I want to try and save money by packing my lunch instead of going to Au Bon Pain or Cosi every day. The thing is, I don't like sandwiches, especially cold cuts. I don't want to go the tv dinner route very often. Does anyone have any tasty (and cheap) suggestions for non-sandwich lunches? There's a fridge and microwave in my office. I haven't packed a lunch since middle school!
I bring my lunch a lot since I think it can be a lot healthier (and cheaper!). A lot of times I will take leftovers from dinner the night before (chicken & rice, pasta, etc). I also love to take soups in the winter and salads in the summer. With salads, you have to pack the dressing separately otherwise it will be soggy by lunchtime. Hth!
i'm the same way--i like having something hot for lunch. do you cook dinner for yourself often? i find that making a bigger batch of something will last for dinner and a couple lunches for me and my boyfriend. lasagna and chili are probably our 2 favorites. other options: marinated and grilled chicken breast w/ rice, leftover pasta, salads. you could also bring a big container of something to leave in the work fridge all week (if there's room and you don't mind eating the same thing for a few days). stuff like couscous or quinoa, with just some chicken/veggies thrown in, are also super easy. also, if you have a toaster oven at work it always makes sandwiches better to toast them, ala quiznos. :) and i usually bring a fruit, a cookie, and a yogurt for a snack...
-soup (I even started making my own hot & sour soup with tofu) and depending on the type of soup, sometimes I cut up a cheesestick and let it melt in the soup for a little protein;
-couscous with veggies and sometimes I add some plain tuna;
- lean pockets (when I'm running late in the morning and don't have time to pull anything else toghther); and
I love soup in the winter. I usually stock up when the kind I like is on sale. I also make a big pot of chili and eat that (I usually freeze some too, because it makes so much). I also eat a lot of salads in the summer.
I bring leftovers a lot, but Trader Joe's has great frozen lunch-type stuff that's not all salty and preservative-ridden. I like their frozen calzones and pizza. I also like taco salad type stuff -- black beans, chicken (you can use the pre-cut stuff), corn and pico de gallo, which is really filling.
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