What do you have for lunch at work...

clarence83_2

...and how much does it cost?!

Just looking at new and (very) cheap ideas for lunch at work. Most of the time I bring in leftovers, but when I make stuff like Pizza etc we usually eat it there and then, so nothing left over!

I work in the City of London so it's very expensive to eat out at lunch. On friday I went with a colleague to a japanese shop and they had miso soup for 20p, but there's no way that would fill me up- plus it tastes like socks!

Any inspiration, DFWs?!

Thanks!

Nargleblast

if you have a kitchen at work with a microwave then you can take leftovers and heat them up. When I make bolognaise/shepherds pie/curry etc I freeze the leftovers into single portions and take one in to work with me with fruit and yoghourt. Also the odd cereal bar as a snack.

clarence83_2

Yes we have a microwave which is good for leftovers, but I was thinking more along the lines of making lots of "something" and freezing portions in pots to take in when there are no leftovers from the night before....

BeautyandtheBeast_3

Hi we make our own bread and baps - much cheaper than to buy and taste nicer too. have some cheap sandwich meat. tea bags instead of a cool drink etc as we have kettle. fruit and perhaps crisps depending on diet phase!

tasha999

Soup is really easy to make, I take it to work often. Plus you can add lots of different things to it, so it doesn't get boring! You can always take bread/croutons (homemade are dead easy!) to fill you up.

Zazen999

Hi

You need to pop over to the Old Style Board and have a furtle around.

clarence83_2

Okay will do- thanks Zazen!

Soup is a good idea, home made or fresh ready made soups? Not a fan of canned stuff....

Looking at less than £1 a day if I can help it! WITHOUT resorting to ready meals!! I want proper nutrition!

beccad

I do the latter sometimes - make up large pots of curry, bolognaise, noodles and so on and then freeze portions in tubs and take into work. Other days I make sandwiches and take lots of fruit and veggies in with me to nibble on through the day (carrott and cucumber sticks, red pepper, cherry tomatoes, melon, raspberries etc). You just need to be a bit organised - we buy everything we need for packed lunches at our local shops (cheaper than the supermarkets) and we have a bit of a packed lunch conveyor belt going on in the morning - one of us will do sandwiches and pack the lunch bags (snacky items too such as crisps and a couple of biscuits), and the other does the fruit and veggies.

josephine82

Soup (butternut squash and orange pepper is a fave at the mo) or I cook a bulk load of pasta, add some chopped tomatoes, herbs, onion, garlic, any veggies, and then freeze. Or make a big lasagne and freeze into portions?
couscous with vegetables (big bag of couscous is v cheap) or make a big batch of risotto (v filling).

clarence83_2

josephine your ideas sound divine! Butternut squash and orange pepper soup sounds delicious.

I forgot about couscous, I used to buy that Ainsley Harriot stuff years back. 3 packets for a pound I think it was. That's what I'm talkin' about!!!

I have never made a risotto. Might look up some good recipes. Thanks everyone!

Tixy

This thread may inspire you. It was from earlier in the year, whilst not exclusively work lunches, many people who posted were office based.

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=1446571