Cheap Lunch Ideas?!
What are some really cheap lunches I can take to work!? We're so broke it's so not funny but we really don't eat leftovers (otherwise I'd take them)!. I'm LIT so anything with milk makes me sick!. I don't eat lunch meat (blech--do you know how that stuff is made!?!?!?!?!?) and peanut butter turns my tummy too!. Suggestions!? I'm more concerned with my kids eating the nutritious stuff than me!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
Answers:
pasta is one of the cheapest filling foods!. Cook some pasta the night before and once it cools, store it in the fridge overnight!. put it in a reusable container with some sort of sauce and or !. also, add mushrooms or spinach!. When it's lunch time, heat it and you have a delicious, nutritious lunch!
or get some small pasta (like macaroni or orzo) and add chopped up veggies like red onion and diced tomato or celery or cucumber!. toss with pasta, add cannelini beans, and mix in some salad dressing! chill overnight and bring for lunch the next day!.
veggies and hummus and crackers is a very nutritious and delicious lunch!
hope it works out! :)Www@FoodAQ@Com
or get some small pasta (like macaroni or orzo) and add chopped up veggies like red onion and diced tomato or celery or cucumber!. toss with pasta, add cannelini beans, and mix in some salad dressing! chill overnight and bring for lunch the next day!.
veggies and hummus and crackers is a very nutritious and delicious lunch!
hope it works out! :)Www@FoodAQ@Com
*tuna salad with whole wheat crackers or ritz, string cheese, a side of cantaloupe balls and juice!.
* pita "pizzas" with mozzarella and a few pepperoni, carrot sticks, strawberries, and juice!.
* Baked chicken breast over a fresh salad with homemade oil and vinegar, breaststicks, yogurt and juice!.
Do you not eat leftover because you don't like to , or because there aren't any!?!? It would really stretch your dollars to eat leftovers if they are available to you!. I dislike eating the same thing too many times in a row, so if I've made pot of spaghetti for dinner and I don't want it the next day for lunch, I'll skip a day before having it for lunch!. also, it actually freezes very well and you can thaw and reheat as is a couple of weeks later or make it into spaghetti casserole topped with cheese!.
* Maybe invest in a $60 or so vacuum sealer to keep foods airtight and fresher longer!. You can cook ahead and eat those things later!. Wal Mart has them at a good price!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
* pita "pizzas" with mozzarella and a few pepperoni, carrot sticks, strawberries, and juice!.
* Baked chicken breast over a fresh salad with homemade oil and vinegar, breaststicks, yogurt and juice!.
Do you not eat leftover because you don't like to , or because there aren't any!?!? It would really stretch your dollars to eat leftovers if they are available to you!. I dislike eating the same thing too many times in a row, so if I've made pot of spaghetti for dinner and I don't want it the next day for lunch, I'll skip a day before having it for lunch!. also, it actually freezes very well and you can thaw and reheat as is a couple of weeks later or make it into spaghetti casserole topped with cheese!.
* Maybe invest in a $60 or so vacuum sealer to keep foods airtight and fresher longer!. You can cook ahead and eat those things later!. Wal Mart has them at a good price!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
I'm not sure what you have against lunch meat (turkey, ham, roast beef) but that is probably the best, cheapest lunch you are gonna find!. Other than that, maybe you could make a cold pasta salad to bring with you!. Pasta is usually filling and you could put veggies in it to make it more balanced!. Soups are always a good bet!. Maybe even make yourself an egg sandwich in the morning and bring it with you!. Or you could always buy a package of chicken patties and make those and bring them to work!. They arent great but they are cheap and filling!Www@FoodAQ@Com
I dont know if you would like it but Oatmeal works!. I bring the instant oatmeal packets to work for lunch, you might want to bring 2 cuz you will still probably be hungry!.!.!. you just add hot water or water and then microwave for a bit!. I eat mine outta the paper coffee cups the office supplies :)
Its coast affective
Not lunch meat
Not Peanut Butter
Not Milk
Not Fast Food
Goodluck I hope everything works out!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
Its coast affective
Not lunch meat
Not Peanut Butter
Not Milk
Not Fast Food
Goodluck I hope everything works out!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
you should start cooking ahead of time and freezing it off or just making more than you normally would eat at one meal!. (i!.e!. make 6 servings instead ofr 4) that way you and your family can have leftovers/extra meals at virtually the same cost as it is for 1 meal!.
there's nothing wrong with lunchmeat, as long as it's not heavily processed!. salads and bagged vegetables are good too!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
there's nothing wrong with lunchmeat, as long as it's not heavily processed!. salads and bagged vegetables are good too!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
Why don't ya bake a chicken and either make Rotisserie Chicken Wraps or put them in Pita Pockets!? Add lettuce and cheese, grilled onions or tomatoes and Wallah!
How about making Bruscetta with tomatoes and motz!. cheese!?
Make some granola with dried fruit, nuts, pretzels!. Have a snack mix!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
How about making Bruscetta with tomatoes and motz!. cheese!?
Make some granola with dried fruit, nuts, pretzels!. Have a snack mix!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
I love onigiri for lunch!.
Rice balls with a piece of fish in the middle, or maybe chicken!.
You buy a bag of sweet (sticky) rice, and some tuna, and you have a nutrious, filling luch for just a few cents!.
I love mine wrapped in seaweed, but you don't need that if you don't want it!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
Rice balls with a piece of fish in the middle, or maybe chicken!.
