Author Topic: work lunches getting the ax with your help(?)  (Read 4553 times)

resy

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work lunches getting the ax with your help(?)
« on: August 13, 2014, 04:52:44 PM »
DH and I got to talking and planning anf found that between both of us we are spending a good $400 a month on work lunches. SAY WHAAAAT!! We both work moving around and/or  thus have no access to fridge, microwave, etc.
Sandwhiches as a big duh but ant other ideas?
We have agreed to invest on 2 simple coolers for our trunks to keep stuff cold and if needed we can invest on insulated heat pouches or whatever.
Any recepies or ideas on food storage??

minimustache1985

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Re: work lunches getting the ax with your help(?)
« Reply #1 on: August 13, 2014, 05:12:39 PM »
The author is packing school lunches so you may need to up the portions, but basically everything on http://www.lunchboxblues.com/ is kept cold or heated in the morning and kept warm til lunch in a thermos.

zataks

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Re: work lunches getting the ax with your help(?)
« Reply #2 on: August 13, 2014, 05:13:12 PM »
I used to be at remote locations where my truck was my office.  We had a remote office at one of the facilities but just a bathroom and tap water, no amenities so I carried a small cooler with me every day along with a coffee cup and nalgene bottle. 
The small cooler would hold:
two pieces of fruit
a snack treat (whatever I made that week, cookies; banana/zucchini bread often with nuts, cranberries, chocolate etcetc in it; protein bars (homemade) etc). 
an entree which was either last night's leftovers or whatever I made at the beginning of the week for lunches; big pots of things like pasta
a helping of vegetables

More or less of everything depending on activities scheduled for the day or length of shift. 


Still do this same thing except now I have a stationary office and a refrigerator. 

Jennifer in Ottawa

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Re: work lunches getting the ax with your help(?)
« Reply #3 on: August 13, 2014, 05:30:50 PM »
Even though my place of work has a lunchroom with all the amenities, I never use them.  I prefer to grab my lunch kit from the corner of my office and go outside to eat and enjoy the fresh air.  Every day I bring my coffee in a thermos, a water bottle filled with ice (lovely and cool water by lunchtime), and my snacks and lunch in an insulated bag. 

Other than sandwiches, my lunch could be:
- a toasted bagel with cheese, or bacon and tomato
- last nights leftovers (lots of things I don't mind eating cold)
- a salad with protein such as a Cobb Salad, Spinach Salad with sliced Steak, or Taco Salad
- finger foods such as veggies and dip, cold meats, cheeses, pickles etc.
- a thermos of soup, stew or chili
- slices of pita bread and hummus for dipping

The possibilities are endless, and lunch is a great meal for using up bits and pieces from your previous days meals and/or random stuff from the kitchen.

MrsPotts

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Re: work lunches getting the ax with your help(?)
« Reply #4 on: August 13, 2014, 06:24:35 PM »
I have no fridge access at work either.   I eat a peanut butter sandwich and a banana every day.  I do, however, vary the jam.    Mmmmm, fig......

waka324

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Re: work lunches getting the ax with your help(?)
« Reply #5 on: August 13, 2014, 06:26:49 PM »
I have a stash of wraps and a variety of those Starkist "Tuna Creations". They usually go on sale at my grocery store every other month, at which point I load up my cabinet again.

Mrs. Frugalwoods

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Re: work lunches getting the ax with your help(?)
« Reply #6 on: August 13, 2014, 08:53:36 PM »
+1 on cooking up a huge batch on Sundays. My husband makes a gigantic pot of either lentils, beans & rice, or quinoa and we both take that for lunch all week. It doesn't need to be heated up and, it's super easy to eat since it's a one-bowl meal. Maybe you could put a little tupperware in your cooler in your car each day?

sheepstache

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Re: work lunches getting the ax with your help(?)
« Reply #7 on: August 13, 2014, 09:32:13 PM »
I hesitate to endorse 'money-saving purchases.'  You don't need special equipment.  I would say stick with sandwiches and other things that don't need temperature control until you're in the habit.  Then you'll have a better feel for what you want and you won't have wasted money if you can't stick to it.  You want to get out of the habit of thinking you're going to change your life by spending money.  (I know, I'm super reading too much into your post, but it's a good point whether it applies to you or not so I'm gonna leave it.)

Most stuff can go without refrigeration until lunchtime and you're not going get sick.  Really.  If you're worried, fill a ziploc with ice and wrap it and the lunch up with a kitchen towel.  If you wrap it with enough layers it can keep things warm too (sans the ice pack, of course). 

Try making extra dinner at night so you have leftovers for lunch, that's usually my favorite.  And it doesn't take any extra time, eliminating excuses.

Jennifer in Ottawa

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Re: work lunches getting the ax with your help(?)
« Reply #8 on: August 13, 2014, 09:35:20 PM »
If you're worried, fill a ziploc with ice and wrap it and the lunch up with a kitchen towel.  If you wrap it with enough layers it can keep things warm too (sans the ice pack, of course). 

I was suddenly reminded of packed lunches for field trips when I was a kid.  Our moms used to freeze a can of pop and that was our ice pack.  Lunch was brown bagged with our name on it, then put in a plastic bag to hold it together.  Necessity is the mother of invention, after all.

dragoncar

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Re: work lunches getting the ax with your help(?)
« Reply #9 on: August 13, 2014, 09:53:31 PM »
If I'm feeling frugal I just skip lunch.  Still have a few too many pounds, though.  For thin people, try a shot or two of olive oil.

 

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