Author Topic: Work lunches  (Read 9547 times)

zephyr911

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Work lunches
« on: July 17, 2015, 08:48:32 AM »
Last night, I cleaned out the freezer and shit out 5 work lunches without spending anything. One is in the office fridge and the rest are frozen for the next couple of weeks.

Supplies: 12oz Hawaiian-style pulled pork (I make 6-8# at a time and it keeps well in the freezer since I leave the crockpot liquid); half a family-size bag of frozen broccoli; 2 cups of long-grain rice (the only thing actually cooked for this). Lined up the containers and divided the rice evenly, nuked the pork and did the same, and nestled a handful of broc in each one.

Next project: soaked my first-ever batch of dry beans and plan to make endless red beans and rice with spinach and sausage to alternate for variety. No more fast food or $9 cafeteria combos. :D

2ndTimer

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Re: Work lunches
« Reply #1 on: July 17, 2015, 09:04:23 AM »
Bravo!  You are on your way.

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Rezdent

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Re: Work lunches
« Reply #3 on: July 17, 2015, 09:14:54 AM »
Impressive.
I've always wanted to do this, but I get stuck at containers.  I'd like containers that are divided, reusable, stack well, and can go from freezer to nuke.  They need to be inexpensive.  Maybe I am overthinking this.
What containers do you use?

clifford4970

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Re: Work lunches
« Reply #4 on: July 17, 2015, 10:23:00 AM »
Not trying to hijack this thread, but I face a dilemma.  So I am trying to get my wife on board with being more frugal/saving.  We have pretty much stopped eating out and we have agreed that she can use money she earns from donating plasma for anything she wants (comes out to about 120-240 a month depending on how much she donates), but where I get in "trouble" is I buy my lunch at work (hypocritical).
Where I work, we get half off our lunches in the cafeteria.  The Featured Plates/Meals are about $6-8 each, add the half off and becomes $3-4 (which I never buy).  A big ol' slice of pizza (1/6 of a xlarge pizza) runs $1.33 after the half off.  A full sandwich runs $2.70 after the half off.  I only ever get a slice of pizza or a sandwich (these are both very big and keep me full and satisfied till dinner).  Am I a hypocrite for buying my lunch?  When I bring a lunch I usually bring a sandwich and a yogurt. 
I feel guilty buying food at work, but I actually think I save money.  Lunch cost me about $9.50 a week eating in the work cafeteria.
Again, sorry for asking this here, but I felt it somewhat pertained to the topic of taking a lunch to work.

Yankuba

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Re: Work lunches
« Reply #5 on: July 17, 2015, 11:16:33 AM »
Not trying to hijack this thread, but I face a dilemma.  So I am trying to get my wife on board with being more frugal/saving.  We have pretty much stopped eating out and we have agreed that she can use money she earns from donating plasma for anything she wants (comes out to about 120-240 a month depending on how much she donates), but where I get in "trouble" is I buy my lunch at work (hypocritical).
Where I work, we get half off our lunches in the cafeteria.  The Featured Plates/Meals are about $6-8 each, add the half off and becomes $3-4 (which I never buy).  A big ol' slice of pizza (1/6 of a xlarge pizza) runs $1.33 after the half off.  A full sandwich runs $2.70 after the half off.  I only ever get a slice of pizza or a sandwich (these are both very big and keep me full and satisfied till dinner).  Am I a hypocrite for buying my lunch?  When I bring a lunch I usually bring a sandwich and a yogurt. 
I feel guilty buying food at work, but I actually think I save money.  Lunch cost me about $9.50 a week eating in the work cafeteria.
Again, sorry for asking this here, but I felt it somewhat pertained to the topic of taking a lunch to work.

Making lunch yourself isn't free (time plus cost of goods). If you can pay $3 or less for cafeteria lunch then it's Mustachian (in my book). 

driftxsequence

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Re: Work lunches
« Reply #6 on: July 17, 2015, 03:03:36 PM »
Impressive.
I've always wanted to do this, but I get stuck at containers.  I'd like containers that are divided, reusable, stack well, and can go from freezer to nuke.  They need to be inexpensive.  Maybe I am overthinking this.
What containers do you use?

