Easy, Cheap, GOOD take-to-work lunches??

hmandt70
hmandt70 Posts: 45
in Recipes
I am on a tight budget and am looking for cheap, healthy, easy, tasty things to bring to lunch every day. I am so tired of those frozen dinners I could scream. And by 3pm I am feeling ravenous! I guess I should mention I am not able to leave the building so unfortunately, going out and getting anything is not an option (which I guess could be a good thing since there is McDonald's across the street!)

Anyone care to share what they take to lunch every day??
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Replies

  • Nialjo
    Nialjo Posts: 4 Member
    If you have a microwave at work, you could take leftovers. If I don't have leftovers I usually take grapes and cheese for breakfast, 2 cooked eggs for lunch and a protein shake for my afternoon snack to work.
  • TheGymGypsy
    TheGymGypsy Posts: 1,023 Member
    I bought myself a few of these: http://www.amazon.com/EasyLunchboxes-3-compartment-Containers-BPA-Free-Easy-Open/dp/B004UIRUJ2

    I usually have room for a sandwich or tortilla wrap, some fruit or vegetable, and yogurt or pudding. Very filling and perfect portion sizes. :)
  • C1C2C3
    C1C2C3 Posts: 119 Member
    I suppose that this is considered more of breakfast food than lunch., but I am in an oatmeal phase right now. I buy the canister of old fashioned oats at Aldi's, I personally can't tell much of a difference from Quaker oats and they are quite a bit cheaper. Either the night before or in the morning, I measure my oatmeal and add a dash of cinnamon in a microwavable container. At work, just add water and cook in the microwave. You may want to watch it to make sure it doesn't boil over after the first minute or so. I take a banana &/or apple to cut up into the cooked oatmeal, it adds bullk to the oatmeal and is a very filling lunch.

    I also like beans and salsa. If I'm in a hurry I just rinse a can of beans (navy, black, northern, etc.), measure out my portion and put 1 or 2 Tablespoons of salsa on top.

    A quick google search found this link which looks like it may have some possible options that could be fairly portable. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/07/01/healthy-recipes-quick-low-calorie-lunches_n_1638315.html

    I also eat a small snack mid-afternoon to keep me going. Some of the snack options for me are: an apple, fruit with yogurt, carrot sticks, applesauce, etc. I normally can get fruit and vegetables cheaper at Aldi's, but you have to watch it. Buying items in bulk as much as possible can help cut down on overall costs too.

    I try to log as much of my day as possible either in the morning or the night before. This helps keep the temptation of the cappucino across the street at bay when I look up my remaining calorie count and realize that I just can't "afford" it.
  • Samthefrog
    Samthefrog Posts: 77 Member
    Right now I'm reliving my childhood by making healthy "lunchables." 0 gm fat smoked turkey breast, light cheese slice, multigrain water crackers. I also got a container of eggplant hummus (only 2 bucks) and I'm dipping some carrot sticks in there. Simple and getting me out of the salad rut!
  • sunnyside1213
    sunnyside1213 Posts: 1,205 Member
    Two words - crock pot. I make up batch of chili, stew, pot roast, salsa chicken, ect. Freeze and have lunches for several days. There are many good crock pot recipes on this site. Note: cooked potatoes don't freeze well. I dd them the day of.
  • ffargynnig
    ffargynnig Posts: 60 Member
    Arnolds 8 grain Pita pocket (one half)
    Bumble bee light pouch tuna
    Spinich
    Mustard or horseraddish

    I live on these! Keeps me full when im on my feet all day at work and its under
    200 calories! Usually have an pink lady or honeycrisp apple on the side.
  • BusyRaeNOTBusty
    BusyRaeNOTBusty Posts: 7,166 Member
    I just make extra at dinners and put all left overs in single serving containers.
  • jennyrebekka
    jennyrebekka Posts: 626 Member
    Try something like this! You can make your own salad that has cheaper ingredients in it. I love how pretty and colorful and fun they make the food!

