Healthy filling frugal packed lunch?

babyboysmommy

After 3 years of working away from home my DH is changing jobs. As of next week I need to come up with a packed lunch for work days. He's rather overweight so I'm after some healthy but filling packed lunch ideas please. Money is going to be tight, especially for the first few months as he's taken a pay cut to return home so I need to keep the cost down. Thank you in advance for your help

Prinzessilein

The weather is decidedly chilly - so how about some nice warming soup that he can take in a thermos. (Use a wide neck flask if he likes a 'chunkier' soup).


Home made soup costs inly pennies to make - it uses up all those sad, left-over, half-wilted veggies....and is so simple to make (especially if you have a slow-cooker)....and you can adapt the spices to suit his taste. (I love curry spices in root veg soups).


Add a slice of granary bread, maybe a joghurt (but NOT the premium sort with added cream!....not frugal and not good for the waist line!) and a piece of fruit and you have the basis of a filling and healthy , waistline-friendly lunch!


How about some veggie crudit!s with a spicy salsa or joghurt dip?...especially if he wants a mid-morning snack!


Pasta salad...cold cooked pasta with veggies added...and a little lean meat - pop it in a microwaveable container so her can heat it up he there is a microwave at work....but it is tasty cold.


Couscous...He can make this up himself if there is a kettle....spoon some couscous into a bowl, add some herbs and spices (just a little sprinkle !)...and close the lid....in a separate bowl put some very finely chopped veggies and a little finely sliced meat (leftovers from last night's dinner?).'''at lunch time he just mixes the two pots together, covers with boiling water and waits for the couscous to absorb the water (the meat is already cooked...veggies so thin the hot water will cook them)....a small tin of tuna works instead of meat...


For sandwiches...try homemade joghurt cheese (chilled strained joghurt) with some herbs instead of butter...then add some low fat ham or chicken and salad.


And what about a slice of Auflauf/Tortilla/Spanish Omelette? Slice some cooked potatoes into a pan...add whatever leftovers you have...and add egg and cook a nice thick omelette...slice when cold....use pasta instead of potatoes for a change (or f you had pasta for dinner!) ...peas work well in this.


Hope these give you a few ideas!

Living_proof

Soup is definitely a winner in this weather, and to follow I think wraps are a good choice and you can use up bits and pieces at the same time. Yesterday i had low fat cream cheese spread onto wrap, small slice of smoked salmon and some leafy salad. Today I am going to have leftover crispy bacon and tomato. Houmous, chicken bits and salad is very nice so no high fat spread and very economical.

mashedavocado

Lentil soup is always a winner. It's so delicious and filling that it really is a proper meal. You can easily make enough at the start of the week to last a good four or five days.

sarah182xxx

beans on toast is nice and warming and healthy (ish) if you use low salt beans ? Love all the ideas for soups they would be great for him to keep warm and full. hope he enjoys his new role ! xx

babyboysmommy

Thank you He has to be able to eat on the run so no chance to reheat anything. He doesn't like lentils (most annoying as myself & ds1 are veggies) & he's not a fan of soup unless its a certain brand out a tin, no idea why as HM is far better. He's not very adventurous food wise but things like pasta salad should work.

mashedavocado

Ah that's a shame, it's so annoying when you can't reheat things. In that case I'd definitely say pasta salad, maybe wraps could be good too as you can chuck in all kinds of leftovers and they hold together a little better than sandwiches if you wrap them in foil.

paddyrg

Hummus sandwiches!

Tink_04

You can pick up little food flasks cheap in wilkos excellent for taking left overs to work chilli/stews/pasta/Bolognese etc are great in these. You normally get a little fork in the lid too.

AnnieO1234

Take a look at amazon for bento boxes - ours cost about £25 but it does the job REALLY well. With an insulated bento box you could literally send him with a hot roast dinner!

X

torbrex

Green salad in a tupper box with any odd cuts of meat, boiled eggs or anything else that you can think of as a change, the salad as a base will help with his weight as well :T