Not sure where to look,need ideas on taking lunches to work

timbstoke

My problem with packed lunches is I do like a hot meal at work - it breaks up the day nicely. What I do is keep a few cans of Big Soup and a few Pot Noodles in my desk drawer for a quick snack, and also buy a loaf and tins of beans/sausage every week, so I an can do beans on toast etc. I also buy a few multipacks of chocolates/crisps to save buying from the machines, and a bottle of water that I refill at work. Finally, I empty all my change into The Jar every night, so I'm only taking notes to work with me - that way, I can't use the machines even if I want to, and I'm forced to break a note if I want something, which has a psychological effect of making you justify whether you actually need it or not.

This also means I have a nice 'emergency fund' toward the end of the month - it's 10 days since payday, and there's about £40 in The Jar just in pound coins from this month alone!

Little_Miss_Uni-Debt

I always like to make extra chili or bolognaise to take to work. Tastes even nicer the day after!

I always enjoy work lunches better when they're a hot meal.

Although I can't complain the work canteen has a salad bar. I can have a small mountain of 20+ veg items, rice, pasta, cous cous for around 80p. I certainly couldn't make the same at home for that much!

I do buy multipack chocolate bars when on offer at the supermarkets. They're 65p per bar in our shop vs 25p when part of a multipack :O!

Frankie100

Theres some fabulous tips and advice that has been posted on here over the past few days and I thank you so much.

However Ive come across a bit of a stumbling block,as I have mentioned in my post 2 weeks ago I was in hospital for an operation so the doctor gave me one of those fit notes,I had to go back to see him yesterday thinking he would say Im ok for work but he didnt.He strongly suggested Im not well enough for work so he,s given me a fit note(sick note) for 4 weeks so I wont be back at work on Monday to start my new regime.

Im itching to get it started,mind you the cuboards are getting just that litte bit empty right now but my wages come in at the weekend so I will venture out and do my monthly shop(is monthly shopping better than fortnightly?)and I will be able to take my time looking for healthy options,cheap prices and bargains,Ive never done that before when i do my monthly shop,I just fling my stuff in the trolley and wouldnt entertain looking how much they are or if I could get them any cheaper,its gonna be weird changing those habits but Im looking forward to this challenge!

timbstoke

Shopping is a job for whenever suits you :-) I try and pop in at least once a week to check out the new deals, but it really doesn't make a massive difference whether you go daily, weekly or annually! As long as you're not going monthly and stocking up on milk!

apesxx

I take my own lunch to work now, i tend to work evenings so its my tea i usually take. I quite often make corned beef hash, spag bol, sometimes i will buy a plain jacket potato which is about 35p from staff canteen and will take a filling of my own for it and some salad. Usually take chilli or spicy chicken ( made with cooked chicken cut up and mixed with 2tbsp extra light mayo and 1 tbsp nandos hot sauce, really delicious and makes a fab filling for a jacket). Sometimes i will take a pitta and salad and some tandoori chicken and that makes a really tasty meal.

or i will make soup, a good healty recipe i was given that sounds gross but is really tasty and i have it all the time now:
2 tins chopped tomatoes, 1 tin beans, 1 tin of cooked carrots, half pint of stock (i usually use chicken or veg) and 5 pickled onions. cook in a pan until boiling and carry on for about 5 mins then just blend it all together and its really tasty. they call it easy tomato soup at my slimming world group.