Deli take-out lunches not only cost a lot of money, they are also not necessarily the healthiest choice, what with the bun, all that Deli meat, the bag of chips, and the soda that often goes with it. Or that "salad bar" that tempts with prepared foods, Chinese or otherwise - oops, forgot about the salad part. And don't get me started on those fantasy coffee drinks with whipped cream and flavored syrups, the reward for being away from home all day. Very expensive if you add the cost up over a year, and not exactly beneficial to your health or weight.

My preferred lunch is leftovers, vegetable leftovers that is. Since having made a conscious effort to eat more plant-based foods I always prepare a lot of different vegetable dishes, and always enough so we have leftovers. And another thing, I try to keep animal protein, on those days we have some, to dinnertime. Hence most of my lunches are vegetarian.

Whether you're packing a lunch to take to work, making school lunches for your kids (they've got to be better than school cafeteria food), or eating close to your fridge at your home office, vegetarian leftovers lunches are prepared in a jiffy, are easy on your wallet, your health, and your weight.