advisement. Particularly with regards to beer as internal bug spray. Now, with regards to keeping oil & vinegar at my desk, is the "we" you're referring to you and your beautiful wife of almost 38 years? My mother? The woman who eats salad at two out of three meals? You...you HAVE met her, right?

Swistle: Completely normal behavior. What's more, I'm not merely holding the two pitchers and drinking from them, but someone is taking a PICTURE of this and NO ONE BATS AN EYE.

[Duncan Hannah]

Yeah, I remember her. I was hoping it would skip a generation....

Love, Dad