Ideas for Work Food 'Stache

[Gronnie]

Reading Get Rich With: The Secret Food ‘Stash inspired me to ask my parents for a mini fridge for Christmas that would fit nicely under my desk in my cube at work. They thankfully obliged. I'm looking for suggestions on what else to stock at work. In addition to the fridge, I also have access to hot water and a microwave at work. My parents also got me some awesome tupperware containers to store veggies in.

Here is what I have planned to add to the 'Stache so far:

Instant Ramen Cups
Sriracha
Ketchup
Honey
Salt and Pepper
Cinnamon and Sugar
French and Ranch dressing
Peanut Butter
Jelly
Bread
Bacon Bits
Cheese
Salad (lettuce, cut up green pepper and onion)
Celery
Raisins
Carrot Sticks
Almonds
Apples
Bananas
Yogurt

Work provides coffee, tea, filtered water, etc so don't need to worry about that.

Any other suggestions of things that are good to have on hand? Critiques of items on my list that might not be the best to keep at work? I plan to bring the veggies (and fruits) fresh each Monday in a nice tupperware container.

This has me super excited. My wife and I have just started eating much better at home in the last couple of months, and she has already been very good about bringing her own lunch. This is the next step for me and should not only increase work productivity, but save me a TON OF MONEY!

[Rural]

I keep:


Oatmeal
Raisins
Peanuts
Apples (week at a time)
Bananas (ditto)
Microwave Mac and cheese packets
Sunflower seeds
Homemade mix of couscous, TVP, curry powder (add raisins and hot water, steep, stir in a couple tbs of sunflower seeds, eat)
Saltines to eat with PB in a pinch, or with my usual leftovers when warranted
A backup leftover meal in the work fridge's freezer
Soy sauce packets, salt and pepper, real knife, spoon, and fork for pleasanter eating


Like you, I have:
Ramen cups
Peanut butter (stir some crunchy PB into a spicy ramen cup if you've never tried it)

[Gronnie]

Hard boiled eggs is a good suggestion. Great source of protein!

I had considered oatmeal, but wasn't really sure how I would cook it? Are you using instant oatmeal?

[Rural]

Hard boiled eggs is a good suggestion. Great source of protein!

I had considered oatmeal, but wasn't really sure how I would cook it? Are you using instant oatmeal?

You could use instant, but I'd suggest trying quick oats just with hot water poured over and steeped a couple minutes. I actually use plain rolled oats cooked this way, but I think it's a texture thing for me; I like being able to distinguish the individual grains. But quick oats (just regular ones chopped up more, but you can but them by the pound just like rolled) are much cheaper than instant packets and come out similarly with just hot water. I add PB and raisins.

[skinnyindy]

Every morning I cook my oatmeal breakfast in our microwave.  Takes just a few minutes and I add peanut butter and fruit and a little maple syrup.

[okits]

Hummus, for extra protein.  Eat with carrot and celery sticks.

My DH is super cute and makes himself jar salads for the week.  Vegetables, beans and chickpeas, sometimes berries.  Grab and go, and very healthy.

Would it be wise to keep some kind of treat on hand?  I used to keep Larabars in my drawer for weak moments (better than caving and buying a chocolate bar, at least!)

[scraggly]

See if your office would allow you to use a hot plate. You can probably find one for $5 on cl. Add a sauce pan, a frying pan, and a chef's knife, and you have about 70% of a kitchen right there.

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[MandalayVA]

See if your office would allow you to use a hot plate. You can probably find one for $5 on cl. Add a sauce pan, a frying pan, and a chef's knife, and you have about 70% of a kitchen right there.

Unless the OP has his/her own office with a door that closes, there's no way an office will allow a hot plate (and even then it's doubtful).  It's guaranteed someone will complain about smells.

[scraggly]

See if your office would allow you to use a hot plate. You can probably find one for $5 on cl. Add a sauce pan, a frying pan, and a chef's knife, and you have about 70% of a kitchen right there.

Unless the OP has his/her own office with a door that closes, there's no way an office will allow a hot plate (and even then it's doubtful).  It's guaranteed someone will complain about smells.