Honestly what we do is get chinese food once or twice a month, we order food that comes in these square plastic containers, not the paper rice holding ones. They stack well since all of our containers are essentially the same(stacking), its free tupperware with dinner (and tomorrows lunch), and its nice and flat so it fits well in my bookbag when I ride to work. And when they break or lost? Who cares?

MsPeacock

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Re: Work lunches
« Reply #7 on: July 17, 2015, 03:06:51 PM »
A packed lunch could be $2-$3 pretty easily unless you are all over the leftovers of the most frugal type. I mean, a yogurt at Aldi's is still $.35 or so, plus fruit, sandwich or whatever.

How about your wife also gets $10 a week towards dining out as she pleases?

I always carry my lunch because the cafeterias at work at crazy expensive - like stick shock every time I've purchased anything (which is extremely  infrequently) - there is nothing that is a good value for the cost. But sometimes my packed lunch is a can of soup and 1/2 sleeve of saltines...

Zette

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Re: Work lunches
« Reply #8 on: July 17, 2015, 04:20:56 PM »
Impressive.
I've always wanted to do this, but I get stuck at containers.  I'd like containers that are divided, reusable, stack well, and can go from freezer to nuke.  They need to be inexpensive.  Maybe I am overthinking this.
What containers do you use?

How big do you envision?  Why do you want divided?

I like the set of rectangular and square containers by Rubbermaid -- recently I saw them at Costco $26 for a 30 piece set (so 15 containers & lids).  They do well in both freezer and dishwasher.

Even cheaper would be the "disposable" Ziploc containers available at Target and Walmart.  A quick search shows a "starter pack" of 11 for $6.99.

If you eat deli meat, you can also just save and reuse the containers that have lids -- Hillshire Farm is one.


iknowiyam

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Re: Work lunches
« Reply #9 on: July 17, 2015, 04:54:51 PM »
Impressive.
I've always wanted to do this, but I get stuck at containers.  I'd like containers that are divided, reusable, stack well, and can go from freezer to nuke.  They need to be inexpensive.  Maybe I am overthinking this.
What containers do you use?

How big do you envision?  Why do you want divided?

I like the set of rectangular and square containers by Rubbermaid -- recently I saw them at Costco $26 for a 30 piece set (so 15 containers & lids).  They do well in both freezer and dishwasher.

Even cheaper would be the "disposable" Ziploc containers available at Target and Walmart.  A quick search shows a "starter pack" of 11 for $6.99.

If you eat deli meat, you can also just save and reuse the containers that have lids -- Hillshire Farm is one.

Safest bet is making sure you get microwave/dishwasher/freezer safe. All 3 should be listed, in the US noted by symbols. I know most people aren't this anal about food starage, but I usually am.

Yeah, they cost more. I have been using mine for several years, and they still serve me well. I have some of the Rubbermaid ones mentioned by someone else, and I also use glass bottom/rubber lid ones that are great for not tipping over when eating out of them at work.

Mrs.LC

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Re: Work lunches
« Reply #10 on: July 17, 2015, 07:47:03 PM »
We used Rubbermaid, Glad, and Ziplock storage containers for years. Freezer, dishwasher, and microwave safe. The dishes held up well with everyday use by two people. Everyday or two at supper we would grab the containers and fill them up. Depending on the meal we sometimes filled up 2-3 days worth at a time.

