How are you doing with your New Year’s lunch resolutions?! Have you been able to find a lunch plan that works for you or do you need some inspiration? Cue your friendly, blogger and her latest lunch bag obsession: The AZ Pro Portion Control Fuel Pack.
What is it?
The Fuel Pack is designed to help you organize your food portions and promote healthy eating habits throughout the day. It includes 6 BPA free containers with clearly marked measurements, 3 different sizes of high performance Ice Bricks™ and a Tritan™ shaker bottle with mixing ball that fits inside a molded, insulated pocket. The containers and Ice Bricks™ snap together so you can change the position of the ice depending on where you want the cold directed. Maximum cooling power means maximum healthy food choices!
The interior of the Fuel Pack has SuperFoam® insulation with Therma-Flect® radiant barrier so you can keep food hot or cold (Handy, right?!)
How do I use it?
Whether your goal is to lose/gain weight, eat more vegetables or simply maintain your current diet, the Fuel Pack can help you control what and how much you eat.
The containers are clear so you can see exactly how much you’ve packed and eaten on a daily basis. You can also use them to ensure you’re including all of the recommended food groups (carbs, proteins, healthy fats, etc.)
If you’re following a specific caloric intake to reach your goals, you can portion out your food groups by referring to the measurements along the sides of the containers. The shaker bottle is an awesome addition, whether you use it for hydration or for a smoothie. You’ll also notice that there is extra space in the top of the lunch bag—perfect for snacks if you’ve got a long day ahead.
Even if you already have a meal plan, you can always adapt the Fuel Pack and its contents to your needs. The 6 containers are of varying sizes, which makes them great for sorting out the different food groups and ensuring you’ve packed enough of each.
If you’re curious about your caloric intake, a caloric intake calculator will give you an idea of how much you should be putting into your body per day based on your goals.
Disclaimer: We are not dieticians nor are we portion control professionals! If you’re embarking on a diet plan, please make sure to check with your doctor before starting. We’d love to hear how you’re using the Portion Control Fuel Pack, so please comment below.
My Guidelines
My schedule is the opposite of…scheduled. In fact, it’s different every day! Luckily, I’ve found that I always feel prepared when I have 3 things: My laptop, my laptop charger and a stocked lunch bag.
I’ve put together my own 5-day food diary, to offer some inspiration about how to utilize the containers to meet daily needs.
According to Health Canada’s basic guidelines, I need 7-8 servings of vegetables, 6-7 servings of grains, 2 servings of milk and alternatives and 2 servings of meat and alternatives.
To work towards my daily nutrients, I like to make sure I have at least 1 serving of protein, 4 servings of vegetables (good fats) and 2 good carbs. I love the containers in the Fuel Pack, because the measurements on the side make it easy for me to calculate the right portions. E.g. 1 serving of vegetables is equal to half a cup. To get all 4 of my servings in, I’ll use the measurements to fill 2 cups full of vegetables.
The Fuel Pack comes with 6 containers (1 sandwich container, 3 Snackers and 2 little Snackers). I use them interchangeably, but you can also use the sizes and lid colors for different food groups. E.g. Vegetables in the largest container, proteins in the Snackers and carbs in the little Snackers.
My 5-Day Food Guide
Colors correspond with the lid colors.
Monday
I like putting salads together when it’s time to eat—nobody likes a soggy lunch! Today I’m packing chicken breast, veggies and mixed greens that I can toss together at lunchtime. Salads are never a problem with these containers, because I know the dressing is sealed properly!
Blue: 2 cups mixed greens
Green: 1 cup (3 oz.) chicken breast, cut
Green: 1 cup cherry tomatoes & mushrooms, mixed
Green: 1 cup green beans
Red: 1 hard-boiled egg
Red: EVOO with pepper for salad
Shaker: Green smoothie
- Handful spinach
- 1 tsp. fresh lime juice
- ½ pear
- ½ avocado
- 8 oz. water
- 2 oz. pineapple juice
- 1 scoop vanilla protein
- Ice as needed
Tuesday
Tuesdays are always very busy for me. I’m usually out all day and finish up at the gym, so it’s important that I pack enough food so that I’m not tempted to eat out. This means I’m using the extra space in my fuel pack to bring along a banana for protein after the gym.
