Office Lunch Ideas? (Sick of sandwiches)

[Koinek]

I eat sandwiches at lunch because they're cheap, healthy, quick to make (10-15 mins) and I can eat at my desk. But I need something new. The only caveat is that I need it to fit the same 4 qualities prescribed above.

Anyone have suggestions?

 

[Jadzia]

do you have hot water available at your desk?

consider:

• cup'a'soup
• instant mashed potato
• gravy

 

[John Picard]

I always bring leftovers from dinner. Steak and veggies, soups, stews, pasta salads, etc.

 

[Spot's Meow]

I have had some trouble with this too, especially since my schedule changed so that now I am gone all day, 6 am to 10 pm. Figuring out lunch and dinner and doing it cheaply is difficult.

Something I really enjoy are these (and the other flavors they have), though they aren't really the cheapest. They are great because they don't need to be refrigerated (that's a big concern for me). I also buy microwaveable soups and Easy Macs, that sort of thing.

What I've started to do lately is go to Costco and buy large quantities of snack packs (cheetos, chips, Ritz Bits, etc.) to snack on during the day instead of a larger one time meal. I also bought a big package of muffins and croissants from Costco and eat those (I put Nutella on the croissants). And I just bought this huge "Oriental Salad" kit from Costco that comes with all of the ingredients except lettuce. So I'm going to add the lettuce and then split it up into batches to take into work.

But honestly, I've had a hard time finding good solutions too. I have zero time to prepare a lunch in the morning so I usually end up just grabbing some random crap that I don't even really like. So often I get really hungry at work and then eat a huge meal when I get home. It reminds me of high school, when I used to have the same problem...no good solution for lunches.

 

[Zulu Romeo]

A very common solution I've seen among my work colleagues involves fresh salad (greens, some cherry tomatoes, a few pepper slices), a small drop of olive oil, and whatever youlike to garnish with it (pasta, rice, cubes of the meat of your choice, etc.). Made up in about 10-15 mins, keep it in a suitable container in the fridge overnight, then remove in the morning and take with you. (If only I was that organised... I end up buying the damn things instead. )

 

[Plecostomus]

Make an enormous dinner pack the leftovers.

 

[Lindley]

There's a small deli at my office that has pretty good homemade turkey noodle soup most days. I often get some of that.

 

[Jadzia]

I've never been fond of carting liquid food around, like soups. I just don't enjoy unpacking it and preparing it. I either make soup at the time (instant stuff), or I have something solid (like sandwiches).

Breakfast cereal can be nice sometimes too. Also, I find it handy to keep a couple of jars in my desk, like one of peanut butter and one of jam, and can make what I want, and as much as I want. I just take/buy a loaf of bread.

Something similar can be done with crackers.

 

[Sledder]

Make an enormous dinner pack the leftovers.

This is what I do too, every day for lunch is leftovers from a previous dinner.

 

[Koinek]

Yea, I have access to a microwave downstairs but prefer not to use it. I guess I could get a hotpot too but it's just a pain. I'd rather just pick something up and eat immediately than waiting to prepare the stuff. I might switch to salads. Let's see. But that does require purchasing garnishes and such.

 

[Barbados Slim]

You can make a chicken, shrimp, vegetable or beef stir fry at home the night before. You can use stir fry or teryaki sauce and rice. Sometimes I've used ramen noodles but don't anymore because brown rice is healthier. It's quick to make, like less than 20 minutes. You put it in a tupperware bowl and reheat it at work.

 

[1001001]

Lately I've been having Campbell's Soup at Hand (Tomato Parmesan Bisque) with cheese and crackers.

 

[backstept]

I usually have those ramen instant lunch noodle cup things . . . the office coffeemaker has a hot water spout on it, it's perfect
I also take a small bag of chips and/or a granola bar

 

[Plecostomus]

I had this old Italian lady who was always bringing me lunch for awhile, you know the "You too skinny you eat more, no no eat MORE I said you no like you try this then hush up now and eat" type. Seriously, I thought that was just an amusing stereotype but there are actually people like that.

Sadly she's part-time now and mostly evenings after I go home. Too bad.

 

[Finn]

I used to have granola (Kashi) bars and an apple when I was still working.

 

[Holdfast]

I eat sandwiches at lunch because they're cheap, healthy, quick to make (10-15 mins) and I can eat at my desk. But I need something new. The only caveat is that I need it to fit the same 4 qualities prescribed above.

Anyone have suggestions?

Order in/go buy some sushi.

What with the wasabi and soy and chopsticks, you even get to play with your food. What better working lunch?

 

[kimc]

I always bring leftovers from dinner. Steak and veggies, soups, stews, pasta salads, etc.

I also do the leftover thing. To me it's just easier to grab some leftover from the fridge rather than try to figure something else out.

Besides, eating a nice piece of salmon and a baby romaine salad is more appealing to me than the Tuesday special at Taco Bell.

 

[nx1701g]

The secretary in my office always brings along one of those ready made TV Dinner things for lunch.

 

[iguana_tonante]

A very common solution I've seen among my work colleagues involves fresh salad (greens, some cherry tomatoes, a few pepper slices), a small drop of olive oil, and whatever youlike to garnish with it (pasta, rice, cubes of the meat of your choice, etc.). Made up in about 10-15 mins, keep it in a suitable container in the fridge overnight, then remove in the morning and take with you. (If only I was that organised... I end up buying the damn things instead. )

Yeah, it's usually a great idea. I'm a great fan of big salads, they are healthy, tasty and you don't fall asleep at the desk trying to digest them. You can vary your recipe from day to day: you can add carrots, onions, olives, tuna, various cheese (fontina, mozzarella, parmigiano, feta, etc), ham, wurstels, the combinations are endless. Your health will thank you.

 

[Cali]

I'm lucky to work in a town with two bakeries, two coffee shops, a small M&S Food as well as several chip shop/take away places, a McDonald's and two supermarkets. Lunch choices are varied (although usually we just go to the nearest place at the moment because it is COLD).