1 out of 3 people in the U.S. have

high blood pressure (also called

hypertension) and many of them

don’t know it.

Save time and eat healthier by packing your lunch

We live in a busy world, and sometimes fi nding time to pack your lunch may seem

like an impossible task. But it actually can save you time — not to mention money

and unwanted calories.

Save time

The next time you leave work to go out to lunch, add up the time it takes to get to

the restaurant, wait for your food and return to the offi ce when you’re done eating.

Chances are, you spend at least 30 minutes not actually eating.

That’s a couple of hours a week if you work a fi ve-day work week. You could spend

a fraction of that time packing your lunch. Not only can packing a lunch save time,

but it can be healthier, too.

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Eat healthier

By making your lunch at home, you have more control over your food choices. You

also control portion sizes and variety, so you can prepare a lunch that is tasty and

nutritious. Last, but not least, packing your own lunch can cost much less than

eating out.

Here are a few tips to help you pack healthy lunches at home:

Buy foods in bulk and divide them up into single servings to save money.

If you don’t have a refrigerator at work, you can bring your lunch in a small

cooler with reusable cold packs.

Cut up vegetables and fruit into single servings and store them in individual

containers or bags in the refrigerator.

Pick an evening during the week to cook or prepare a week’s worth of dishes

ahead of time. Just be sure to check how long uncooked and cooked items

stay fresh.

Yogurt is a great, portable option. Stick containers in the freezer. Then take one

to work and leave it out to thaw just in time for lunch or a snack.

Keep a supply of plastic utensils at your desk. If you have access to a kitchen at

work, you can wash them and reuse them several times.

Buy and pack healthy favorites that you know you’ll eat.

If you have to make multiple lunches, get the family involved. Create an

assembly line and make it fun.

Sources: The United States Department of Agriculture: choosemyplate.gov This information is meant to be educational. It should not be interpreted as medical advice. Please talk to your doctor about changes that may affect your health. Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield is the trade name of: In Colorado and Nevada: Rocky Mountain Hospital and Medical Service, Inc. In Connecticut: Anthem Health Plans, Inc. In Georgia: Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Georgia, Inc. In Indiana: Anthem Insurance Companies, Inc. In Kentucky: Anthem Health Plans of Kentucky, Inc. In Maine: Anthem Health Plans of Maine, Inc. In Missouri (excluding 30 counties in the Kansas City area): RightCHOICE® Managed Care, Inc. (RIT), Healthy Alliance® Life Insurance Company (HALIC), and HMO Missouri, Inc. RIT and certain aff liates administeri non-HMO benef ts underwritten by HALIC and HMO benef ts underwritten by HMO Missouri, Inc. RIT and certain aff liates only provide administrative services for self-funded plans and do not underwrite benef ts. In New Hampshire: Anthem Health Plans of New Hampshire, Inc. In Ohio: Communityiiii Insurance Company. In Virginia: Anthem Health Plans of Virginia, Inc. trades as Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Virginia, and its service area is all of Virginia except for the City of Fairfax, the Town of Vienna, and the area east of State Route 123. In Wisconsin: Blue Cross Blue Shield of Wisconsin ("BCBSWi"), which underwrites or administers the PPO and indemnity policies; Compcare Health Services Insurance Corporation ("Compcare"), which underwrites or administers the HMO policies; and Compcare and BCBSWi collectively, which underwrite or administer the POS policies. Independent licensees of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. ®ANTHEM is a registered trademark of Anthem Insurance Companies, Inc. The Blue Cross and Blue Shield names and symbols are registered marks of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.

Your doctor can tell you more about healthy eating for you and your family. Plus, you can get more information at our website: anthem.com. While you’re there, be sure to register to get the most from your health care benef ts. i