Blue: 1/2 cup egg white omelet with tomatoes, green pepper and white onion
Green: 1 avocado, sliced
Green: ½ cup cottage cheese
Green: 1 cup crackers
Red: 100mL roasted red pepper hummus
Red: 4 tbsp. salted peas
*Added a banana
Shaker: Blue Smoothie
- 1 cup blueberries
- 8 oz. water
- 2 oz. pineapple juice
- ¼ cup blackberries
- 2 tsp. honey
- ½ banana
- 1 scoop vanilla protein
- Ice as needed
Wednesday
I love the insulated shaker holder, especially on days when it’s too early for me to have a sit-down breakfast (which is most days). I like using my shaker to create a protein-rich smoothie, and I use this meal to get in most of my fruits for the day. Even if I’m out the door before the sun comes up, I have my breakfast, lunch and extra snacks ready whenever I am.
Blue: 2 cups arugula
Green: 3 oz. steak, sliced
Green: 1 cup of red pepper, onions, jalapeños mixed
Green: 3 oz. marble cheese, cubed & 3 oz. grapes
Red: 25 mL balsamic dressing
Red: 4 tbsp. mixed nuts
Shaker: Pink Smoothie
- 1 beet
- 1 cup raspberries
- 1 small, red apple
- 7 oz. water
- 3 oz. pineapple juice
- 1 scoop vanilla protein
- Ice as needed
Thursday
I tend to have a lot of stuff to carry when I’m commuting, and I love that the fuel pack has an adjustable shoulder strap so that my hands are free to hold my laptop bag or smoothie. I also love that the fuel pack fits easily into work cubbies or gym lockers. I like to pack the front pocket with napkins and utensils, but the inside is so spacious that I’ll even toss in my wallet, car keys or a book.
Blue: ¾ cup couscous w/ ½ cup raspberries, ¼ cup orange chunks, 1 oz. sliced almonds
Green: 1 cup tofu, cubed & seasoned w/ cayenne pepper, garlic powder and paprika
Green: 1 cup Brussel sprouts
Green: 1 cup cherry tomatoes
Red: 4 tbsp. dark chocolate covered cranberries
Red: 2 tbsp. dressing*
Shaker: Yellow Smoothie
- 1 banana
- 8 oz. water
- ½ tbsp. peanut butter
- 1 scoop vanilla protein
- Ice as needed
*Dressing is made with:
- 1 tbsp. cider vinegar
- 1 tbsp. orange juice
- 1 tbsp. EVOO
- ¼ tsp. pepper
Friday
If I’ve run out of snacks in my lunch bag, I’ll use this as an excuse to buy something. Luckily, the Fuel Pack has lots of room for extras, so I never even have to think about approaching the vending machine.
Even if I don’t manage to eat everything I’ve packed, the interior of the pack has SuperFoam® insulation to keep everything fresh. The interlocking Ice Bricks™ that are part of the food container set provide, added chill. Today I’m treating myself to my favorite protein rich food: Tuna.
Blue: ½ cup raw tuna (must be sushi-grade) w/ ¼ cup red peppers, ¼ cup green onion & ½ cup basmati rice
Green: ½ cup edamame beans
Green: 1 cup carrots and celery, mixed
Green: 1 cup crackers
Red: 100 mL spicy hummus
Red: 2 tbsp. dark chocolate chips
Shaker: Orange Smoothie
- 1 large carrot chopped and peeled
- 1 orange, peeled
- 3 oz. water
- 3 oz. pineapple juice
- 1 scoop vanilla protein
- Ice as needed
I find that calorie counting and weighing foods can be overwhelming. To get the most out of my AZ Pro Portion Control Fuel Pack, I make sure I pack a smoothie, 4 servings of veggies, 1 serving of protein and some good carbs. If I’m short on carbs, I’ll just toss something whole grain on top of oatmeal or a slice of whole wheat bread.
It doesn’t have to be confusing! Your food choices are all displayed nicely for you in this Fuel Pack. Open the front zipper and take a look before you head out the door to make sure you’ve got each of the food groups you’re striving for.
How do you use your Fuel Pack for portion control? We want to hear how our readers are controlling their hunger!