zephyr911

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Re: Work lunches
« Reply #11 on: July 17, 2015, 10:26:45 PM »
Not trying to hijack this thread, but I face a dilemma.  So I am trying to get my wife on board with being more frugal/saving.  We have pretty much stopped eating out and we have agreed that she can use money she earns from donating plasma for anything she wants (comes out to about 120-240 a month depending on how much she donates), but where I get in "trouble" is I buy my lunch at work (hypocritical).
Where I work, we get half off our lunches in the cafeteria.  The Featured Plates/Meals are about $6-8 each, add the half off and becomes $3-4 (which I never buy).  A big ol' slice of pizza (1/6 of a xlarge pizza) runs $1.33 after the half off.  A full sandwich runs $2.70 after the half off.  I only ever get a slice of pizza or a sandwich (these are both very big and keep me full and satisfied till dinner).  Am I a hypocrite for buying my lunch?  When I bring a lunch I usually bring a sandwich and a yogurt. 
I feel guilty buying food at work, but I actually think I save money.  Lunch cost me about $9.50 a week eating in the work cafeteria.
Again, sorry for asking this here, but I felt it somewhat pertained to the topic of taking a lunch to work.
That sounds pretty reasonable to me. I get no discount and everything worth eating is $6-9 here or I'd do it more often.
My goal is to develop a rotation of healthy, freezable meals that cost less than $1 per serving, but if I added in the value of time, it'd easily hit that $2-3 level, even at high volume. It's not an issue for me because I genuinely love cooking, but for an apples-to-apples comparison it's worth noting because it puts us in the same ballpark.
I think what's important is to do a full assessment of all your options and decide what makes most sense for you. If you like cooking and you really want to cut it to the bone, maybe my approach works. But if you can eat for under $10 a week without doing any cooking, that's pretty sweet.
« Last Edit: July 20, 2015, 09:37:06 AM by zephyr911 »

clifford4970

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Re: Work lunches
« Reply #12 on: July 18, 2015, 09:36:03 AM »

That sounds pretty reasonable to me. I get no discount and everything worth eating is $6-9 here or I'd do it more often.
My goal is to develop a rotation of healthy, freezable meals that cost less than $1 per serving, but if I added in the value of time, it'd easily hit that $2-3 level, even at high volume. It's not an issue for me because I genuinely love cooking, but for an apples-to-apples comparison it's worth noting because it puts us in the same ballpark.
I think what's important is to do a full assessment of all your options and decide what makes most sense for you. If you like cooking and you really want to cut it to the bone, maybe my approach works. But if you can eat for under $10 without doing any cooking, that's pretty sweet.
[/quote]

Not much of one for cooking or food prep, so the ease of buying at work makes it worth it to me.  Thanks for the feedback!

Rezdent

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Re: Work lunches
« Reply #13 on: July 18, 2015, 10:24:23 AM »
Impressive.
I've always wanted to do this, but I get stuck at containers.  I'd like containers that are divided, reusable, stack well, and can go from freezer to nuke.  They need to be inexpensive.  Maybe I am overthinking this.
What containers do you use?

How big do you envision?  Why do you want divided?

I like the set of rectangular and square containers by Rubbermaid -- recently I saw them at Costco $26 for a 30 piece set (so 15 containers & lids).  They do well in both freezer and dishwasher.

Even cheaper would be the "disposable" Ziploc containers available at Target and Walmart.  A quick search shows a "starter pack" of 11 for $6.99.

If you eat deli meat, you can also just save and reuse the containers that have lids -- Hillshire Farm is one.
I am thinking the size of a regular 3 tray tv dinner container, dividing 3 dishes.
Now that I am thinking about it, I really want to DIY my own TV dinners :)

driftxsequence

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Re: Work lunches
« Reply #14 on: March 10, 2016, 01:49:09 PM »
I freeze a loaf of bread in the work freezer, and keep pb&j handy. Toast the bread for about 5 minutes, and if toasted right doesnt taste freezer burnt... :)

I havent bought lunch in well over a year.

sheepstache

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Re: Work lunches
« Reply #15 on: March 10, 2016, 02:00:38 PM »
Impressive.
I've always wanted to do this, but I get stuck at containers.  I'd like containers that are divided, reusable, stack well, and can go from freezer to nuke.  They need to be inexpensive.  Maybe I am overthinking this.
What containers do you use?

How big do you envision?  Why do you want divided?

I like the set of rectangular and square containers by Rubbermaid -- recently I saw them at Costco $26 for a 30 piece set (so 15 containers & lids).  They do well in both freezer and dishwasher.

Even cheaper would be the "disposable" Ziploc containers available at Target and Walmart.  A quick search shows a "starter pack" of 11 for $6.99.

