Best lunches to take to work?

**Sari** · 03-12-2007, 11:09 AM

I need some ideas (of course they need to be frugal too) because currently I'm spending between $6 and $10 every day (!) for lunch. I don't have a fridge at work, or a microwave, or a sink for that matter. Help!

**grneyegrl** · 03-12-2007, 12:09 PM

try fresh fruit , get an insulated lunch bag and ice bags (try the local dollar store) yogert, sandwiches..salads ect

**YankeeMom** · 03-12-2007, 12:28 PM

There are some really good ideas here:
http://flickr.com/groups/laptop_lunches/pool/

I don't even need to bring a lunch & I want one of those lunchboxes lol.

**Telephus44** · 03-12-2007, 04:12 PM

They aren't the cheapest, but I love the tuna fish and crackers "packages" at the grocery store - they run about $1.50 each.

**Grayce** · 03-12-2007, 07:30 PM

To keep your lunch cold with out a fridge get an insulated lunch bag and an ice pack. You can take all sorts of salad ie. green, macaroni, potato, pasta salads. Sandwiches are good and you can make them less ho-hum by using different types of breads (pita, tortillas, rolls, kaisers, bagels, english muffins). There are many options for fillings such as peanut butter, lunch meat, egg, cheese. I like crackers and cheese, muffins, dried fruit, fresh fruit, raw vegetables and cereal. You can take a thermos for hot things like soup or spaghetti. Get a good stainless thermos and pre-warm it with hot water before adding the food and it will keep warmer. It can get really boring eating the same things over and over again. Even if you only take your lunch M-W-F and eat out the other 2 days you would still save a lot of money.

**AmyBoz** · 03-12-2007, 08:42 PM

I pack good ole' PB&J!

**Libby** · 03-13-2007, 07:17 AM

Originally Posted by Grayce

To keep your lunch cold with out a fridge get an insulated lunch bag and an ice pack. You can take all sorts of salad ie. green, macaroni, potato, pasta salads. Sandwiches are good and you can make them less ho-hum by using different types of breads (pita, tortillas, rolls, kaisers, bagels, english muffins). There are many options for fillings such as peanut butter, lunch meat, egg, cheese. I like crackers and cheese, muffins, dried fruit, fresh fruit, raw vegetables and cereal. You can take a thermos for hot things like soup or spaghetti. Get a good stainless thermos and pre-warm it with hot water before adding the food and it will keep warmer. It can get really boring eating the same things over and over again. Even if you only take your lunch M-W-F and eat out the other 2 days you would still save a lot of money.

I agree what that and as long as you have the right tools you're good to go! Be creative, use a larger cooler insulated bag. I have one thats rather large and excessive but all my lunch items/snacks are in tupperware of some sort so its bulky. I have a huge ice pack in there b/c it has to stay cool all day - no one wants lukewarm yogurt at 3pm. We do have a sink, fridge, microwave and toaster plus toaster oven but by the time I get down there to use em - takes too much time outta my day. Its easier to just reach in my cooler, grab and go! (neat trick for bringing a warm tortilla - heat thermos with hotwater then nuked your tortilla and wrap it in foil immediately, then put into the emptied/warmed thermos and close. By lunch, its still warm and not messy b/c you used the foil)

I tend to eat a frozen dinner (usually a buck on sale at the grocery store) and its portion controlled and I accompany it with salad and a drink. Snacks are fruits - both fresh/dried, cheese n crackers, veggie sticks sometimes with hummus, yoghurt and oatmeal. Cup of soups are good, our office coffee machine has a hot water spout for us tea drinkers.

Its all in being creative - how you pack it to keep it cold. Youd be amazed at how good some leftovers taste when cold! Delish!