LUNCH When you trying to save

"Shamoononon drives like a farmer" (shamoononon) 04/08/2019 at 14:01 • Filed to: None

0

34

I am super busy, don’t really have the time to meal prep but bring in leftover dinner when I can. I bought a bunch of frozen meals at about 2$ each.  I’ve got to say, this one is pretty good!  Any other good frozens?  What’s for lunch? 

HammerheadFistpunch > Shamoononon drives like a farmer 04/08/2019 at 14:04

1

all frozen meals taste great when you’re really hungry.  That being said I’ve had a lot of luck with the Costco chicken ramen meals.  They were very good.

Chariotoflove > Shamoononon drives like a farmer 04/08/2019 at 14:11

1

I stock up on Lean Cuisines when they get $2. My store brand meals are also surprisingly good (Signature Kitchens).  I keep some sriracha to spice them up a bit. That’s what I do for work lunches 90% of the days.

wafflesnfalafel > Shamoononon drives like a farmer 04/08/2019 at 14:12

1

I usually do the soup option - pick them up on sale... I also like tins of sardines, but understand that might not be everybody’s favorite lunch...

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > Shamoononon drives like a farmer 04/08/2019 at 14:12

0

I stock up on those fronterra one-skillet meals when they’re on sale. I can get 2 dinners or three lunches out of one package for 6$. Even more if I add some rice on the side or add in some extra frozen veggies or meat. No prep, just heat pan, add contents, and then portion out for the week. Way better than the pre-made frozen meals IMO.

KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time > Shamoononon drives like a farmer 04/08/2019 at 14:15

7

Any combination of rice (it takes minutes in a rice cooker), eggs (You can get ready made hard boiled eggs), steamed veggies with some sauce is cheap and healthier than frozen meals. Or make a simple Burrito with ingredients stored in bulk in the office fridge- Tortillas, salsa, black beans your choice of protein,cheese

https://www.thesimpledollar.com/20-favorite-dirt-cheap-meals/

If you’re feeling adventerous with eggs try this. it’s a breakfast food but I have had it as lunch

https://www.seriouseats.com/2016/04/tamago-kake-gohan-japanese-egg-rice-tkg.html

farscythe - makin da cawfee! > Shamoononon drives like a farmer 04/08/2019 at 14:15

0

had chinese takeaway last night... had leftover chinese takeway today

was good both times

farscythe - makin da cawfee! > wafflesnfalafel 04/08/2019 at 14:27

0

i consider tins of shredded tuna in oil a snack item

missus still gives me side eye for that

oh well *noms from the tin*

Future Heap Owner > Shamoononon drives like a farmer 04/08/2019 at 14:27

3

I’ve been eating a lot of Amy’s black bean burritos and samosa wraps for lunch recently.

As a vegan, I don’t have many options.

ttyymmnn > farscythe - makin da cawfee! 04/08/2019 at 14:29

1

You could do worse. I can of shredded  chicken is pretty good too.

TheRealBicycleBuck > Shamoononon drives like a farmer 04/08/2019 at 14:29

2

I knew a guy who ate a peanut butter and jelly sandwich every day for lunch. When I asked him about it, he told me about a guy who ate a plain bowl of white rice every day for lunch. When he asked about it, that guy’s reply was, “if it’s good enough for a billion people in China, it’s good enough for me.” He then told me that peanut butter tastes better than plain white rice.

To each his own, I guess. 

415s30 W123TSXWaggoIIIIIIo ( •_•))°) > Shamoononon drives like a farmer 04/08/2019 at 14:32

0

But they all have insane sodium levels, even the Amy’s low sodium burrito version. Better drink tons of water. I’d buy ingredients , like KingT says

farscythe - makin da cawfee! > ttyymmnn 04/08/2019 at 14:35

1

havent tried that one yet

canned ravioli used to be my go to...cold

but yeah... that was a bridge too far for the missus :p

ZHP Sparky, the 5th > Future Heap Owner 04/08/2019 at 14:35

1

Those things are awesome. My wife stock piled a bunch for after baby being born, but turned out baby had some food intolerances resulting in wife being on a SUPER restricted diet...so I happily ate all those things. Surprisingly good for something frozen and relatively healthy. 

ZHP Sparky, the 5th > TheRealBicycleBuck 04/08/2019 at 14:37

2

I see you know Kevin from my office with his daily PB&Js.

ZHP Sparky, the 5th > Shamoononon drives like a farmer 04/08/2019 at 14:39

1

I stocked up on a whole bunch of frozen Korean chicken & rice bowls last time I was at Costco. Comes to around $2 each, and tastes way better than the crap they serve at the café downstairs.

Also tried some frozen carnitas tacos (not to bring to work for lunch, too much work) and some chicken pad thai from costco - all were delicious, cheap, and surprisingly void of weird ingredients.