    http://www.thekitchn.com/salad-in-a-jar-make-a-week-of-lunches-173014
  • deedeeryen
    deedeeryen Posts: 1 Member
    I have friends that make multiple meals on Saturday or Sunday and freeze them and take them to work and also have an easy dinner at night.
  • Danny_Boy13
    Danny_Boy13 Posts: 2,094 Member
    Chicken and rice has been my go-to when on a tight budget. I get to eat lunches for the week on about $10. Stir Fry the chicken and make some white rice... Once rice is done put in a can of Rotel and chicken cuts, mix together and serve.
  • amysj303
    amysj303 Posts: 5,086 Member
    I think soup is a good one this time of year, I get those read-to-eat ones in a low-cal lentil or black and bean and pair that with a pita- I have turkey, and a meatless burger-type thing in the fridge/freezer, so I can alternate pita sandwich, turkey one day, boca burger in the pita the next day... pita is better if you can put the half in a toaster for a bit.
  • TaurusV
    TaurusV Posts: 66
    If you have a microwave at work, you could take leftovers. If I don't have leftovers I usually take grapes and cheese for breakfast, 2 cooked eggs for lunch and a protein shake for my afternoon snack to work.
    How do you keep your eggs fresh?
  • Briargrey
    Briargrey Posts: 498 Member
    I bring fruit (raspberries, grapes, bananas, apples), some vegetables (cucumbers, radishes, and carrots), and turkey and cheese. I measure everything to ensure I've got good portions and enough to keep me satiated. On days I know I won't eat dinner until way late, I also may bring some soup to microwave, popcorn, etc. I'm one of those that likes to have most of her calories at dinner though, so I keep my day relatively light to save up for a big dinner and some sort of dessert.
  • TaurusV
    TaurusV Posts: 66
    I make a salad and sandwich with gluten free bread or ciabata, turkey breast (sliced too, is very cheap usually and you can put 5 slices, will make you super full, works for me), cottage cheese or some non fat cheese that is cheap in your area. I buy big salad and wash and use for 3 days. Carrots, lettuce, tomato. Is easy, put in a ziplock and salad in a small plastic bowl.

    Sometimes it does get boring, cause I dont have time to be creative around food.

    Also I take dark chocolate, 2/3 squares if I know I will be whole day out.
  • Briargrey
    Briargrey Posts: 498 Member
    Oh also, I like to have snack items like a Kind bar or Goodness Knows Peachy Cherry for sweet tooth cravings and such. I'll also sometimes bring in a salad instead, but I do a lot of salads for dinner (big, massive, avocado-filled salads) so I've mostly stopped that during the day. The key for me is planning ahead, knowing what I'm going to do that night for dinner, then picking lunch foods within my budget, both monetarily and calorically.
  • Siobhan108
    Siobhan108 Posts: 80 Member
    I worked ( many years ago ) 12 hr mid-night shifts and always made my lunches. I would cook on the week-end and pack homemade veggie or cabbage soup and a sandwich of left over meat from some dinner, usually chicken with no mayo, but hummus works well. I also brought lots of carrots or peppers with me.

    A good thing to use for sandwiches are OLE wellness wraps, come 8 in a package and are high in fiber and low in calories. You can use them for almost anything and they are fairly cheap. I get them in the bread isle @ Walmart.
  • Love4fitnesslove4food2
    Love4fitnesslove4food2 Posts: 711 Member
    good ol' pb and j never gets old...+ a yogurt, fruit, and maybe a cup of milk if you have a refrigerator.

    hummus/veggie wrap + nuts + fruit

    chili + cornbread or roll + side of veggies

    soup + ham and cheese sandwich + side of veggies
  • Just_Scott
    Just_Scott Posts: 1,766 Member
    3 ounces sliced turkey, 2 cheese string sticks, guacamole, and some celery and carrots.... just spit balling...
  • Arbeidslyst
    Arbeidslyst Posts: 129
    I have access to a fridge, so this might not apply to you. I also work shifts so it's either lunch or dinner.

    Lunch: Sandwich with egg and avocado usually, but sometimes I bring oatmeal and fruit. I bring fruit for snacks, usually two or three snacks for each shift.

    Dinner: Grilled chicken with veggies, my coworkers think that is the only thing I eat, but it really is the easiest and most filling thing for work. And again fruit, usually banana, for snacks.
  • acpgee
    acpgee Posts: 7,997 Member
    I take microwaved frozen veg, about 230 g. And leftover protein from the night before. If there are no leftovers, a hardboiled egg and a couple of slices of turkey salami. Although I have access to a microwave at work, I just eat this at room temperature.

    Occasionally will take 250 ml of a legume based soup instead (split pea or lentil).
  • DetroitHustlesHarder69
    DetroitHustlesHarder69 Posts: 8
    Basic turkey sandwich + baby carrots + a couple clementines.

    2 slices bread (70cal), 1 slice sharp cheddar (35cal), 4oz turkey (100cal), half a pepper sliced up...

    Tasty, low-calorie, filling!
  • avskk
    avskk Posts: 1,787 Member
    It takes a little prep the night or morning before work, but I am LOVING this: veggie burger (I use Morningstar) on a sandwich thin with Laughing Cow and hot sauce, big spinach salad with Greek yogurt dressing. It tastes better hot but you could microwave it easily enough -- and it's still yummy cold if that's not an option. It's really, really good and super filling; plus, it feels like eating a real meal.
  • Nialjo
    Nialjo Posts: 4 Member
    If you have a microwave at work, you could take leftovers. If I don't have leftovers I usually take grapes and cheese for breakfast, 2 cooked eggs for lunch and a protein shake for my afternoon snack to work.
    How do you keep your eggs fresh?