You buy a bag of sweet (sticky) rice, and some tuna, and you have a nutrious, filling luch for just a few cents!.
I love mine wrapped in seaweed, but you don't need that if you don't want it!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
Peanut butter and jelly!.
Veggies and Salad Dressing!.
SoupWww@FoodAQ@Com
Veggies and Salad Dressing!.
SoupWww@FoodAQ@Com
cup o noodle!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Www@FoodAQ@Com
Take Thai sup!. this is better!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
You say you're broke but "don't eat leftovers"!? So does that mean you toss them!?!?!?
I work full time and almost always bring leftovers!. Other than that I make a sandwich--which by the way you can get fresh sliced turkey or chicken or roast beef in the deli department--lunch meat doesn't mean bologna!.
A can of soup is always filling!.
I love to make a fresh baby spinach salad with cucumbers and if we have left over chicken breast I put that on as well!.
Fresh fruit or veggies, cheese
Pasta with veggies is always a hit at my house!.
EDIT
I make enough for leftovers with a plan for lunch the next day and sometimes dinner the next night!. For instance, if I make a roast I make one big enough to feed us a regular roast meal one night and shredded BBQ beef the next night!. THAT is being frugal and NOT wasteful!.
You are rather defensive, aren't you!?!?!? ;)Www@FoodAQ@Com
I work full time and almost always bring leftovers!. Other than that I make a sandwich--which by the way you can get fresh sliced turkey or chicken or roast beef in the deli department--lunch meat doesn't mean bologna!.
A can of soup is always filling!.
I love to make a fresh baby spinach salad with cucumbers and if we have left over chicken breast I put that on as well!.
Fresh fruit or veggies, cheese
Pasta with veggies is always a hit at my house!.
EDIT
I make enough for leftovers with a plan for lunch the next day and sometimes dinner the next night!. For instance, if I make a roast I make one big enough to feed us a regular roast meal one night and shredded BBQ beef the next night!. THAT is being frugal and NOT wasteful!.
You are rather defensive, aren't you!?!?!? ;)Www@FoodAQ@Com
Hey Jen-Jen,
First of all, invest in a cheap insulated bag and cold pack!. And some of the things I'm suggesting are better with mayonnaise, and Helman's/Best Foods mayonnaise does not contain milk!. However, if you prefer you can make your own homemade mayonnaise!.!.!. but be warned it may spoil a lot faster than the commercial kind!.
Tuna is cheap and if you like it there are numerous ways to prepare it for lunch:
tuna salad (there are many "different" recipes for it, some with curry and apples, some with tomatoes and onion, and some with mustard, etc!.)
can be served on many different forms of bread
or packed standalone with fresh veggies and whole grain crackers
Not a tuna fan!? Try egg salad (most of what I said about tuna is true of egg salad too!.)
Well, then there's just salad!. Make a big bowl of it for the week and take it several days!. You can make your own croutons from old bread and they taste way better than anything you can buy in the store!. You can throw chopped egg or tuna in it and pack the dressing in a seperate container!.
On Sunday you could take an hour or so and make a hearty soup or pasta salad and that could take care of a couple of days for you!. Both of those things are inexpensive and can be good for you!. A more specific inexpensive suggestion for a healthy salad would be tabouleh and here's a recipe link!.
http://mideastfood!.about!.com/od/soupssal!.!.!.
Next time you make tacos make some extra meat and freeze it in single serve portions in baggies!. Then you'll have it for your lunches and can pack a tortilla and some lettuce/tomato and a small amount of salsa to go with it!. You can literally take it out of the freezer in the morning and throw it in your lunch bag and by lunch time it should have thawed!.
With just a little bit of prep and planning ahead on the weekend you will find there are more options than you thought!.
Have a great day! :)Www@FoodAQ@Com
First of all, invest in a cheap insulated bag and cold pack!. And some of the things I'm suggesting are better with mayonnaise, and Helman's/Best Foods mayonnaise does not contain milk!. However, if you prefer you can make your own homemade mayonnaise!.!.!. but be warned it may spoil a lot faster than the commercial kind!.
Tuna is cheap and if you like it there are numerous ways to prepare it for lunch:
tuna salad (there are many "different" recipes for it, some with curry and apples, some with tomatoes and onion, and some with mustard, etc!.)
can be served on many different forms of bread
or packed standalone with fresh veggies and whole grain crackers
Not a tuna fan!? Try egg salad (most of what I said about tuna is true of egg salad too!.)
Well, then there's just salad!. Make a big bowl of it for the week and take it several days!. You can make your own croutons from old bread and they taste way better than anything you can buy in the store!. You can throw chopped egg or tuna in it and pack the dressing in a seperate container!.
On Sunday you could take an hour or so and make a hearty soup or pasta salad and that could take care of a couple of days for you!. Both of those things are inexpensive and can be good for you!. A more specific inexpensive suggestion for a healthy salad would be tabouleh and here's a recipe link!.
http://mideastfood!.about!.com/od/soupssal!.!.!.
Next time you make tacos make some extra meat and freeze it in single serve portions in baggies!. Then you'll have it for your lunches and can pack a tortilla and some lettuce/tomato and a small amount of salsa to go with it!. You can literally take it out of the freezer in the morning and throw it in your lunch bag and by lunch time it should have thawed!.
With just a little bit of prep and planning ahead on the weekend you will find there are more options than you thought!.
Have a great day! :)Www@FoodAQ@Com