Packing a Healthy Lunch on a Budget

AbbyHoopi
AbbyHoopi Posts: 48
edited November 10 in Food and Nutrition
I have been trying to find *fairly* inexpensive lunch ideas that are great to take to work. I could use some help!!


**I work in an office and we have no refridgeration availible to us so I have an insulated lunch bag.

Replies

  • melaniecheeks
    melaniecheeks Posts: 6,349 Member
    Make a salad tub.

    I'm not a big fan of leafy lettuce type things, though I will often have a handful of spinach.

    Get some protein in there - hard boiled egg, sliced ham, chicken breast, tuna, chickpeas, cheese.
    Add some crunch - tomatoes, celery, peppers
    Add a little something special - marinated mushrooms or artichokes, capers, olives.

    I keep a standby of lunchtime stuff in my office - a few slices of ryvita with a tin of sardines in tomato sauce is one of my faves.

    Do you have a microwave? Snap pots of baked beans are another of my standbys.
  • AbbyHoopi
    AbbyHoopi Posts: 48
    We do have microwaves! :)
  • vim_n_vigor
    vim_n_vigor Posts: 4,089 Member
    I have been trying to find *fairly* inexpensive lunch ideas that are great to take to work. I could use some help!!


    **I work in an office and we have no refridgeration availible to us so I have an insulated lunch bag.

    Each week I take ground turkey, whatever veggies I want, sometimes stewed or diced tomatoes and spices. I slow cook that on the stovetop, portion and freeze.
    Then I take rice or barley and portion that into 1/2 cup servings, freeze that.

    Each day I grab a carb and a turkey out of the fridge, sometimes add some additional fresh veggies or fruit and take it with me. Especially if kept in an insulated bag, this is safe until lunch time. Mine is usually still pretty solidly frozen and everything else in my lunch bag is still nice and cool.
  • UpEarly
    UpEarly Posts: 2,555 Member
    On Sunday, I make a big pot of soup or stew. Then I freeze it in single serving containers. I grab one to go in the morning. I let it sit out to defrost during the morning, and then pop it in the microwave at lunch time. It's very satisfying and inexpensive, too.

    I usually also pack some fruit and yogurt or a wedge of cheese.
  • smae1980
    smae1980 Posts: 794 Member
    How about leftovers from dinner? what could be cheaper than that? Also salads, yogurt, cut up veggies or fruit, maybe toss together a quick pasta salad-lighter on the pasta and dressing and heavy on the vegetables.
  • melianne125
    melianne125 Posts: 90 Member
    I keep triscuits, tuna packs, and nuts handy. I usually try to pack something left over from supper for lunch. It helps me avoid the "oh crap what am I going to eat" moment - that almost always results in a bad decision. You cook supper anyway so just make an extra helping to bring with you :)
  • My1985Freckles
    My1985Freckles Posts: 1,039 Member
    How about leftovers from dinner? what could be cheaper than that? Also salads, yogurt, cut up veggies or fruit, maybe toss together a quick pasta salad-lighter on the pasta and dressing and heavy on the vegetables.

    Agreed! I almost always take leftovers, unless there are no leftovers to take, then I cry (LOL) and eat tuna.
  • chubbychristianchick
    chubbychristianchick Posts: 217 Member
    On Sundays I cook 5 days worth of dinenr and lunches. It takes some pre-planning... You have to know what you have in the pantry/freezer and what you need from the store... Then I make all my meals and lunches.... I package 5 lunches and then the rest sits in larger containers. This helps us to save money because I'm not buying as much 'random' stuff at the store. Everything bought is typically used by the end of the week. It takes a lot of work, but in the long run it's worth it because I never eat take out for lunch or have to run out and spend money I dont have on bad foods I shouldn't eat!
  • teelynn35
    teelynn35 Posts: 239 Member
    I take broccoli slaw (got bored w/ lettuce) mushrooms, feta cheese and 2tbs low cal italian dressing.. mix it up in the am, by lunch time the feta has blended w/ the dressing and made a creamy yummy sauce. Delish!!! Add whatever you'd put in a normal salad. Its something diffferent
  • estjames
    estjames Posts: 76
    I also make something on Sunday for a week's worth of lunches, but since soup/stew can get boring fast, I also spice it up with roasts and roasted veggies. This week for example, I made BBQ venison and homemade coleslaw (veggies not mixed with dressing until the day of). This makes 5+ meals for <$5 since I can shop for meat in my parent's freezer when I go home, but even if you bought meat it would not be that expensive. 1 cup meat, 3 cups coleslaw (w/ homemade dressing to keep it extra low cal) is ~400 calories.
  • sharleengc
    sharleengc Posts: 792 Member
    I buy the hormel compleats. They are 1.98 each here so about $10 a week which isn't too bad...check the label, especially if you are watching sodium cuz someone told me they were high but that doesn't affect me.

    There are probably 10ish different types and range from 210-390ish for calories.

    I usually only get 3 that range from 210-240.
    Chicken and mashed potatoes
    Roast beef and mash potatoes
    Chicken and dumpling

    They are usually on the pasta aisle.

    None of them need to be refridgerated.
  • aconley24
    aconley24 Posts: 10
    I was looking into some variety this week so this is what i came up with.. Banana/peanut butter sandwich, tomato /cheese sandwich, baked potato with broccoli, and homeade low salt chicken salad. (my moms receipe) All of these eaten with fruit or a few chips, for snacks i bring yogurt, fiber brownies, diff fruit. :)
  • TheAnie
    TheAnie Posts: 180 Member
    I love this site for lunch ideas: http://www.bentolunch.net/

    I've been meaning to make some of her stuffed muffin ideas. Quick, easy, yummy, and not that unhealthy.
  • jadedone
    jadedone Posts: 2,446 Member
    I take broccoli slaw (got bored w/ lettuce) mushrooms, feta cheese and 2tbs low cal italian dressing.. mix it up in the am, by lunch time the feta has blended w/ the dressing and made a creamy yummy sauce. Delish!!! Add whatever you'd put in a normal salad. Its something diffferent

    I like to make something similar: pasta, barley or farro, garbonzo or cannelini beans, chopped veggies (peppers, tomato, cucumber, roasted veggies), feta and lemon juice, red wine vinegar, salt, pepper, and a little bit of olive oil. If you have some, try to add fresh chopped parsley, mint, cilantro, tarragon or basil.

    Yummy creamy pasta salad.
  • wilnat
    wilnat Posts: 14 Member
    I take broccoli slaw (got bored w/ lettuce) mushrooms, feta cheese and 2tbs low cal italian dressing.. mix it up in the am, by lunch time the feta has blended w/ the dressing and made a creamy yummy sauce. Delish!!! Add whatever you'd put in a normal salad. Its something diffferent

    Sounds sooo yummy. I will have to try this. I LOVE feta cheese. And i am getting a bit bored with salad!
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