How much do you spend per week on work lunches?

Hard_Up_Hester

I've just cooked a batch of couscous 36p for 5 servings, I add different things, hard boiled egg, tinned sardines and some HG salad leaves etc.
I don't take crisps of chocolate as I find the couscous is enough.
Hester

kboss2010

I use either a) leftovers from last night's dinner or b) a packet of value flavoured noodles with a handful of whatever frozen veg I have e.g. Peas, sweetcorn, peppers, onions, green beans, sugar snap peas, carrots, butternut squash, 1/2 tin of chickpeas etc.

My tips are:

*never throw away veg. If it's starting to go off, peel and chop it and freeze it in cheap freezer bags
*if it's cheaper to buy a bag frozen e.g. Peas, green beans then do so (£1 for 1kg rather than a few hundred grams)
*buy treats in multipacks - £land do 9 individual twix fingers for £1 - that's 11p each and 8 two-finger kit kats for £1 - 12p each
*HM veg soups + HM chapatis are very filling and can be made for pennies (add water and a pinch of salt to besan/chickpea flour and dry fry flat dough rounds)
*Aldi fruit bags are great to keep on your desk - 69p for 7 large bananas, 69p for 7/8 fun size apples or 5 large apples, 79p tangerines etc.

parkgirl

I nearly always have scrambled eggs on toast for breakfast so am never hungry for anything cooked or even a sandwich at lunchtime. I just take fruit and we have a cooked meal in the evening.

Patchwork_Quilt

I take left overs. If there are a lot after a meal, I freeze them for later and then have a random choice from the freezer in the morning.

Or, I have a gluten free sandwich with two pieces of fruit.

Sometimes, I share a small bag of chips with a friend on Tuesdays. Is costs 65p.

Some people at work eat porridge for lunch and have a nutritious evening meal.

Another friend makes a big batch of soup and makes it last all week. Actually, if she made a couple and then froze the extra portions, she could have more variety.

I buy yellow sticker ham when I find it and then freeze it. I usually have one or two portions hanging round the freezer.

Another colleague makes all their sandwiches on a Sunday and freezes the lot to save on time during the week.

A random portion of soup and a random sandwich from the freezer would cost virtually nothing and would give some variety.

newthrift

I have never been a big sandwich fan so I take homemade soup in autumn/winter + 2/3pieces of fruit, oat & raisin bar or sultanas. I then take salad in the summer.
My OH has sandwiches daily, 2 x Nutrigrain bars 2 x small choc bars & banana - he has very long days. Sandwich fillings alternate weekly/fortnightly to keep them different. Chicken, bacon & mayo, chicken & lettuce, cheese & onion, cheese & brown sauce, ham & lettuce.
If you can get a hot meal in the day for a couple of quid and you like the good the. Go for it, personally I wouldn't cook a hot meal in the evening as it would be you much so depends if you would still need to cook a meal in evening. Or alternate a little to keep it different.
This has made me think about adding up what we spend on lunches per week, so once I have worked it out shall be back.

Franigan

Patchwork_Quilt wrote: »

I take left overs. If there are a lot after a meal, I freeze them for later and then have a random choice from the freezer in the morning.

Morning!
I do this too. And it feels like I am not spending anything on lunches! Of course, I do, but because I buy/batch cook only for the evening meals it is like somehow my lunches do not affect my spending on grocery.
When I see my colleagues coming back from the chip shop with their unhealthy and expensive lunches (god only knows how they can afford them daily!!), I take pride on taking my - often - uninspiring lunch at work!! :cool:

If you can afford the canteen, I would proceed with a couple of weeks trial for each option (like someone suggested) and see what works best! Good luck!

xJOJOx_2

I make up my o/h sandwiches each day, he's basically has what ever on offer, though he doesn't know that. When the fresh baguettes and nice bread get reduced I buy it and freeze it. Same with meat, cakes etc. managed to get chocolate sponge cake for £0.27 today. I also have a shop down the road which always has reductions on, I tend to buy them then work around.

My o/h eats a lot and was spending £15 a day or more until I took over. Some weeks I only buy the bread and everything else is leftovers etc

cafelady

Hiya

You could always take a packed lunch for four days and treat yourself to a hot lunch on a Friday (or whatever day suits you?).