Cheap canteen V packed lunch? What would you do?

BEAT_THE_DEBT

Hi. I am lucky enough to work in a job where we have cheap staff meals. E G I can have a jacket pot cheese and coleslaw for £1.50 very filling and delicious. Or I can take a sandwich crisps etc? I am happier having dinner in work as I have a light tea when I come home. I would be interested to know what you do? I work 4 days?:T

MrsAtobe

I think I'd mix and match, to be honest, especially if your canteen publishes their menu in advance, and there are two meals (or more) that you like. If there's one night that's particularly busy, then I'd be tempted to eat in the canteen the next day, rather than drive myself into the ground to make something for lunch.

As someone who works from home, I'd love to be able to walk into a canteen and order what I fancied for lunch . Still, it has other compensations

MrsAtobe

I think I'd mix and match, to be honest, especially if your canteen publishes their menu in advance, and there are two meals (or more) that you like. If there's one night that's particularly busy, then I'd be tempted to eat in the canteen the next day, rather than drive myself into the ground to make something for lunch.

As someone who works from home, I'd love to be able to walk into a canteen and order what I fancied for lunch . Still, it has other compensations

datlex

You could take things other than a sandwich in. For example soup in the winter. In the summer salads.

SailorSam

I was going to say i'd eat in the canteen, the cost wouldn't be a lot more and it would save you having to prepare anything big in the evening if you'd had a proper meal at lunch. But maybe MrsA is right, mix it up a bit, could you even get an extra canteen meal to take home and warm up if it's something you like.

BEAT_THE_DEBT

HI and thanks all for your great comments. Yes we have a rolling 4 week menu so I can look and plan. I will mix it up to stop me getting bored and take different lunches. Salad believe it or not is cheaper up canteen. 35p for tuna a good portion prob same as tin so it really is a great canteen.. My fav there is roast pots gravy and veg for £1.25 on cold days xx

krlyr

£1.50 is reasonable compared to something like a £3 sandwich which is only half as filling, but that's still £7.50 a week, and over £30 a month.

I think you could do tasty lunches for under £1.50 a meal if you batch cooked, used reduced foods, etc. I think I paid about £1 for 3 medium jacket potatoes the other day, coleslaw is often on offer and supermarket own brands are generally alright, cheese can be bought on offer, grated and frozen - so if you pre-baked the potato and pinged it in the microwave you could achieve the same meal for under £1.

BEAT_THE_DEBT

Hi krlyr I am with you on that, The only thing is we can't have hot food in our office so the canteen is the only place you can eat hot things. But what you say is good advice thanks

midnightraven3

i'd take my own lunch while its still not really cold weather
then change to lunches at the canteen and have your sandwiches etc at evening meal time
saves prep/cooking/washing up

i think i would get fed up of eating lunch there all the time after a while and fall into the mix n match thing
but when you know its your favourites
enjoy the cheap food all prepared for you

mum2one

I'd def do the ix and match, see what you like and other days take packed lunch in, if you get a hot roast for under £1.50 then at home your only need a lighter meal.

I use to love it when worked in supermarket and shift where I could eat at dinner time back then it use to 50p for lunch (back late 1990s)! x

JIL

Do you only have yourself to think of?

If yes, i would eat in the canteen every day. Then at home I would have a small tea such as beans on toast, cereal etc. Save cooking til the weekend.
I would even plan around the menu.

If you get a good variety and its good quality and not repetitive and its as cheap as its subsidised then why not? Saves on fuel costs and washing up.