    I cook them in the morning, they don't go bad quickly
  • VaingloriousVictoria
    VaingloriousVictoria Posts: 137 Member
    I like a lot of the options listed above, especially the ones that are crockpot... However, I totally understand what you mean about getting tired of the frozen meals. Here are some ideas that I've used.

    -Premier Protein Chocolate Shakes (30 grams of protein, 1 gram sugar, 160 calories)
    -Salads (there are frozen chicken mix ins from healthy choice)
    -Soup (Progresso has some yummy chicken ones)
    -Tuna salad (with crackers or on sandwich thins)
    -Chili, stews

    --Drive Through--
    -Any salad with grilled chicken (Wendy's even carries half sizes)
    -Starbucks Protein Box
    -Chili
    -Oatmeal (Starbucks and McDonalds)
  • fallenoaks50
    fallenoaks50 Posts: 84
    When I'm in a hurry and/or lazy, I take a bag of Birdseye Steamfresh Rotini & Vegetables or some other microwavable frozen vegetable & carb medley (but not a frozen meal). One bag is ~450 calories and is very easy to heat up and eat.
  • Jgal8123
    Jgal8123 Posts: 1,378 Member
    One of my faves is a baked potato cut into chunks with veggies (I prefer steamed broccoli or cauliflower), salsa and low fat cheese. I reheat in the microwave long enough to melt the cheese - yum!
  • sjlamb77
    sjlamb77 Posts: 1
    Here's what I do. I have classes where I have to take lunch with no microwave, and I also work 72 hour shifts on an ambulance where I try to take as much food as possible (with a microwave available).

    -Obviously a sandwich, with homemade whole wheat bread, using lots of turkey and veggies, with mayo and Italian dressing as condiments (or vinegar).

    -Can of tuna (or chicken), mustard, italian dressing, dill relish, and beans or rice (your choice), mixed together, on a bed of spinach or greens of your choice

    -Any kind of bean soup. Just buy dry beans (super cheap), and make a buttload. Basically it will boil down to beans, chicken broth, some kind of tomato product, and whatever vegetables you like. Load up on the bean part to satisfy your hunger. Healthy and super cheap. Lots of chicken broth will also help your hunger without adding any calories.

    I think the most helpful thing I've done is split my lunch into halves, one for 12:00, and one for 3:00 or so. I find that even though I could easily eat the whole thing at lunch time, I'm satisfied for a while with just half of it. If you save the other half for 2-3:00, it'll hold you over another two hours or so. Also provides more efficient digestion/blood sugar levels/calorie intake.
  • kristen2713
    kristen2713 Posts: 253 Member
    I pack every single day and it's always the same things, but keeps me on track. We don't have a microwave, so it's pretty basic. Also, I only spend about $25-$35/week on groceries for my end of the food, so it's pretty inexpensive.
    Snack - protein drink mixed in water and light string cheese
    Lunch - lettuce, tomato and 2% cheese slice on low cal bread or flatbread with spicy mustard, 1/2 cup cottage cheese and a container of sliced veggies
    Snack - piece of fruit, protein bar, 1/2 cup 0% greek yogurt

    To help save, I buy my yogurt and cottage cheese in bulk sizes and do my own portioning...got great reusable containers at the "everything's a dollar" store :)

    Occasionally when I need to change it up, I add a second piece of fruit, hardboiled eggs, sugar free snack packs when they're on sale for $1/4. It all depends on what macros I'm currently at, but it rarely varies too much. If you have an Aldi's, it saves TONS of $ on fruits and veggies. Good luck!
  • frankiesgirl21
    frankiesgirl21 Posts: 235 Member
    I buy bags of already cooked hard boiled eggs in the egg section of the market. They come 6 or10 in a bag and are great for a quick pack for work.
  • MB_Positif
    MB_Positif Posts: 8,897 Member
    I made this killer Chicken & Lentil Stew in the crock pot last week. It made 10-12 servings.

    2-3 of the beastly chicken breasts the grocery store sells, probably about 20-24 ounces
    2 containers of chicken broth (the boxes)
    1 bag dry lentils
    2 cans diced tomatoes with basil, garlic and oregano
    1 medium yellow onion (sauté in olive oil)
    1 bag baby spinach, chopped
    salt (if needed, I use low sodium broth and add a little salt)
    pepper

    Saute onions and place in crock pot with all of the ingredients except the spinach. Let it cook all day (8+ hours). Add the spinach just before serving, allow to wilt then serve. Top with additional ground pepper and/or shredded parmesan.

    It was under 300 calories for a decent amount of stew.

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