Lunch Ideas???

[Petals & Pixie Dust]

Hi Everyone!!!

So, in saving for our next trip I've decided to stop buying lunch at work. I figured I could pay for the majority of our trip by doing so. BUT here's my problem...I hate..detest...would rather shoot myself in the foot than eat sandwiches. I have to have (for some odd reason) hot meals. I'm not a huge left over fan...but if there is something that makes killer left overs I'm game.

Please post your ideas and things that you do here.

TIA

 

[dakcp2001]

Make a stir fry, steam fresh veggies, meat,stir fry sauce from the supermarket and rice. Split it into a couple tupperwares. Pasta reheats well, lasagna or baked ziti.

When you buy your lunch,what do you buy? Let's find a substitution.

 

[hanutedmansionmomma]

can of soup and keep a box of crackers at work

make too much of your favorite dinner and package up several lunches. I know you said you don't like leftovers, but...not a lot of options if you want hot food and don't want to buy at work I think pasta and rice dishes make good leftovers.

 

[Tink-n-MrIncredible]

When you cook, cook extra (soups, beans, stews, etc.) and freeze in small conatiners. Technically, this is not a left over as you made extra on purpose. You could make salads (I know you said hot, just thought I would throw that out there) eat breakfast for lunch (hard boiled eggs, oatmeal or grits).

 

[cbocean]

I have always brought my lunch as it kills me to spend money on eating out at work. I would rather save my eating out $$ for a nice Saturday night take out while watching a movie or something. DH started taking his lunch to help with losing weight. Now every supper we make double, that way we both have enough for lunch the next day. If we are BBQ pork chops we always cook two packs, double the rice and extra veggies. Definetly makes lunch more exciting. Today I took left over guacomole and chopped chicken, put it in a wrap with cilantro, lettuce and tomato, cheese. Yummy

 

[cluvsdisney]

What would you typically buy for lunch? Is there a way to prepare that at home for less or a way to prepare it at work?

You say no to leftovers so I am not sure what to suggest. I'll make extra of just about anything to bring for lunch - meatballs, chicken, pasta, salad fixings, etc. I find foods in a sauce or liquid reheat better then plain food items. If you put some water on pasta before reheating in the microwave, it doesn't get dried out. Or you could bring cooked pasta and pour hot water on it to reheat while you heat the sauce in the microwave, then combine to eat.

Once you find what you like, it is a great money saver! Good luck!

 

[stitchfan18]

I like anything that's easy. I'll bring a can of soup with some crackers and a piece of fruit, or I'll grab a frozen entree. I usually stick to smart ones of lean cuisines and stock up when they are one sale or I have a coupon.

 

[Zhoen]

I like anything that's easy. I'll bring a can of soup with some crackers and a piece of fruit, or I'll grab a frozen entree. I usually stick to smart ones of lean cuisines and stock up when they are one sale or I have a coupon.

Yep, this!

If you work in a place with storage space (and can trust your co-workers not to steal your food), you can bring in a couple of frozen meals and a couple of cans of soup on Monday and be good for the week...

 

[Couchy]

I eat Greek yogurt everyday for lunch. Tons of protein
I supplement with a piece of fruit and some veggies. Sometimes if still hungry or need a snack later I will eat some crackers or granola bar that I keep on hand

 

[RoyalMom]

http://justbento.com/

yum!

 

[MomToOne]

When I first started getting on the bring-your-lunch-to-work bandwagon, I'd go to Trader Joes and just pick up a bunch of frozen stuff like calzone, enchiladas, etc. I'd average spending $2 or less per lunch.

It was good, but I eventually moved towards bringing left overs or sandwiches. It's even cheaper.

 

[swilshire]

I buy Groupon/Half Off Depot certificates for restaurants near my work, go on Monday, and eat whatever I chose for the week. Large pizza, easily good for my four work days. Local burrito shop, taco salad Mon, huge burrito to split for the other three days. Sandwich shop, two sandwiches and two sides divided into four meals.

Sheila

 

[Petals & Pixie Dust]

These are some great ideas...thank you...

Typically when I buy lunch it can range from stuffed shells to turkey and mashed potatoes pizza fries and a whole host of other things nacho bar is my favorite!

I go in spurts...I can buy for awhile but then realize that I can save more money...and then go on bring spurts...

Time to check things off one by one on this list for some variety!

 

[DisneytheKid]

I like to bring the "smart one" frozen lunches. They tend to be inexpensive and some are pretty tasty

 

[MSSANDRA]

Maybe try to alter the leftover a little bit so it does not seem exactly the same. Tonight I did taco bar stuff and then left it out for everyone to fix their lunch for tomorrow. Tonight's ground beef that was on a hard shell might be in a roll up or on the chips for someones lunch tomorrow.

Ham from dinner can get mixed with some cooked pasta and cheese or cold pasta for salad...roast can have can gravy added and leftover rice or potato can round out a full meal. Having extra leftover pasta or potato or rice can create many new meals very fast and easy!

 

[Petals & Pixie Dust]

Maybe try to alter the leftover a little bit so it does not seem exactly the same. Tonight I did taco bar stuff and then left it out for everyone to fix their lunch for tomorrow. Tonight's ground beef that was on a hard shell might be in a roll up or on the chips for someones lunch tomorrow.

Ham from dinner can get mixed with some cooked pasta and cheese or cold pasta for salad...roast can have can gravy added and leftover rice or potato can round out a full meal. Having extra leftover pasta or potato or rice can create many new meals very fast and easy!

Cool idea...haven't thought about that...but do you ever feel like you're cooking more than once at night???

 

[emksmama]

When I had an office job and DH had a factory job, we LIVED on leftovers for lunch. I would make a casserole for dinner to serve say 8 people, so we'd have 6 leftover servings. Two were packaged in the fridge for the next day's lunch, and the other 4 were frozen for later. DH is a leftover king, he can eat them for days, but I prefer some variety with mine and two days in a row was enough for me.

Now he drives all day and doesn't have a way to heat up lunch, so he either packs sandwiches with a piece of fruit and a baggie of pretzels, or he gets a $5 footlong from Subway and cuts it in thirds. With fruit & pretzels, one third of it is plenty and that way his daily lunch cost is under $2.

But really, you'll either have to learn to like leftovers or sandwiches if you plan to bring your own lunch. I usually eat a container of yogurt, a baggie of veggie chips, and a small salad for lunch if I don't have leftovers available.

 

[jacksmom]

I take a lean cuisine everyday for lunch!

 

[ashley0139]

Crock pot meals are the best for bringing lunch. Things like chili or stew are made for bringing to work. I find chilis work even better than pasta for reheating. No getting dried out, pack with a few corn chips. Delicious. I like it even for the summer. If I'm inside all day, I don't really care that I'm eating chili or stew.

 

[Sagginit]

another option to save is do half and half. for me being single its not always cost effective to buy all the fixings for salads and sandwiches. i do things like bring a drink, fruit, chips, and then plan on getting soup or chili so i bring in some crackers to keep in my desk, or just grab a small salad.

for ex. i love wendys b/c i can get a chili and baked potato for a few dollars and have that with my own sides or drinks. or i go to au bon pain and get soup and eat that with some crackers and fruit.

i have a no hot food policy now but i used to bring leftovers and frozen entrees all the time. my favorites were pasta (with lots of sauce and cheese to keep it from getting dry), chili, hearty soups, and mexican like quesadillas and enchiladas.