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Filling but cost effective lunch

Mark_Glasses
Posts: 97 Forumite

When I first started working my mum would make me a packed lunch. It consisted of 4 croissants, a chocolate bar, a packet of crisps, a cereal bar, a cake bar, a rice krispie square, a yoghurt and a pot of jelly. I may have missed something (was 20+ years ago). It was filling but I also felt terrible when going back to work in the afternoon, I'd feel sleepy and my belly often didn't agree with it either.
When I moved out I decided to reduce my lunch down to a sandwich and packet of crisps. Not very filling but helped with fatigue in the afternoon and I could have a big meal when I got home. This worked for years.
I recent times though I've found myself getting really hungry during the working day. Yesterday I didn't get home until gone 10pm and I've never felt so hungry in my life. My wife said no wonder given I'd only had a sandwich and packet of crisps all day. She gets meals provided for her at work so she doesn't have that problem.
There's lots of food options round where I work but they're so expensive. My colleagues think nothing of paying £12 for lunch but I could never do that.
One important factor is that it's something that I can eat outside the office, the only thing that makes the work day bearable is spending lunchtime outside the office and being amongst the crowds on the streets of London.
Any ideas?
When I moved out I decided to reduce my lunch down to a sandwich and packet of crisps. Not very filling but helped with fatigue in the afternoon and I could have a big meal when I got home. This worked for years.
I recent times though I've found myself getting really hungry during the working day. Yesterday I didn't get home until gone 10pm and I've never felt so hungry in my life. My wife said no wonder given I'd only had a sandwich and packet of crisps all day. She gets meals provided for her at work so she doesn't have that problem.
There's lots of food options round where I work but they're so expensive. My colleagues think nothing of paying £12 for lunch but I could never do that.
One important factor is that it's something that I can eat outside the office, the only thing that makes the work day bearable is spending lunchtime outside the office and being amongst the crowds on the streets of London.
Any ideas?
3
Comments
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You need options containing more protein, as that will fill you up better. Maybe some cold meat, hard boiled eggs, ham, hummus, salad veg, veggie batons etc. Or wraps. By all means have a sandwich but have other things as well.
Maybe some fruit to eat for later?7 -
Would adding an extra half a sandwich, some nuts and a banana help?I’d recommend making sure your sandwiches have plenty of real butter on them and a source of protein. This will help to keep you fuller for longer.Save £12k in 2024: £13,542/£12,0006
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Get a flask, make soup.A pasta and fagioli soup is cheap to make and very filling, a sprinkle of parmesan or cook with a parmesan rind and it's a marvel. One onion, two sticks of celery, one small carrot, one tin of borlotti, a stock cube, handful of smashed up pasta, water. Chop everything fine, maybe fry it a bit, maybe not, chuck everything else in, including the water from the beans [ if you haven't cooked your own] cook for half an hour ish or more, job done.Non me fac calcitrare tuum culi7
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I always loved leftovers. It was amazing to me that that at dinner I might want a massive portion of XX but for a lunch the next day I was happy with a small serving. Really starchy things would make me need a nap - so I tried to avoid bread. But a whole wheat pasta (fusilli is nice) with a bit of left over chilli or stew or just some tuna mayo and tomatoes is great. Plastic pot, fork and you're good to go to the park. Have a big spotted hankie to keep yourself tidy and it's good to wrap up things once you've eaten.
Little pots of cream cheese or (again) tuna mayo and some chopped up wholewheat pita or a packet of oat cakes works well. If you find you're flagging in the afternoon it might be time for a quick cuppa soup at your desk - my favourite was always to have a little carton of the instant borscht sold at Polish supermarkets - most of their soups are very tasty but the borscht was sold in a little container meant to make 17 servings and cost about £1.49 so excellent value.I’m a Forum Ambassador and I support the Forum Team on Debt Free Wannabe and Old Style Money Saving boards. If you need any help on these boards, do let me know. Please note that Ambassadors are not moderators. Any posts you spot in breach of the Forum Rules should be reported via the report button, or by emailing forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com. All views are my own and not the official line of MoneySavingExpert.
"Never retract, never explain, never apologise; get things done and let them howl.” Nellie McClung4 -
Soup & crackers
perhaps a small pot of yoghurt or a 'baby' fromage frais (they're not just for toddlers!)
or a jelly (not a bought one)
Save/ buy some small containers- these would do for jelly, yoghurt, grapes, carrot barons etc.
Eggs are excellent for protein- either hard boiled or in a sandwich
if you like fish perhaps a couple of sardines?
Not much nutritious in crisps so better with a piece (or 2) of fruit or some berry fruits
if you google ideas for packed lunches adults you get lots of ideas from different sources- they may not be budget but you can pick & choose from the different recipesBeing polite and pleasant doesn't cost anything!
-Stash bust:in 2022:337
Stash bust :2023. 120duvets, 24bags,43dogcoats, 2scrunchies, 10mitts, 6 bootees, 8spec cases, 2 A6notebooks, 59cards, 6 lav bags,36 angels,9 bones,1 blanket, 1 lined bag,3 owls, 88 pyramids = total 420total spend £5.Total for 'Dogs for Good' £546.82
2024:Sewn:59Doggy ds,52pyramids,18 bags,6spec cases,6lav.bags.
Knits:6covers,4hats,10mitts,2 bootees.
Crotchet:61angels, 229cards=453 £136.4spent!!!3 -
Protein, Protein, Protein. ditch the carbs, especially bread and crisps.
Suggestions.......
Boiled eggs, chicken breast, Carrot, Banana, Real Natural Yoghurt with a few blueberries, nuts. Deli meats from Lidl.Baby Step 6/7 . £12,874 saved and invested. £47,000 deposit paid on new home DEBT FREE !!!
Currently Negotiating with HMRC !9 -
If you can be flexible with timing, take a look at too good to go, where you can get a fresh meal for £4. I do it every time I am in the city.3
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If you are generally getting home at 10pm, you might wish to switch your main meal to lunchtime, have something hot, full of protein and balanaced. Then have the sandwich at 10pm when you get home.5
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Emily_Joy said:If you can be flexible with timing, take a look at too good to go, where you can get a fresh meal for £4. I do it every time I am in the city.No man is worth crawling on this earth.
So much to read, so little time.1 -
If you cook pasta and let it go cold, the starch changes nature and the GI index is much better, regardless of whether you re-heat or eat cold. It's not a new discovery and Michael Mosley did a piece on it recently.
You need to drain and dress with oil whilst still hot. You could take a sauce and reheat or just bung in cheese, olives, salad leaves, or go for tinned fish and a boiled egg, or cooked meat plus the other suggestions. If you have access to a fridge at work, you could even have a little stash of proteins and condiments and some tinned fish in your locker?If you've have not made a mistake, you've made nothing7
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