BeaterGT > Future Heap Owner 04/08/2019 at 14:53

1

Amy’s aka crack

SPAMBot - Horse Doctor > Future Heap Owner 04/08/2019 at 15:05

1

I occasionally hit PB&J pretty hard. I try to make it healthier by slicing up fresh fruit to use in place of jelly. Apples work great, as do berries and bananas. Then do hummus with whatever veggie is on sale that week. Cheap, has some nutrition, and pretty easy. It’s also one of the few lunches that I don’t get burned out on. There are few other meatless meals that hit all those requirements lol

Eric @ opposite-lock.com > Shamoononon drives like a farmer 04/08/2019 at 15:12

3

Trader Joe’s carries a bunch of exceptionally tasty frozen meals. I usually grab some frozen Indian meals (all but one I’ve tried were made by the company that brands theirs Tandoor Chef, they’re just not marked halal ) and some frozen naan (which i s totally possible to heat in the microwave, contrary to the instructions ). They also sell vegan enchiladas that are made by Amy’s that are delicious, just not quite as ... organic?

They are more than $2 each, though. That’s dirty cheap. Couldn’t say how much is local pricing, though (my TJ’s  is in a pricey area).

Snuze: Needs another Swede > TheRealBicycleBuck 04/08/2019 at 15:18

0

I used to work with a guy who ate 2 bologna sandwiched every day, one for breakfast and one for lunch. Just meat o n white bread with yellow mustard. He lived with his mom and she made dinner every night, and it was always something simple like baked chicken, pork chops, meatloaf, and always with potatoes and a roasted or steamed vegetable. Every once in a while they would be “adventu rous” and have italian (i.e. spaghetti with sauce from a jar and frozen meatballs ).

He also smoked a pack of cigarettes everyday and drank 6-12 beers every night. I think he made it to 60.

Snuze: Needs another Swede > Shamoononon drives like a farmer 04/08/2019 at 15:19

0

Left overs from Saturday night. We had some family over and I smoked tri-tips on the grill, roasted squash and zuchinni with onions/spices/olive oil in the oven , and made garlic & parmesean mashed redskin potatos in the instant pot.

ranwhenparked > wafflesnfalafel 04/08/2019 at 15:36

0

I used to do sardine sandwiches with mustard and onion, but coworkers did not appreciate the smell. 

TheRealBicycleBuck > Snuze: Needs another Swede 04/08/2019 at 15:39

0

When times were lean, I ate bologna sandwiches or pb&js for lunch. Occasionally I  would splurge and get some olive loaf. My wife does most of the cooking and though it may be simple fare at times, it’s always tasty. 

Snuze: Needs another Swede > TheRealBicycleBuck 04/08/2019 at 15:47

1

Nothing wrong with bologna sandwiches, I certainly enjoy one from time to time.  But I couldn’t imagine eating 1 for breakfast and 1 for lunch every day of my life.  

Eric @ opposite-lock.com > KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time 04/08/2019 at 16:35

0

Quite a few of those recipes on thesimpledollar were horrifying. Is this for people with no taste buds in addition to no money?

WiscoProud > Shamoononon drives like a farmer 04/08/2019 at 17:05

1

I know its not answering your question, but i’ll typically hit up my local grocery store’s salad bar at lunch. I can get a big salad and cup of soup for around 5 bucks. Otherwise, I’ll just bring in a lunchmeat sandwich. Even with good ingredients from the deli, its still only a couple of bucks a day. 

KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time > Eric @ opposite-lock.com 04/08/2019 at 17:17

0

Cheap, F ast, T asty- Choose 2

Eric @ opposite-lock.com > KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time 04/08/2019 at 17:19

0

They could add a couple spices to a handful of these and make them not quite as horrifying...

KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time > Eric @ opposite-lock.com 04/08/2019 at 17:21

0

I think that’s implied. Plus everyone can customize these to their liking.

Tristan > HammerheadFistpunch 04/08/2019 at 17:45

0

Those are tasty, but I can't bring myself to eat them after looking at the sodium content.

Spamfeller Loves Nazi Clicks > Shamoononon drives like a farmer 04/08/2019 at 18:56

1

Go to local grocery store.

Go to frozen foods section.

Find “El Monterey.”

$4 for an 8 pack of burritos. FOUR BUCKS. And they’re actually pretty damn good  too! And better still, they come in more than 3 varieties (including breakfast burritos and chimichangas.) I eat SO MANY of these.

fhrblig > Chariotoflove 04/08/2019 at 19:01

1

Lean Cuisines are all mostly good. There are some really good regular Stouffer’s meals too  like the baked chicken and their Chicken a la King.

Chariotoflove > fhrblig 04/08/2019 at 19:06

0

If you do it lo ng enough, you get a feel for which to pick and which to avoid. For example, I don’t get the chicken parm or the spaghetti.

fhrblig > Chariotoflove 04/08/2019 at 19:21

1

I like the regular Stouffer’s spaghetti better than the Lean Cuisine for sure. Chicken p arm always ends up gross in a frozen meal.

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > Shamoononon drives like a farmer 04/10/2019 at 17:01

0

I do a beans and rice lunch most days with half a can of refried beans, some whole short-grained rice, some broccoli and some sausage. And hot peppers and three types of hot sauce. It’s yummy. I make the rice once per week.

That stuff you’re eating, well...