Packed Lunch for work

tiny_courageous

kitrat wrote: »

I find I'm spending an awful lot on my lunches at work and I really need to cut back. I'm a little fussy because I'm sick of sandwiches and I don't like salads! I find I get really hungry during the day and all the little snacky things I eat at tea breaks and with my sandwiches all add up and must cost a fair bit over the week (cereal bars, etc.)

Any ideas on things I could prepare/buy that are tasty, filling and not too pricey?

What kind of things are you actually buying? It might make sense to see if you can make those things at home, or buy in bulk etc.

I usually either take leftovers, salad or soup, have always got a couple of packets of cuppasoup and flavoured couscous in my desk drawer in case I forget to bring anything.

Penny-Pincher!!

nearlyrich wrote: »

Apart from the tuna suggestions PP there are some great ideas, I am not a fussy eater but I never tasted tinned tuna that I enjoyed. I will have to get organised and do a lunch box every night.

Im not a particular tuna lover, but I do like John West Yellowfin in spring water. It isn't fishy and goes well in a roll or salad with pasta or rice. It can be quite dear and only Waitrose stock it, but I only buy when on offer.

HTH

PP
xx

miss_emmajane

I refuse to buy lunch - for uni & work I bought myself a food flask which has been amazing. It keeps food warm for hours, and I can take all sorts of stuff in it - best in Winter when you really want some nice hot soup or something to warm you up.

In Summer I take a wrap with meat & veggies in, pasta salads etc - salad on its own doesn't fill me up so I try to bulk it out with tuna/pasta/wrap/bread/pitta etc.

For snacks I take fruit, yoghurts, some of the nut & seed mixes I get from ALDI, humous & veg sticks, aldi cereal bars, HM flapjack bars/muffins etc Pretty much stick to those really - when at uni I can't heat stuff up, and even at work I am too lazy to queue for the microwave so I am settled with my snacks and food-flask meals

V.Lucky

I always keep some "2 minute noodles" at work, for those days I can't be bothered to make/take anything in or have nothing at home, it's a quick and easy lunch and the cost is much less than if you bought something.

marmiterulesok

I'm lucky in that work has a fridge and a microwave for staff.I ususally make a big pot of something and this is lunch for the week at work and on my days off too.Risotto,veg and lentil soup,lentil dhal with rice,slow cooked veggie dishes,couscous,pasta with veg.

It doesn't bother me to eat the same thing every day for a week.I really couldn't face cooking every day.Once the pot's cooled down,it goes in the fridge and everything keeps fine.

I also take in a yogurt and a piece of fruit or sometimes HM cake for a morning snack.

HTH.

Penny-Pincher!!

The soup and dhal with rice sounds great to reheat.

marmiterulesok

Penny-Pincher!! wrote: »

The soup and dhal with rice sounds great to reheat.

Yes,it is thanks.Apparently you have to be careful reheating rice.I always prepare three to four portions at a time and then heat them as needed.No problems so far.

C_Mababejive

As Im mobile and peripatetic i always bring my lunch box complete with a healthy sandwich,a selection of fruit,sometimes yoghurt,cheese,tinned fish of some kind. Sometimes salad. Cereal bar. I also have a portabl gas stove and have things such as tins of soup on board for colder weather,

Taadaa

I take couscous with some stir fried veg, it's very cheap. Sometimes sarnies, sometimes HM soups and stews. It really helps to cook more and freeze it in containers as others have said. Pasta is fairly cheap too.

bossymoo

I like to make a frittata. They are good hot or cold and easily reheated. Chicken and tomato is nice, or a good old fashioned Spanish omelet with potato and peas? I make a really big one, eight eggs, and it does 3 or 4 meals depending how hungry I am...