Image via Craftzine.com

Man, I hate to pack my lunch for work, but I know that taking my lunch can save me about a $1,000 dollars a year and also, is about ten million times healthier than resorting to Fast Food Row. But you can only do the PB&J so many times before you start to resent it, you know? Here are ten inspirations for your Bento box.

• Can you imagine the look on your coworkers' faces when you pull a minted lobster salad pita out of your desk drawer? Pair with carrot & raisin salad and a juicy bunch of grapes.

• Baked Chickpea and Sweet Potato burgers are a definite make-ahead, but freeze the lot and you're set for perfectly packable lunchtime treats for the rest of the summer.

• Soup is always a no-brainer--either hot, like this mixed vegetable and coconut milk soup, or cold, like this amazing white gazpacho. Combined with one of these amazing shrimp rolls.

• Pair some Mexican bean salad with a whole wheat tortilla sprinkled with a little colby/jack and you're going to be satisfied until dinner time, without that mid-afternoon insulin slump.

• Venture into the raw, vegan territory with this delicious cool bowl chock full of nutrients.

• Whip up some sun-dried tomato pesto in about three seconds with a food processer and then assemble at work with sprouts and fun bread, or use as a dip for more veggies.

• Or bring a little container of hummus, a ciabbata roll, some roasted red peppers (from a jar or your own) and turn your desk into a bistro.
  

• Got frozen pre-cooked shrimp in the freezer? It will take about two minutes, tops, to throw them into a little container, pair with another container with your dipper of choice (cocktail sauce, wasabi, soy sauce, or lemon wedges), some fresh strawberries, a chunk of dark decadent chocolate, some raw asparagus that you can steam in the microwave and some sparkling spring water. If you're feeling motivated, once at work, you can nuke the chocolate and dip the strawberries into it, but I'm warning you right now, your coworkers will start referring to you as "The Princess."

• Hate a soggy sandwich? Try making a sandwich loaf with a bunch of veggies and some cheese, then just slice off a hunk in the morning when you're walking out the door and then pair with this lovely raspberry/rhubarb trifle. Fancy!

• Turn your dinner leftovers into little adorable gyoza, throw in some fruit, a side of edamame and you're all set.