If you eat deli meat, you can also just save and reuse the containers that have lids -- Hillshire Farm is one.
I am thinking the size of a regular 3 tray tv dinner container, dividing 3 dishes.
Now that I am thinking about it, I really want to DIY my own TV dinners :)


Something like these? I haven't used them. http://www.amazon.com/Containers-Restaurant-Storage--Portion-Control-7pk/dp/B00TXUXZ5U/

I personally use a Lock & Lock box with dividers. http://www.amazon.com/Container-Removable-Divider-HPL823C-3-6-cups/dp/B000SIPNME/  More pricey and not stackable. But I only make lunch the night or two before, so those weren't criteria.  I've been using two of them for years and can say for sure they do not leak. What I really want though is something where the individual divided sections can't leak into each other and these don't do that.

zephyr911

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Re: Work lunches
« Reply #16 on: March 10, 2016, 02:06:32 PM »
Ooh, this has been dead for a while, but its revival is timely.

I'm traveling, on per diem ($46 tax-free on top of normal pay), and my first two meals today cost me about fifty cents. WOOOO

On Friday, my last regular workday at home, I packed all my frozen work lunches in an insulated grocery bag. I kept them frozen at my weekend stop, and they were still good by Monday night when I hit my hotel for the next 2 weeks. I also picked up a couple boxes of granola bars to add to the free ones my Kellogg's distributor neighbor gave me, to keep restaurant meals to a minimum this week. Compared to the likely alternatives, that's $100-150 saved.

They have a hearty free breakfast - eggs, home fries, bacon, sausage, cereal, milk, pastries, juice, coffee, etc - so I wasn't even that hungry at lunch. I went back to walk the dogs and ate half of a pasta dish, and froze it again.

mm1970

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Re: Work lunches
« Reply #17 on: March 10, 2016, 02:22:10 PM »
Impressive.
I've always wanted to do this, but I get stuck at containers.  I'd like containers that are divided, reusable, stack well, and can go from freezer to nuke.  They need to be inexpensive.  Maybe I am overthinking this.
What containers do you use?

How big do you envision?  Why do you want divided?

I like the set of rectangular and square containers by Rubbermaid -- recently I saw them at Costco $26 for a 30 piece set (so 15 containers & lids).  They do well in both freezer and dishwasher.

Even cheaper would be the "disposable" Ziploc containers available at Target and Walmart.  A quick search shows a "starter pack" of 11 for $6.99.

If you eat deli meat, you can also just save and reuse the containers that have lids -- Hillshire Farm is one.
We use all of these.

And I have two Corelle plates at work to microwave my food on.

zephyr911

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Re: Work lunches
« Reply #18 on: March 11, 2016, 05:36:10 AM »
And I have two Corelle plates at work to microwave my food on.

I had one big soup bowl that worked for pretty much everything, but it disappeared around Xmas and I've been too stubborn to replace it... I keep thinking it will show up. I should probably suck it up and spend another dollar at the thrift store (woe is me!)

abhe8

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Re: Work lunches
« Reply #19 on: March 11, 2016, 06:02:16 AM »

That sounds pretty reasonable to me. I get no discount and everything worth eating is $6-9 here or I'd do it more often.
My goal is to develop a rotation of healthy, freezable meals that cost less than $1 per serving, but if I added in the value of time, it'd easily hit that $2-3 level, even at high volume. It's not an issue for me because I genuinely love cooking, but for an apples-to-apples comparison it's worth noting because it puts us in the same ballpark.
I think what's important is to do a full assessment of all your options and decide what makes most sense for you. If you like cooking and you really want to cut it to the bone, maybe my approach works. But if you can eat for under $10 without doing any cooking, that's pretty sweet.

Not much of one for cooking or food prep, so the ease of buying at work makes it worth it to me.  Thanks for the feedback!
[/quote]
The price is good, but the health concerns with eating pizza every day for lunch would be enough to have me pack, even if it's pbj, yogurt and fruit.

mm1970

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Re: Work lunches
« Reply #20 on: March 11, 2016, 01:21:33 PM »
And I have two Corelle plates at work to microwave my food on.

I had one big soup bowl that worked for pretty much everything, but it disappeared around Xmas and I've been too stubborn to replace it... I keep thinking it will show up. I should probably suck it up and spend another dollar at the thrift store (woe is me!)

