Cheap and easy to make lunches for work?
Discussion
Now the weather is starting to get worse, and winter is coming, i need to think about making lunches for work. I don't really see the appeal in walking for lunch in the rain, and the reduction in spend with making my own would be good.
I haven't had to do this before, so would appreciate some ideas (that aren't sandwiches!).
We have microwaves and fridges at work.
Ideally looking at things i can make the night before, stick in the fridge and then take to work. The fewer ingredients the better, as i live on my own, so it's often difficult to buy lots of different fresh ingredients as they go off before i can use them.
Thanks
I haven't had to do this before, so would appreciate some ideas (that aren't sandwiches!).
We have microwaves and fridges at work.
Ideally looking at things i can make the night before, stick in the fridge and then take to work. The fewer ingredients the better, as i live on my own, so it's often difficult to buy lots of different fresh ingredients as they go off before i can use them.
Thanks
madbadger said:
Bit ratty?
If you put it on pasta it goes a bit "al ro-dente".-edit-
Seriously though, batch cooking is your saviour here. Something like a chile con carne can be cooked and then frozen in a tupperware tub and it will keep for weeks and weeks. That way you can cook interesting things and the ingredients won't go off, and you'll save a lot of cash.
On days you cannot be bothered I find a tin of beans (one with sausages in it!) can be dropped into a bowl, heated and eaten with a spoon. Perfect for when you've woken late and need to shove something in the bag before leaving. Keep a few in.
Salads are great as jmorgan says. Make 'em dry. Take in a dressing if you feel you need one.
A good old fashioned sandwich is perfectly good made the night before. After all - the ones you buy for lunch are probably worse - they have SELL BY dates for goodness' sake! The sandwich you spend £3.00 on will be AMAZING in comparison to £3.00 on a Tesco sandwich.
I have a microwaveable plastic mug with a lid: tin of soup in that, nuke, lunch done.
Invest in some resealable placcy boxes for taking dinner's leftovers into work. Nuke for two minutes: lunch.
This stuff isn't hard and nearly all of it tastes better than plastic lunch from the local supermarket.
Salads are great as jmorgan says. Make 'em dry. Take in a dressing if you feel you need one.
A good old fashioned sandwich is perfectly good made the night before. After all - the ones you buy for lunch are probably worse - they have SELL BY dates for goodness' sake! The sandwich you spend £3.00 on will be AMAZING in comparison to £3.00 on a Tesco sandwich.
I have a microwaveable plastic mug with a lid: tin of soup in that, nuke, lunch done.
Invest in some resealable placcy boxes for taking dinner's leftovers into work. Nuke for two minutes: lunch.
This stuff isn't hard and nearly all of it tastes better than plastic lunch from the local supermarket.
Buy a bag of salad and some chicken and make a salad each day (keep in the fridge at work with your choice of condiments). I also keep a jar of sun dried tomatoes, cheese, olives - all these are cheap and can make a rather nice salad.
Aldi/Lidl do good cheap salad materials if you have one nearby.
Aldi/Lidl do good cheap salad materials if you have one nearby.
madbadger said:
jmorgan said:
Knock up a salad dry and take the sauce in separate. Mix before eating. I am happy with a bit of extra vermin olive oil and a good balsamic vinegar, shake well before dumping on. Small can of tinned tuna at the last minute as well.
Bit ratty?jmorgan said:
madbadger said:
jmorgan said:
Knock up a salad dry and take the sauce in separate. Mix before eating. I am happy with a bit of extra vermin olive oil and a good balsamic vinegar, shake well before dumping on. Small can of tinned tuna at the last minute as well.
Bit ratty?
Do what I do and once a week roast a huge tray of woody vegetables with a few cloves of garlic (peeled and crushed), a thumb of ginger (julienned), and few chopped chillies. A splash of sesame oil and some soy sauce over. This your 'base' for the week's lunches.
My favourites are sweet potatoes, butternut squash, beetroot, red onion, kale and cauliflower, but you can use any vegetables you fancy. The soy, chilli and ginger give it a bit of interest.
Keep the roasted vegetables in a huge Lock and Lock container in the fridge and augment daily with meat, fish or cheese of your choice, or a tin of pulses (rinse these) and some seeds/nuts. I like smoked tofu in mine, however on PH I'm fairly sure I'm alone in this.
Five hefty lunches should be easily achievable for £10 or less.
My favourites are sweet potatoes, butternut squash, beetroot, red onion, kale and cauliflower, but you can use any vegetables you fancy. The soy, chilli and ginger give it a bit of interest.
Keep the roasted vegetables in a huge Lock and Lock container in the fridge and augment daily with meat, fish or cheese of your choice, or a tin of pulses (rinse these) and some seeds/nuts. I like smoked tofu in mine, however on PH I'm fairly sure I'm alone in this.
Five hefty lunches should be easily achievable for £10 or less.
I do cous cous with a combination of the following leftover roast chicken from the weekend, toms, cucumber, spring onions, olives, feta. Sometimes i make the cous cous with harrissa spices, or lemon.
Or I'll make sandwiches, usually leftover roast, some fruit and the like.
I have some "nice" dried noodles in my locker at work for days that I can't be bothered at all.
Or I'll make sandwiches, usually leftover roast, some fruit and the like.
I have some "nice" dried noodles in my locker at work for days that I can't be bothered at all.
Make your own pot noodles (from River Cottage veg book).
Tried it on Wednesday and was surprised how good it was:
Fine noodles in the bottom of a jar, a stock cube, plus herbs / spices to your taste - I just added some ginger, chilli and pepper. Lots of small chopped veg on top.
Add boiling water, leave for 5-10 minutes with the lid on depending how fat your noodles are and then enjoy.
Tried it on Wednesday and was surprised how good it was:
Fine noodles in the bottom of a jar, a stock cube, plus herbs / spices to your taste - I just added some ginger, chilli and pepper. Lots of small chopped veg on top.
Add boiling water, leave for 5-10 minutes with the lid on depending how fat your noodles are and then enjoy.
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