any good ideas for what to bring as a packed lunch to work?

Question

something cheap, easy to make and that i dont have to cook once i get to work...im sooo sick of having to eat out all the time, its too expensive, and unfortunately at my work we dont have a canteen.
thanks ;-)

oh and i forgot to add healthy

Answer 1

Do you have microwave in you office?

I would suggest you to bring salad / sandwiches / soup / meat pie & fruits (apple, orange, banana) for lunch. Here are some easy & simple recipes.

<<<< Chicken, Avocado & Cream Cheese Sandwich >>>> serves 1

1/4 cup (40g) coarsely chopped cooked chicken
1/4 small avocado (50g), chopped coarsely
1 teaspoon lemon juice
1 tablespoon spreadable cream cheese
2 slices multigrain bread
60g mesclun

1) Bring all ingredients to office, at lunchtime, combine chicken, avocado and juice in small bowl or plastic container
2) Spread cream cheese on 1 slice of bread; top with chicken mixture, mesclun and remaining bread.

<<<< Smoked trout Salad roll >>>>>> 1 roll

50g flaked smoked trout
1 tablespoon sour cream
1 tablespoon finely chopped cornichons
1 tablespoon finely choped fresh dill
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 wholemeal bread roll

1) At home, combine trout, sour cream, cornichons, dill an d lemon juice in small container.
2) At lunchtime, split roll in half horizontally; spread one half with trout mixtur. Top with remaining half of roll

<<<< Chicken Caesar Salad >>>>>>> Serves 4

3 bacon rashers (210g), rind removed, chopped coarsely
4 hard-boiled eggs, quartered
2 cups (320g) coarsely shredded cooked chicken
700g cos lettuce, sliced thickly
1/2 cup (125ml) caesar salad dressing
1/2 cup (40g) shaved parmesan cheese

1) At home, cook bacon in heated small non-stick frying pan until crisp; drain on absorbent paper. Place bacon in large bowl with egg, chicken and lettuce.
2) At lunchtime, add dressing and cheese to salad; toss gently to combine. (serve with bread sticks)

<<<< Chicken & Peach Salad >>>>>>> Serves 1

1/2 cup (80g) shredded barbecued chicken
1 1/2 cups shredded chinese cabbage (or your choice of green)
1/4 cup shredded fresh mint leaves
1 small peach (115g)
2 tablespoons lime juice
1 teaspoon olive oil

1) At home, combine chicken, cabbage and mint in medium bowl.
2) At lunch time, peel peach and cut into wedges; add to chicken mixture. Combine juice and oil; toss dressing through salad

<<<<< Bon Bon Chicken >>>>>> Serves 2
(a Szechuan chicken salad with rice thick noodle or bean thread sheets)

100g thick rice noodle or bean thread sheets
200g cooked chicken, shredded
1/2 cumcumber, sliced

Salad dressing
1 tablespoon sesame oil
1 teaspoon of fresh garlic (chopped finely)
1 teaspoon chili oil (optional)
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1 tablespoon rice vinegar
1 teaspoon sugar
2 tablespoons sesame paste (or peanut butter)

1) At home, boil rice noodle or bean thread sheets according to the instruction of the package, drain well, let cool and put into a container top with cumcumber slices. Mix all dressing with chicken well and put into another container.
2) At lunch time, pour chicken mixture on rice noodle or bean thread. (You may add more sesame paste to thicken the dressing)

<<<< Minestrone >>>>> Serves 4

1 tablespoon olive oil
1 small brown onion (80g), chopped finely
1 clove garlic, crushed
2 bacon rashers (140g), rind removed, chopped finely
1 trimmed celery stalk (100g), grated coarsely
2 medium carrots (240g), grated coarsely
400g can chopped tomatoes
2 c ups (500ml) beef stock
1 litre (4 cups) water
1/2 cup (65g) short pasta
2 medium zucchini (240g), grated coarsely
300g can white beans, rinsed, drained
1/3 cup shredded fresh basil

1) At home, aday ahead, heat oil in large saucepan; cook onion, garlic, bacon and celery, stir frying about 5 minutes or until vegetables just soften.
2) Add carrot, undrained tomato, stock, water and pasta; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, cover for about 5 minutes or until pasta is just tender. Stir in zucchini and beans; remove from heat, cool then refrigerate.
3) At lunchtime, place soup in medium microwave-safe bowl; cook, uncovered, on high in microwave oven about 2 minutes or until hot. Stir in basil. Serve with toast or bread sticks.

<<<<< Pumpkin Soup >>>>> Serves 4

20g butter
1 medium onion (150g), chopped finely
2 bacon rashers (140g), rind removed, chopped finely
750g piece butternut pumpkin, peeled, seeded, chopped
375ml (3.5 cup) chicken stock (see below home-made recipe)
1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped finely (garnish)

1) At home, a day ahead, melt butter in large saucepan, add onion and bacon, stir frying until onion is soft.
2) Boil sock in a pot over medium heat, add pumpkin, bring to boil, reduce heat to low, simmer for 30 minutes (uncovered) or until pumpkin is soft.
3) Cool pumpkin mixture before blending or processing in batches until smooth. (Keep soup in refrigerator) or return soup to pot, bring to boil and serve hot with parsley as garnish.
4) In the morning at home, pack soup in Microwave-safe bowl and re-heat the soup, sprinkle parsley before serving.
(In winter when you want to eat more, you may consume this pumpkin soup with sandwich)

<<<<<<< Home-made Chicken Stock >>>>>>
(you can keep this stock in the freezer for months)

1 Whole chicken, 2.5 lb up
500g pork / spare ribs or bones
300g bean sprouts
1 carrot, cut into big cubes
2 big slices of fresh ginger
salt
2.5 liter of water

1) Clean the chicken, trim excess fat, cut into big pieces (4 halves)
2) Put chicken in a big pot of boiling water to boil for 2 minutes, remove and put under running tap water for 3 - 5 minutes to clean the blood.
3) Heat 2.5 liter water in a big pot over medium heat, put all the ingredients into the boiling water, boil for 15 mins, reduce heat to low, simmer for 2.5 hours, separate soup from vegetables & meat, remove fat that floating on the surface (the stock can be stored in refrigerator for around 4 days)
4) Add salt to taste.

Answer 2

Ok, if you don't mind leftovers, it would be a good idea to pack some leftover chicken or something.
If you'd rather not eat leftovers, some good choices would be --
Sandwhich
Wrap
Chicken salad
Tuna salad

Then you need a fruit and/or a vegetable.
Sliced cucumber
apple
orange
rasberries
blueberries
raw broccoli

If you want, you can add a small slice of whole wheat bread or something.
Another good thing to put in your lunch is a bottle of organic fruit juice or an organic yogurt smoothie.

Example --
Roast beef and lettuce on whole wheat bread
3/4 cup blueberries
Cucumber spears
Organic yogurt smoothie

Hope this helps!

Answer 3

pasta salad. only takes about 15 mins to cook pasta, let it cool and put whatever you like in it, like sweet corn, pine nuts, anything.

bagles are always good.

you could take tibbits, like a bread roll, some nice cheese, a tomato, and whatever else you like, then you can eat what you want but you still have a bit of choice.

just make sure you eat something!!!!

Answer 4

A nice turkey or ham sandwich with some baked lays.

Answer 5

salad dip sandwich

Answer 6

some sandwiches....with cheese..and a big red apple :D