The Money Mustache Community
Other => Off Topic => Topic started by: Trying225 on February 08, 2014, 05:07:08 PM
-
I'm trying to come up with a list of things to take to work for lunch. I'm cutting back on eating out for lunch. I want what I take to be healthy but I don't have time to make separate meals just for lunch every day. Also, I want it to be cheaper than if I were to go out for lunch.
Ideas?
-
"Badass healthy lunches"
https://forum.mrmoneymustache.com/share-your-badassity/badass-healthy-lunches
"Packed lunches "
https://forum.mrmoneymustache.com/ask-a-mustachian/packed-lunches
"Packing more lunches"
https://forum.mrmoneymustache.com/ask-a-mustachian/packing-more-lunches
"Mustachian Lunch Ideas"
https://forum.mrmoneymustache.com/ask-a-mustachian/mustachian-lunch-ideas
"Does making/bringing own lunch actually save money?"
https://forum.mrmoneymustache.com/ask-a-mustachian/does-makingbringing-own-lunch-actually-save-money
"What small things did you do TODAY to save money?" - Most of these are food-related stories.
https://forum.mrmoneymustache.com/ask-a-mustachian/what-small-things-did-you-do-today-to-save-money
-
Do you have a refrigerator? Microwave? If so, just cook extra for supper and take leftovers. In fact, you don't have to have the refrigerator, because you can always freeze the leftovers and take them out in the mornings. They won't be completely thawed by lunch. That method lets you build up several different options over differ nights, too, so you're not always eating the same thing you had the night before.
-
I just make extra of whatever I'm having for dinner and take the leftovers. About as close to no extra work as you can get.
I don't do this, but since leftovers will keep for a couple days you could set up a 2- or 3-day lag between one day's dinner and a different day's lunch. That way you don't have to eat the same thing twice in a row.
Ed.: what she said ^
-
Thanks for the links! I must not have searched enough! Sorry to repeat a topic!
-
That's okay! You can still post here or in any of those threads if something doesn't exactly answer the question, but if we link these to you you'll get more ideas.
-
I absolutely hate packing lunches but it's not optional in our house. For my school-aged child, I've got her trained to empty her lunch box when she gets home, clean it out, and restock it with a napkin, spoon, and cheese stick. In the morning I put in a container of dried fruit or homemade applesauce, a few pieces of raw veggies, and either a sandwich or a wide-mouth thermos (best invention for packed lunches for school kids ever) with leftovers. DH has a routine of mixing some frozen fruit from our bags we oicked past summer into plain yogurt. Sometimes he stirs in some raw oatmeal. Raw veggies and some type if fruit. A small container of raw almonds. Sandwich or leftovers to heat up at work. Variety seems to be key, but easy is important in our house, too.
I make a lot of hearty homemade bean soups in the winter and those are great as leftovers for lunch.
-
When I worked I'd try and take lunch in each day, but I also kept a large latte-bowl-sized cup, a fork and half a dozen single-serve, flavoured tuna tins and some ramen noodles in my desk drawer as a back up. Or instant polenta instead of the noodles.
Tuna on noodles was enough of a lunch to keep me away from the shops on the days when I didn't bring a fresh lunch.