Funny story.  At one point we had a lot more people at my company (before the layoffs), with a lot of techs and operators and hourly employees (who tend to bring lunch more than buy lunch).  I felt like we didn't have enough dishes.  So, I went to the thrift store (crazy overpriced here) and bought 5 big corelle bowls.  Not the regular bowls, really big ones.  They were $20 (new they would have been $25 at kmart).  I grumbled at it, especially since they should have been "on special" that day (housewares day, but that was a coincidence), but they were "short on housewares" so they didn't have the sale going on.  (Note: they had plenty of housewares.)

Big I digress.  That was about 5 years ago.  They all disappeared over the space of a year.  Too bad too, they were the perfect size.  I have no idea where they went, but I've thought of checking the other building.

The other problem we used to have when we were big, were the lazy asses who would leave their dirty dishes in the sink and go home.  No amount of threats, cajoling, reminding would fix it.  So alternately, one guy and I would throw the stuff out (wasteful, I know, but you can't leave dirty dishes in the sink if there are no dishes), or - sometimes I'd wash them and put them in my desk drawer.  Washers-keepers.

I'm not sure which of the 3 layoffs made it better (so I could narrow down the culprit), but it's better now.

I should look for those bowls in the other building.

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Re: Work lunches
« Reply #21 on: March 11, 2016, 05:58:03 PM »
Impressive.
I've always wanted to do this, but I get stuck at containers.  I'd like containers that are divided, reusable, stack well, and can go from freezer to nuke.  They need to be inexpensive.  Maybe I am overthinking this.
What containers do you use?

You can find one like you described at Aldi - but they only have them a couple of times a year, it's one of their specials. Rectangular shape with dividers, they look good, last well and can go from freezer to microwave if you want.
Re-usable - stack well too, comes in a set of two containers plus you get a couple of extra little round mini containers - great if you take condiments or sauce.
I've seen similar ones at Target for twice the price.

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Re: Work lunches
« Reply #22 on: March 11, 2016, 06:46:33 PM »
I love my office....Tomato soup, cup of noodle, fresh fruit (apple, orange, banana), bread, butter, and PB are provided for free.....I'm happy as a tick eating those. BUT even better - I'm required to take staff out to lunch once per week and get reimbursed, and I only ever eat 1/2 of the lunch.  Lunch for me is maybe $10/month.

Where I lose all that frugality is fancy dinner food or family dinners out a restaurants....and DH's $15-25 lunches which are NOT free. :-(

ender

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Re: Work lunches
« Reply #23 on: March 12, 2016, 06:28:00 AM »
My workplace has heavily subsidized lunch (something like $5 for a high quality buffet style lunch).

I've taken to eating with my team, but bringing leftovers. Considering I'm also slowly losing weight I am winning all around as I am 100% convinced I would eat more calories if I bought lunch.

clarkfan1979

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Re: Work lunches
« Reply #24 on: March 12, 2016, 01:51:36 PM »
Impressive.
I've always wanted to do this, but I get stuck at containers.  I'd like containers that are divided, reusable, stack well, and can go from freezer to nuke.  They need to be inexpensive.  Maybe I am overthinking this.
What containers do you use?

I have two different types of containers in my rotation. The type of container that I use is a cheap plastic that I get from buying lunch meat. When I buy a 3 pack (12 oz. each) of turkey, they all come in one big plastic container. It's the perfect size for salads which have more volume. I used to also buy turkey lunch meat from Target (16 oz.). The plastic container is smaller but better for meat, rice, vegetable lunches that are more dense and less volume needed. These containers are "free" from buying lunch meat.

Secondly, my wife bought a set of air tight containers at Costco. I think the set cost about $20 on sale. It's worth it. Because they are air tight, we throw out less food. I ate 1/2 of a avocado one day and put the other half in the air tight container. Three days go by and the avocado is still green with absolutely zero browning. I couldn't believe it.

The nutritional value of pizza for $1.33/slice at work is going to cost you with your health. I think it's fine to maybe have once a week. However, you can make something much healthier for $1.33.