IT’S TIME TO LOVE YOUR DESK LUNCHES

A few recipes to spice up your work days

- ALI SLAGLE

Eating lunch is a highlight of the day. Making lunch, though, is complicated.

Along with the decision-making, shopping, cooking and cleaning that come with making a meal, work and school lunches must be easy to transport, use few utensils and vessels, and fill you up but not slow you down. Ideally, they don’t take a long time to eat, make a mess or stink up the place.

With all of that to consider, you could just buy lunch or snack until dinner. But making your own lunch can be cheaper, healthier and — with these few princi-ples — easy. Here's how to be a better bring-your-lunch person.

MAKE A BIG BATCH AHEAD

When you have an hour, cook a big batch of a recipe that won't get dull or soggy after a few days in the refrigerator. Then pack lunches into servings you can grab as you're running out the door each morning.