I was thinking if the microwave was in some kind of break room. At OP's desk, I'm doubtful.

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[jengod]

If you have a freezer part in your minifridge and a toaster oven at work, Stouffer's frozen French Bread Pizzas will make your day.

[Gronnie]

If you have a freezer part in your minifridge and a toaster oven at work, Stouffer's frozen French Bread Pizzas will make your day.

I purposely bought one that is all fridge with no freezer so there is no need to defrost.

[misshathaway]

For a long time I brought 2 hard boiled eggs and a can of tuna packed in oil - Genove to be exact. If you like tuna this is a very rich filling one that you can eat right out of the can. No cleanup and it forces you to get away from your desk to eat it. Don't want to offend the coworkers.

[TXScout2]

I bring to work 5 oz packets of pink salmon, bread, and mayonnaise.  Mix some mayo with a packet of salmon, and it makes 2 sandwiches.  Sometimes I add mustard, or spinach, or both. 

[jda1984]

Consider a rice cooker.  I like making rice and beans at work, it's pretty easy with the rice cooker.  I don't know if you have a freezer available (I know you don't in your mini-fridge) but I combine my rice and beans with some steam in the bag veggies and have a pretty decent lunch for ~$1.

[Gronnie]

Mmmm... had a nice lunch today with Ramen and a PBJ. Snacked on an apple, some almonds, some yogurt, and some string cheese throughout the day. Life is good. I can't believe I didn't do this sooner. Cheaper than going out, and much healthier -- and that's before the career benefits from being more visible all day and getting more work done!

[NV Teacher]

Your list looks pretty good.  I like to keep some dry soup packets and crackers for days when I need something warm or I'm not feeling well.  I also keep a few protein bars and drinks for when I'm busy and need to work through my lunch time.

[mozar]

I make baked salmon, roasted potatoes, and steamed broccoli for the week on Sunday. Then I bring a portioned amount to work each day. I used to bring the whole weeks worth on Monday but it was too heavy. I bake banana chocolate chip muffins every two weeks that I pop in the microwave for 30 sec. I also bring chocolate pudding and applesauce cups and some nuts. I still get hungry at 3pm though!

[drudgep]

Lunch for me everyday is:

PB and Apple Butter  wheat sandwich - My Fiance coupons and can get PB for $.99 cents per jar.. usually the healthy kind, and a loaf of wheat bread with nuts etc is $2 at walmart. And apple butter with no high fructose corn syrup is $3 at walmart for a months worth... Mussleman brand. Maybe $15 bucks a month for this.

Also eat Grapes, Yogurt, and/or Oranges with my lunch. Also my Fiance makes awesome home made apple sauce in a slow cooker... Grapes can be as low as $.77 per pound, and Yogurt is 1.99 for a 32 oz container. Apple can be super cheap too.

All of this food is pretty healthy if you ask me, no ramen, or anything like that! For 3 of us, 2 adults and a 1 year old we spend $200/month on groceries and personal supplies.

[Easye418]

Lunch for me everyday is:

PB and Apple Butter  wheat sandwich - My Fiance coupons and can get PB for $.99 cents per jar.. usually the healthy kind, and a loaf of wheat bread with nuts etc is $2 at walmart. And apple butter with no high fructose corn syrup is $3 at walmart for a months worth... Mussleman brand. Maybe $15 bucks a month for this.

Also eat Grapes, Yogurt, and/or Oranges with my lunch. Also my Fiance makes awesome home made apple sauce in a slow cooker... Grapes can be as low as $.77 per pound, and Yogurt is 1.99 for a 32 oz container. Apple can be super cheap too.

All of this food is pretty healthy if you ask me, no ramen, or anything like that! For 3 of us, 2 adults and a 1 year old we spend $200/month on groceries and personal supplies.

This is fairly similiar to what I was eating.  My old boss always use to joke and say "oh my kid would love your lunch".  Then she proceeds to eat out everyday at Whole Foods spending $10-$11 dollars on each lunch.  My coworkers think I am nuts, but they don't put 2 + 2 together. 

