Bringing lunch to work is hard. Okay, it's not hard, but life without a dining hall is a huge adjustment for me. Not only do you actually have to take the time to pack the lunch, but you actually have to put some thought into what will keep you full until dinnertime- (side note: 10 chocolate chip cookies and a bag of skittles won't).

For the first few weeks I kept things basic:  sandwich, chips, cookies, apple. But that got boring. And eating Uncrustables in a professional office is weird (don't even get me started on Lunchables).  And there's only so many turkey sandwiches one girl can take before she loses her mind. In a moment of darkness I considered going to the McDonald's across the street. Every day. For the rest of the summer. But then I remembered Beyonce. And then I remembered her body in the Drunk In Love video. And I was like, what would she do?

So then I got creative. And it was awesome.
Making my lunch for the next day became fun and eating it was actually something I looked forward to.
And then I was like, so many other college grads probably are eating pb&j sandwiches every day.
So if that's you, and you're looking to change that here's what I've been making for the past week:
(and if you're not, that's totally cool because pb&j sandwiches are GREAT)

Monday: Spinach Turkey-Brie Wrap
Okay I know I said turkey sandwiches get boring- but I swear this is different. I love getting Spinach and Tomato Basil wraps because they add some extra flavor. I like to fill my wraps up with a lot of veggies like spinach, cucumbers, lettuce and tomatoes. For this wrap the Brie helps keep the wrap sealed, plus it's a super-chic cheese.

When I have a wrap, I usually like to pair it with Wheat Thins (my favorite is the buffalo) and either grape tomatoes, grapes, cucumber slices or celery/peanut butter.  Or, if you're lucky enough to have a microwave in your office, I like to bring the tomato soup-at-hand cups for a quick, easy and filling side.

Tuesday: Crispy Chicken Salad 
Making a salad that will last you until dinnertime can get a little tricky. So I like to add chicken tenders to mine! As always with a salad, pretty much anything goes:  tomatoes, green peppers, cheese, corn, edamame. Whatever. Nothing you do is wrong. I like to put two to three tenders in the salad to make sure I get full. My favorite dressing to use with this salad is just plain and simple buffalo sauce, but I hear that buffalo sauce/ranch hybrid or a honey mustard dressing is awesome too!

p.s. if you're a vegetarian (or looking to cut back on a few calories) cut up some Morning Star (or any brand!) chick'n nuggets or chick'n patties. Just as delicious, I swear by it.


Wednesday: Shrimp Cocktail 
I LOVE shrimp, and can eat it in any form. I like to have at least 10 shrimps with this lunch to make sure it fills me up, and use a little container of cocktail sauce on the side. With this lunch I also like to put in some cheese slices with basic crackers and some fruit on the side (grapes and apple slices work really well with the cheese!) This lunch is super-chic and super delicious, but works best if you have an icepack in your lunch box- or better yet, if you have access to a fridge during the day.

Thursday: Burrito Bowl 
Think of it like Chipotle when you make this lunch. Rice, beans, then whatever you want. I like to use chicken, corn, tomatoes, onions, lettuce and cheese - but if you have pico or guac on hand ADD IT. It's pretty quick to make (you literally just throw everything into a bowl) and will fill you up without any side snacks. (Using Quinoa instead of rice works well too!)

Friday: Proscuitto Rolls and Caprese Salad 
I like to keep it light on a Friday since I already KNOW by weekend will be filled with calories galore. Proscuitto (or turkey or ham) rolls are usually a go-to when I'm trying to cut back on carbs, like bread, which are necessary in a sandwich. I also like to have a caprese salad (slices of mozzarella, tomato, and basil) because that fills me up well. However, I skip any oils or balsamic that caprese salads usually have because it tends to get a little messy... aka I learned from experience. It's still just as delicious though, I promise!

(Side note to all of the above:  I usually bring Naked juices with me to work either to drink with my lunch or when I get hungry throughout the day. They fill you up just enough to satisfy your hunger, plus they're good for you. Yay!)

So if you're looking for a way to change up your lunch routine, look no further. Try some of these, see what works for you and add your favorites! And if you have great lunches too, please share!!

