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One of my new years resolutions is to take packed lunch every day to work instead of paying around £4 a day for sandwiches and drink, that should save a bit of money.

I want to experiment with cold rice and pasts dishes, apart from vinagrette dressing, or plain mayo, what sort of suce or dressing can i use, also what else can i put in the lunch?

I've been doing this for years, LP. If you have access to a microwave at lunchtime, just cook a little extra at suppertime, then take the leftovers to work for lunch.

I've been doing this also for the last 6 months or so, I bring salad in a bag, I'm able to put in fridge along with my dressing and other stuff I like to put in my salad, I have a bowl in the office I re-use and wash out after every use. It works great.

I also bring a loaf of bread, lunch meats and keep mayo or dressing of my choice in fridge....its amazing the money that is saved doing this...along with the $5.00 a day I'm saving from not smoking for a year come Wednesday!!:yh_dance:yh_dance:yh_dance

Good for you Lemon, I know you can do it!!:):)

Piece of fruit, some yogurt, a little of whatever is in the house. I never eat cafeteria food.................

As the microwave is in the canteen which is an age away from my office, I take cold rice such as uncle bens egg fried rice cook it (2 mins) in the morning and put it in my container, sometimes I add chopped ham or chicken. Cous Cous is also nice cold as is tuna, sweetcorn and pasta with cherry tomatoes. I have bought a food flask and have been making my own chunky soups to take. One panful can do 3-4 days if hubby keeps his mitts off:sneaky:...The packets of mug shots and pasta shots are good too, just add hot water, 4 for a pound in Asda..I love the sweet n sour flavour but its quite spicy..Ryvitas and phili cheese is also easy to take to work with cherry toms etc..

I prefer taking my own food..

Oh, hubby likes the goodies in your lunch!

My problem is, I put my lunch in the little 'fridge in the classroom, sneaky kids might peak in there while I'm on hall duty. I don't want it to be too appetizing to any of them-I always pack rice cakes, that seems to do the trick. They really don't like them. :wah:

if you like balsamic vinegar Lemon id recommend you buy a bottle and use that, it has a good shelf life so you can keep it in your drawer(s) heh heh and it goes with anything.

Blending equal parts fat free or low fat mayonnaise with drained non-fat yogurt is a terrific way to make a creamy yet low fat dressing for potato salad, pasta salad and sandwiches. Gussy it up with herbs and spices to suit your taste. I like to add a little lime juice and cumin for a southwestern kick, or some curry powder for a taste of India. You can chop any veg or salad veg to throw in.

Thank you everyone, especially you chezzie, some nice ideas there i will try.

I wont have access to microwave or cooker, so i was wondering whether i could make some beef or chicken casserole and take it in a flask?but would this keep it piping hot?I would not want to eat lukewarm casserole, plus it might be a danger for foodpoising at a warm temperature.That would be nice in winter weather.

i didnt know you could get shop bought egg rice, i will have to try it.

lemon_and_mint;751041 wrote: Thank you everyone, especially you chezzie, some nice ideas there i will try.

I wont have access to microwave or cooker, so i was wondering whether i could make some beef or chicken casserole and take it in a flask?but would this keep it piping hot?I would not want to eat lukewarm casserole, plus it might be a danger for foodpoising at a warm temperature.That would be nice in winter weather.


I heat my soup up quite hot, in the microwave and also put hot water in my food flask and let it stand for 30-40 secs before i put the soup in and my soups always piping hot. Usually prepare it around 7-30am to eat for 12 or 1pm.

Chezzie;751043 wrote: I heat my soup up quite hot, in the microwave and also put hot water in my food flask and let it stand for 30-40 secs before i put the soup in and my soups always piping hot. Usually prepare it around 7-30am to eat for 12 or 1pm.


aahh right heat the flask with hot water first - tricks of the trade.......thanks i will try it.

lemon_and_mint;751046 wrote: aahh right heat the flask with hot water first - tricks of the trade.......thanks i will try it.


you will be amazed how much difference it makes, put the screw lid on too, can leave it up to a minute which if your like me and running round in the morning, that minute could be used elsewhere lol

What ?? no access to a Microwave I would protest that should be an given in any companies lunch room. :-5 Your food should stay hot in a Thermos(Flask) is what you call them for at least 4 hours. To keep things cold get a lunch box with those removal colds pack and just freeze them overnight.