I would say my lunch is roughly $3 or less.  Some sort of entree, Chobani from Costco, and baked chips from Costco.  Probably should work on throwing a fruit or veggie in there.  Usually, I bring a Clementine to eat. 

[Kaikou]

For a long time I brought 2 hard boiled eggs and a can of tuna packed in oil - Genove to be exact. If you like tuna this is a very rich filling one that you can eat right out of the can. No cleanup and it forces you to get away from your desk to eat it. Don't want to offend the coworkers.

man this sounds so good. Going to pick up some tuna today.

[use2betrix]

This all really depends on the person. I suggest planning out all meals so you don't have the temptation to "snack."

I eat 3 meals every day at work and 3 outside work, and these are all altered regularly depending if I'm trying to gain or lose weight. About 80% of the time I'm trying to gain, but I still structure meals consistently so I know what is/isn't working.

A standard day would be -
5 a.m. - 3 eggs, 3 egg whites, 1.5 pieces Ezekiel bread
8 a.m. (Work) - 2 scoops whey protein 1 serving oatmeal
11:30 a.m. (Work) - 8 oz meat, 1 cup rice
3 p.m. (Work) - same as 11:30
6 p.m. - 2 scoops protein, maybe a pickle if I'm hungry
8:30 p.m. - 8 oz chicken/beef, side salad

My wife prepares and packages all these, and she eats the same, just 1/3 to 1/2 as much.

I've been eating like this for about 6 years. I miss a meal maybe once or twice a month, and do "cheat"'occasionally as I enjoy food. I've found that by being consistent you can figure out exactly what does and doesn't work and how to adjust for energy, muscle mass, fat, etc. Food is one of the strongest tools for your body and mind.

Sorry for the tangent, I'm obviously very passionate about this lol.

[drudgep]

Lunch for me everyday is:

PB and Apple Butter  wheat sandwich - My Fiance coupons and can get PB for $.99 cents per jar.. usually the healthy kind, and a loaf of wheat bread with nuts etc is $2 at walmart. And apple butter with no high fructose corn syrup is $3 at walmart for a months worth... Mussleman brand. Maybe $15 bucks a month for this.

Also eat Grapes, Yogurt, and/or Oranges with my lunch. Also my Fiance makes awesome home made apple sauce in a slow cooker... Grapes can be as low as $.77 per pound, and Yogurt is 1.99 for a 32 oz container. Apple can be super cheap too.

All of this food is pretty healthy if you ask me, no ramen, or anything like that! For 3 of us, 2 adults and a 1 year old we spend $200/month on groceries and personal supplies.

This is fairly similiar to what I was eating.  My old boss always use to joke and say "oh my kid would love your lunch".  Then she proceeds to eat out everyday at Whole Foods spending $10-$11 dollars on each lunch.  My coworkers think I am nuts, but they don't put 2 + 2 together. 

I would say my lunch is roughly $3 or less.  Some sort of entree, Chobani from Costco, and baked chips from Costco.  Probably should work on throwing a fruit or veggie in there.  Usually, I bring a Clementine to eat.

Nice! Yes, everyone thinks you are nuts, or cheap, but they don't understand the bigger picture, and that is a can of worms I would rather not open at this point :)

Fiance and I decided on home made trail mix to try as well.

[Conjou]

Hard boiled eggs is a good suggestion. Great source of protein!

I had considered oatmeal, but wasn't really sure how I would cook it? Are you using instant oatmeal?

You could use instant, but I'd suggest trying quick oats just with hot water poured over and steeped a couple minutes. I actually use plain rolled oats cooked this way, but I think it's a texture thing for me; I like being able to distinguish the individual grains. But quick oats (just regular ones chopped up more, but you can but them by the pound just like rolled) are much cheaper than instant packets and come out similarly with just hot water. I add PB and raisins.

My process exactly on the oatmeal. I like adding pecans or walnuts too.
Edamame, humus, packets of tuna or salmon, almond milk, kalamata olives, feta, and grapefruit are also in my work stash.