Hmmm. If you have time for a V-8, couldn't you have some bagged raw veggies or sliced fruit to munch on? That would be more filling and you could leave an open bag or dish on your desk with a plastic fork if you need it. What are you having for breakfast? I found if I eat egg beaters, "fried" in spray in a nonstick skillet and add mushroom, peppers, a little fat free cheese or whatever I feel like that day I can stay below 300 calories easily and don't get as hungry as when I eat cereal or a high carb product such as a bagel.
I wish I had all the answers but I do know what happens when you keep eating high fat foods. Where are you getting the high fat stuff? Don't they sell anything healthier?

Oops, I should have said high fat, high carb foods. It's the combination (and portion size) that makes you fatter.

About 30 yrs ago a dr told me to have 5 or 6 mini-meals a day to keep my blood sugar stabilized. I've basically stuck to that type of eating. My problems with weight gain came after surgery-menopause, getting older and eating 6 mini meals, instead of 6 mini meals !! I do Weight Watchers so don't count 'calories' the normal way.

Also what you eat for these 'meals' depends on what YOUR body needs. I couldn't get away with drinking just juice. I need a little protein. I'm retired now so it's no problem for me. A person on the go or working has to plan ahead. Tuna packs, a few peanut butter crackers, good-for-you nuts, even hard-boiled eggs and lowfat cottage cheese if you have a way to keep them cold. Raw veggies and/or fruit as Kathy said. Good luck with whatever you do.

Shirley

I do have access to salads and fruit during lunch, but if I'm starving and I usually am then I grab the fattest thing available. I don't a way to keep something cold. I work in a high customer service area and I can't have food at my desk. I was think V8 would be an easier alternative, because we are allowed to have a cup at our desks.

I usually have a packet of regular oatmeal for breakfast or small bowl of high fiber cereal.

Shirley - I am also afraid of my mini meals turning into MINI meals. I gotta watch myself very carefully.

What do your mini-meals consist of?

Hmmm, what do my mini-meals consist of? Just about anything I want since I'm retired and am home most of the time. Usually it's shredded wheat/blueberries for breakfast. Since I have that so late, it's usually just 3 hrs till lunch. Today I had a salad with about an ounce of chicken breast on it. Mid afternoon, it was about an ounce of cold salmon and half an apple. My evening 'meal' is my largest/most calories. Tonight it's not-that-good-for you, but what I want.....bean soup and small amt of mac/cheese. I usually have 2 glasses of skim milk a day...1 w/lunch..1 w/dinner. Later on I'll either have more salad w/hardboiled egg or hot cereal w/half a banana. Just before going to bed, it will probably be either an ounce of cold chicken or cold salmon.

When I read the above, I think "Wow, that's a lot of food", but -I- know that none of it was in large portions. Now, IF I would just lay off eating stuff I shouldn't, I could go back to losing this excess 20 lbs I still carry.

Shirley

I have a very small cooler bag that I can put one or two small plastic "blue ice" freezing thingies in, and I have room for a small amount of food. It is no bigger than a small purse. Some ideas if you do this: 1) A smoothie (yogurt, 1 or 1/2 banana, some berries, a little grape juice) in a 16 oz plastic drink container, 2) cottage cheese, grapes, sunflower seeds, and cinnamon in a little ziploc food storage container, 3) a small flour tortilla with 1 oz chicken, 1/4 fat free refried beans, 1/2 oz shredded cheese, and salsa in a small ziploc container (approx 225 calories, pack a small plate to microwave it on) -- there are and endless supply of options.

If you can't do the cold thing, there are many things that will not go bad in your purse in only a few hours: 1) uncut fruit, 2) 1 oz. nuts and carrot sticks and / or broccoli, 3) pre-packaged high quality granola or health bars...

Good luck and have fun!!