CARLA;751081 wrote: What ?? no access to a Microwave I would protest that should be an given in any companies lunch room. :-5 Your food should stay hot in a Thermos(Flask) is what you call them for at least 4 hours. To keep things cold get a lunch box with those removal colds pack and just freeze them overnight.


no its that i am out of the office most of the time, on the road, or at other buildings.

If it wasn't for hubby, I would be buying lunch everyday or starving. I cannot bear to look at making sandwiches in the a.m. Hubby makes my lunch, along with his. If there are left overs from the night before, I usually have that all made up and ready to go in the a.m. Buying lunch can get really expensive, and for the most times, its not all that great of a choice (at least in the area I work in)

I usually like small cans of fruit to take also, or sometimes the small jello puddings also help diversify the humdrum of just sandwiches.

Moonpie, have you ever heard of bento? It's lunch in a box...Japanese.

Look here for starters: http://ss-biggie.livejournal.com/

Google "bento box" for more sites. It can be fancy food or simple, however you desire to make it. You can buy a fancy bento box or just use a simple Tupperware container. I'm going to be doing this this year just because it looks fun.

RedGlitter;751123 wrote: Moonpie, have you ever heard of bento? It's lunch in a box...Japanese.

Look here for starters: http://ss-biggie.livejournal.com/

Google "bento box" for more sites. It can be fancy food or simple, however you desire to make it. You can buy a fancy bento box or just use a simple Tupperware container. I'm going to be doing this this year just because it looks fun.


that does look appetising, yes,happy new year, red.

Did someone mention lunch box :yh_whistl

ThePheasant;751133 wrote: Did someone mention lunch box :yh_whistl


britains famous

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Or you could do like I do hang around the lunch room eating crackers looking hungry. Soon you will have 1/2 of everyone's lunch in the room, works everytime.

Actually I have a cute young women who has taken pitty on me and cooks me a hot meal every day. For some reason she thinks I need feeding (NOT). I love her for it she is so cute. Even when she isn't going to be in the office all day she leaves me a lunch in the refrigrator with instruction on how to prepare it. I guess you would say I now have my own personal cook. :-4

CARLA;751135 wrote: Or you could do like I do hang around the lunch room eating crackers looking hungry. Soon you will have 1/2 of everyone's lunch in the room, works everytime.

Actually I have a cute young women who has taken pitty on me and cooks me a hot meal every day. For some reason she thinks I need feeding (NOT). I love her for it she is so cute. Even when she isn't going to be in the office all day she leaves me a lunch in the refrigrator with instruction on how to prepare it. I guess you would say I now have my own personal cook. :-4


awww ya worth it Carla, shes showing her appreciation:)

CARLA;751135 wrote: Or you could do like I do hang around the lunch room eating crackers looking hungry. Soon you will have 1/2 of everyone's lunch in the room, works everytime.

Actually I have a cute young women who has taken pitty on me and cooks me a hot meal every day. For some reason she thinks I need feeding (NOT). I love her for it she is so cute. Even when she isn't going to be in the office all day she leaves me a lunch in the refrigrator with instruction on how to prepare it. I guess you would say I now have my own personal cook. :-4


i could try hanging round motorway service stations looking hungry, but i dont think that will work so well.

:wah: L&M I don't think you will get many food offers, you might get another kinda of offer..

[QUOTE]i could try hanging round motorway service stations looking hungry, but i dont think that will work so well.[/QUOTE]

RedGlitter;751123 wrote: Moonpie, have you ever heard of bento? It's lunch in a box...Japanese.

Look here for starters: http://ss-biggie.livejournal.com/

Google "bento box" for more sites. It can be fancy food or simple, however you desire to make it. You can buy a fancy bento box or just use a simple Tupperware container. I'm going to be doing this this year just because it looks fun.


Hi Red, I don't think I could get Hubby to be that creative. You know - new tricks, old dogs, etc. Thanks anyways.

Vary sandwiches with different breads like pita ar tortilla wraps. Cheese and crackers is quick as a snack. Add black olives to tuna to uhhh you know jazz it up. Ready to eat pudding. Get a thermos for hot soup, it should keep warm.

Try different lunch meats w/ a variety of cheeses.

Hey, I'd like Nomad to make MY lunch every day!

The only time I eat in the school cafeteria is when they have frito pie made with red chili............this is my most favorite school food. As for the rest of the lunches - it is what everyone else has said. There is nothing like some healthy snack or last night's leftovers.