What do you take for lunch?

**AspiringToBeFrugal** · 07-06-2009, 07:51 AM

I posted on one of the food forums requesting ideas for DH's brownbag lunch but I wondered what YOU take for lunch each day if you go to and eat at work. How do you save money with your brownbag lunch? How do you break out of the PB & J or lunchmeat sandwich routine?

Thanks for sharing your ideas!

**tervsforme** · 07-06-2009, 08:02 AM

Leftovers. I usually try to make enough for supper in order to have leftovers the next day for lunch. I also try to make a pot of soup on Sundays to have for lunches and or dinner as a fill in when I get home late or am too tired to cook. I freeze what ever I have left at the end of the week in individual servings and that is a good thing to take for lunch as well.

**Grainlady** · 07-06-2009, 08:23 AM

Hubby takes his lunch and leftovers is a first choice around here, like many of the others mentioned. I keep all kinds of leftovers in the freezer in single-servings so there's always a choice. It's easy for us because hubby has access to a microwave.

I make a variety of homemade sandwich rolls and keep a stockpile of them in the freezer, along with all kinds of choices to top them.... Leftover BBQ hamburgers, BBQ beef/pork, sloppy joes, etc. If your husband doesn't have access to a microwave, he can pack the hot meat in a small Thermos and add it to the bun just before eating.

Wraps and pitas are a good change from 2-slices of bread sandwiches.

Hubby also likes to make a taco salad. You can use chili or taco meat (hot in a Thermos) and top the salad fixings (similar to taco salads available from Wendy's) just before eating.

One of my favorite "whole foods" brown bag lunches is a handful of almonds, celery, hard cheese and an apple. It doesn't sound like much, but it's a complete meal and with all that chewing you have to do, it's high in fiber and very filling.

**tangerine** · 07-15-2009, 12:34 PM

I have access to a fridge, and every monday I buy:

5 yogurts
a bag of quaker oats chocolate rice cakes
a bag of dried figs
a quart of soy milk
baby carrots

After I have my morning coffee I usually start to get a little hungry around 10:30, and I have a rice cake. I have a yogurt at 11:30. At lunch, I leave the office to run errands or head home and clean the kitchen *lol*

Then around 2:00 or 3:00 I have a handful of figs and/or carrots and a glass of soymilk.

I find it better to just kind of "graze" throughout the day. I feel like I have more energy this way even though it's a little more expensive than a pbnj. It usually costs about $10/week.

**Neeley** · 07-15-2009, 01:18 PM

I send DH a salad with a couple of pieces of baked or grilled boneless/skinless chicken.

If he wants a sandwich I make him a turkey sandwich on 12 grain bread. Occasionally, he will ask for a PB & J.

He keeps canned sodas in his office and buys a cup of ice to go with.

My uncle works for Kraft and sends over all kinds of snack packs, 100 calorie packs, and other individually wrapped snack items. He takes 90% of these to work and keeps them in his office.

The company has a cafeteria where the employees can charge their snack, lunch or breakfast and have the money taken out of their paychecks. An average lunch from them cost about $5-$6.

**omalleyc** · 07-15-2009, 01:37 PM

I usually take a Lean Cuisine and a small salad with pico and croutons on it. DH takes 2 chicken breasts and a small container of brown rice. Whenever we have spaghetti or pork chop leftovers I'll bring that, but always the salad with pico & croutons.

**onencgirl** · 07-15-2009, 02:11 PM

I've taken pb&j for 20 years. Everyone used to laugh at me but I don't care. Now some of them do it too.

I'm pretty much a minimalist and like things clean and simple.

**MisaLady** · 07-15-2009, 11:59 PM

I love to take leftovers. When Lean Cuisine or such goes on sale, I buy a ton and bring those. I've also bought lunchables when on discount sale and supplemented with a couple of pieces of fruit and maybe an english muffin. Sometimes, I make little bento boxes. Leftovers are easiest, though.

**mauimagic** · 07-16-2009, 12:07 AM

Love leftovers - as long as they are low carb!! I sometimes make a low carb pasta salad for the whole week - but then I don't mind eating the same thing over and over!!

My latest snack time thing at work is celery sticks with cream cheese - sure satisfies a lot of cravings.

**lmbaker520** · 07-16-2009, 08:04 AM

I also love taking leftovers. I always try to make a little extra at dinner so that I will have some for lunches at work. If I don't take leftovers then it is usually either a sandwich, soup, or a Lean Pocket and salad. I stock up on Lean Pockets when I can get them between $.50 and $.67 cents per box.

I refuse to buy lunch at the cafeteria here at work unless I totally forgot to bring in something. It is just too expensive.

**Libby** · 07-17-2009, 10:31 PM

Leftover girl here as well.

* Canned soup - meal kind - chunky something lol (with container for leftovers for the following day), 1-2 slices bread or whole wheat english muffin

* Tiny flavoured tinned tunas w/melba tost, instant cup of soup (I stocked up BIG TIME when both were on sale for 2/$1)

* Cup o Noodles or Frozen Dinner (usually the healthier versions)

* Wraps - lunch meat & cheese, tuna, or veggie wrap

* Salad with tuna & chick peas on it or pasta salad w/veggies & tuna or chicken

* Couscous salad with tons of veggies & beans/chick peas

* Low fat cheese (or peanut butter) and melba toast/crackers & instant cup of soup

* Two hard boiled eggs mashed into toast

Most of these I have 1 cup raw mixed veggies (cherry tomatoes, cucumbers and carrots) and 1 pc fruit + 1-2 yoghurts (smaller serving size).

I usually eat the main part of my lunch then have a cup of herbal tea after (if no soup w/lunch) to help fill the gaps in my stomach and make me feel full and about 1/2 hr - 45 mins after lunch I'll have a fruit and a yoghurt.

Forgot the best part - to get a change or switch up for lunch a few of the girls at work and I will do a lunch pot luck: one person will bring enough food for all 3 of us to share and we take turns doing this. One week I made pot stickers/dumplings and sauteed chinese veggies, the next week one girl made jerk chicken w/rice and peas and the following week the other girl made lasagna. Its fun to eat something that YOU didnt make. Makes you feel like you got out and tried something different and you didnt have to pay for it

Took it out in trade lol

**CrazyHomemaker** · 07-17-2009, 11:24 PM

I love leftovers for lunch. I bought a bunch of little round storage containers to keep single portions in. They are about 1/2 cup sized. I keep all small bits and pieces left over. I can choose a few from the week and drop the containers into my lunch bag. I don't eat a lot for lunch, but I do snack in the morning and afternoon with my tea.

Sometimes I'll take rolled oats and brown sugar for lunch. I keep a jar of plain grits in the cupboard at work, too. This is for the days I don't know what to eat. If I eat this stuff, I won't graze out of the machine or search the candy bowls on desks.

My favorite is salad with leftover fried potatoes or french fries, cheese, and chicken bits. Sometimes I'll cook up an egg to put on it. YUM!