By Samantha Taylor
Many of you busy bees are asking what can be picked up at the grocery store for lunch that saves more time than going to a restaurant or fast food place. Up and down the aisles of Publix, I’ve found plenty of options sure to suit your mood.
The store has ready-to-buy sushi, great subs made fresh at the deli and pre-made salads, all for maybe only half of what you will pay at a restaurant. These meals are fantastic options for quick and healthful eats so I’ll focus on these. When choosing from the deli, always stick to whole grain bread, leave out the cheese, load it up with veggies and use only light mayo.
Be careful with the sub dressing because even though it’s mostly oil, they lather it on pretty quick. I favor turkey for meat because it’s the lowest in fat although I also enjoy the occasional combination of turkey and roast beef. And if you have never had banana peppers, add them to your sub, as they are delicious. They are not spicy but definitely add a fantastic flavor to any sub.
Another way the deli makes it convenient for you is that you can call ahead of time, place your order and they’ll have it prepared when you drop by to pick it up.
Another quick fix that Publix is known for is their daily-made sushi. To be honest, the only sushi I eat is smoked salmon with rice, cucumber and cream cheese but they do have a lot of ready-to-eat sushi products in their fish area. Yes, it is white rice, but every once in awhile is fine. Plus, their sushi is inexpensive, quick and easy to eat.
I always get their free pair of chopsticks because they are fun to play with although I still can’t figure them out. Go for the packets of low-sodium soy sauce for your sushi; I love how Publix has these healthy alternatives. And speaking of healthy alternatives, let’s go to their produce section where you can find various ready-to-go salads.
This has been a growing trend with a lot of busy people these days and Publix has many options from Chicken Caesar to Southwest Chicken with beans and corn. They feature small individual dressings galore, but stick with the low fat versions. And you know what other thing I love about Publix? The Green Wise section offers shoppers healthier versions of many common grocery items like ketchup, soups, spaghetti sauces, pasta and cereals. They also have lots of health bars and chips for quick snacks. Be cautious, though, because most of the chips may be healthier, but not always the lowest in total fat so always read labels.
