Work Lunches

[CoryWM]

I'm trying to think how I can keep lunch interesting and cut costs. It seems like whenever I do bring a lunch, I end up buying a pound of lunch meat, bread, cheese, etc. And then some other stuff to add in, and it's barely less than just eating out. Assuming I spend like 3 bucks at fast food.

Obviously, bringing my own lunch is healthier. But I'm pretty lazy honestly and just grab somethign to eat most days. Anyone got ideas for lunch, that don't involve microwaving? I'm a delivery driver for an oxygen company. So i'm on the road/in town when eating lunch.

So, my aim is to eat cheaper, healthier. And keep it interesting after day 3. Without cooking a ton, anyone have any insight from years of bringing your own lunch?

[Staceyy]

I like hard boiled eggs, wrap sandwiches, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, tuna and chicken salad sandwiches, leftover sliced meats such as chicken, turkey, roast beef. Peanut butter and Ritz crackers, peanut butter and graham crackers. Nuts and raisins. Raw veggies. You can put hot dogs in a thermos with boiling water. Pack hotdog buns and condiment packets. Soups and stews also do well in thermos. You can freeze bottled water and juice and it will be nice and chilled by lunchtime. Cookies and snack cakes. I buy large packages of chips, pretzels etc. and package them into small sized baggies. I do this all at once and then only need to grab a pack to throw into my lunch.

[CoryWM]

Wow awesome, I hadnt really thought about the thrmos idea, and the hotdog thing... great idea.

[momof1in150]

My DH takes a lot of leftovers. He uses a reusable tupperware container that he reheats in the microwave at work.

My DS11 uses a Thermos for school to take hot items to school.

[lieweheksie]

Ok without a microwave...
If you'll be keeping lunch in the car what about a small cooler bag- I fond non assembeld sandwhiches to be the best- keep everything seperate and put together before eating to avoid soggy sarmy syndrome
drinks are the most expensive so if you keep those with you that should save a bit

[CoryWM]

I was thinking this mornign of doing an actual price analysis.

Fast food VS lunch brought from home.

Either way, I bring my drinks from home.

Drink: 25-35 cents
2 Dollar menu Items
~$3.00

Heres the hard part. The only competitor I think for that cheap, would be sandwiches, and maybe a few things we havent mentioned yet. I'm not exactly sure they'd be cheaper.

Sandwiches:
Bread
Cheese
Meat
Lettuce
Mayo
Mustard

How to break that down on a per sandwich basis is almost impossible. Not to mention, there will be some waste. Even if i was to pack my lunch every day, there'd be mornings where I woke late, or was too lazy or tired of sandwiches.

Every article I've read, always says take your lunch to work, and you'll save tons of money. Leftovers I can see, cause you already have them. But buying stuff just for lunches, I think would end costing me more, than just eating out cheaply.

[tinapbeana]

Originally Posted by CoryWM

Every article I've read, always says take your lunch to work, and you'll save tons of money. Leftovers I can see, cause you already have them. But buying stuff just for lunches, I think would end costing me more, than just eating out cheaply.

remember, though, that these articles are geared more towards people who are currently spending $5-10 per day on lunch out versus $3 per day. personally, i don't find $3 per day that aggregious.

somethig i do as a compromise is buying a footlong sub or some other large sandwich out for lunch one day and eat half today, half tomorrow. that works out to be close to the $3 per day price point, and i wind up eating more 'expensive' meats, cheeses, and veggies than i could buy and make on a sandwich myself.

[lieweheksie]

work out a cost per meal that you are happy with - and then see how you can get that even lower
You mentioned spending about $3 a day- make that your per meal cost- drinks included and doesn't matter if it's take out/ leftovers/ sandwiches- it's waht you spend that counts not where you shop
then see if you can get that cost per day even lower- $3 a day is $ 15 a week- assuming you dont work weekends
maybe a weeks budget as opposed to a daily budget might help as well- spend only $12 a week and that's $12 saved by the end of the month

[oldbones929]

Pasta salads are always good and can be made in a variety of ways.

Jennifer