Stay chic!
xoxxx

First things First: 
You won't need too much as an intern, but you will need a few necessities.

One-  a lunchbox.
- Buying lunch every day gets soooo expensive, is usually unhealthy if it's quick and as an intern, you want to try to be around as much as possible. Plus, packing lunch can be kind of fun. I like getting creative with things like buffalo chicken lettuce wraps, caprese salads and stir-frys. I'm lucky enough that my office has a fridge. If yours doesn't- no worries! Try investing in a lunch bag that is lined and includes a freeze pack to keep your food cold until lunch time.

Two- flats
-  Heels are chic, having your feet hurt is not. One of the first things I learned from my internship was to bring flats. Even if it's just for the short walk to the bus/train stop trust me, your feet will thank you. These come in handy too if you have some quick errands to run after work- (no one likes a grocery shopper in heels).

Three- a good wallet
- Even though you don't have a lot of money (r.i.p. fashion fantasies) having a good wallet makes you look like you do. I like ones with a lot of credit card slots because my life revolves primarily around gift cards and hope that there is some money on my debit card- there's never any actual cash around. I got a Fossil one for a decent price at Macy's. You can check it out here. (Plus it comes in like, every cool color ever which is nice.)


Emphasizing the "good" in good morning!
First- Breakfast is a necessity. Don't ever skip breakfast- unless you're super-late and a complete hot mess. In which case, try to have a chia pod, fruit or nutrigrain bar on hand. You need that fuel to get you through the morning. Also, low blood sugar isn't a good look on anyone. Most places don't let you take lunch breaks until 11:30-2. Sometimes you won't really have time for lunch. That being said, don't think that a cup of coffee is enough. You should be having a somewhat decent (even if it's quick) breakfast that will get you through the morning, if not the whole day. Personally, I like the Special K breakfast sandwiches and Einstein's bagel-fuls that you can find in the freezer section of your grocery store.

Second- Try to be as organized as possible. This may include picking an outfit the night before (and knowing where all desired shoes and accessories are in advance.)

Clothes:
My internship has a dress and skirt policy for women- which I think is super-chic. Plus, it makes it easier to shop. From what I've found the rules for work dresses are pretty simple:  No cleavage, knee length (or not much above) and something that you would never wear to a college bar. If you still need some ideas here are my outfits from my first week at my internship HERE.


Commuting 101: 
If you're like me and you commute to work by bus, train or even car- it can be painful. Especially during rush hours. I usually bring a book with me (right now it's embarrassingly, yet timely, L.A. Candy by Lauren Conrad) or I try to tune everything out with a really great playlist. Some of my favorite songs right now include:

- 100 by Iggy Azelea
- Let Me In - Grouplove
- Hello World - Kid Ink
- We Are Giants - Lindsay Stirling, Dia Frampton
- Empire - Shakira

Another thing that's super important if you're a commuter is bringing a bag that's big enough to hold everything you will need for the day. My bag usually includes my wallet, lunchbox, an umbrella, a sudoku puzzle book, sunglasses, headphones, a book or iPad, pens, lipstick and a small sample size of a perfume. This bag doesn't need to be HUGE, but as long as it comfortably (and you can easily access everything) then you should be pretty set!

Last note: The chicest thing you can do is offer your seat to someone who needs it more than you. If it's particularly crowded on the bus/train that day, don't hesitate to politely get up and stand instead. Remember, you never know who you might encounter- that lady you gave your seat to might just be a CEO of a major corporation with an open position.


The Summer Bummer
Okay, so let's be real. You're a little sad you won't be going to the beach a hundred times this summer or joining your friends at Bonnaroo. But that doesn't mean you can't have fun. For the first few days of my internship I would go from home to the train stop to my office then back to the train stop and home again. But then I realized-  I work in a city. There a ton of things to see, do and eat. (There are a lot of things to eat.) If you're in a new place (like me!) there's also a thousand people to meet, things to experience and things to do! So get out there and do it- no one looks back and happily recalls those couch binges of The Bachelorette…

Have questions about how to be a chic intern! Ask! I'd love to help.

Until then,
Stay chic.
xoxo