I’m looking for easy and cheap options for lunches on weekdays. I mostly eat deli sandwiches and hot dogs right now and I always feel like shit after eating them. I think I need something healthier but I don’t have time over my lunch hour to cook anything too fancy. What do you all do for reliable healthy easy lunches?
If you’re feeling shit after sandwiches and hot dogs, presumably in bread rolls, you could be gluten intolerant.
IANAD.
Or you could be having too large of a meal!
this is what i struggle with.
I make big batches of lentil or chickpea curry, freeze half, eat the unfrozen during the week, then next week do a different recipe, freeze half, eat the unfrozen half, then thaw the first variety I made, and so on, so I have a constant flow of frozen and different curries.
You can also just thaw one if you can’t be assed to cook that week, too.
To make em into a lunch, I usually make rice and a coleslaw or other quick prep veg so you get some nutritional variety up in that batch
If I’m at home, udon noodle soup: just vegetable stock cube in a pot of water, boil it, chuck the noodles in, chuck in whatever you want to put in the soup (I just chop up tofu and one vegetable of my choice), boil for a few mins, and it’s done. Put Laoganma on to serve. Obviously use whatever other noodles you prefer if you have a preference other than udon. Takes like 15 mins total and it’s so simple for something that’s an actual full meal. I don’t take it with me when I’m on the go though, as it’s hard to carry a bowl of noodle soup with you.
For something you can take with you on the go, I’ve been making this vegan smoked tofu carbonara recipe lately. You’ll still need a microwave to heat it up once it’s lunchtime, unless you want to eat cold spaghetti for lunch, but it’s really tasty, especially the tofu.
Udon broth is also available premade and is very quick and easy to make from scratch.
I make a chickpea/garbanzo bean spread:
(1) 15oz can of chickpeas, drained and rinsed (I also take the skins off but that’s optional) (1) tbsp of Nutritional yeast (.5) tsp garlic powder (.5) tsp onion powder (.5) tsp salt (1) tbsp lemon juice (.5) tbsp dijon mustard (.5) cup of mayo (any mayo works)
Optional: 1 nori sheet (seaweed adds a fishy flavor)
Instructions: smash everything together with a fork in a bowl until mixed or use a food processor/blender to puree, it should have the consistency of a cheese spread or dip. Serve on anything and keep refrigerated for up to 5 days
I was about to comment this one. Its one of my fav lunches cause its so easy to make. The name I have for it though is ‘chickpea of the sea’ because its similar to tuna. My recipe is similar except I like to add onion and pickles to mine. Also I usually use some Old Bay seasoning instead of salt.
Damn I’m gonna try the old bay next time! Thanks
I cook large batches of stew every now and then, freeze in 2 or 3 portion packages. Then each sunday I prep some carbs, defrost and pasteurize stew and put it all together. Boom! Lunches ready to go into the work microwaves.
If I’ve had a cooked dinner the night before I’ll have that for lunch the next day.
My partner and I have done meal prep on weekends in the past as well. That can work well if you have the space to keep food frozen for a week or two.
This right here. Because I suck at cooking I usually get 2-3 HelloFresh or other meal prep kits with recipes, then eat on them for dinner that night and lunch the next day. Pretty healthy to boot.
Usually a protein, veg, and rice. Could be chicken, or chickpeas, with beans and rice, perhaps. Just that rice bowl variation.
My dirty dirty secret: I get lunch at a McDonald’s near the office where I work once or twice a week. Double quarter pounder with cheese.
I love that and I’m not ashamed to say that. 😅
I have lunch at Burger King almost every Wednesday, also because it’s next to work. Double whopper for me.
The other days I eat more healthy though… But usually indian, Thai food or sushi every week once or twice.
Leftovers or salami+cheese+almonds. It’s yummy, satisfying, and can survive a few hours out of the fridge.
I’ve been drinking a Soylent shake for lunch at work for probably two years now. It’s very convenient, nutritious, and you can have it at room temp or chilled. If you buy it by the case, that amounts to a cheap and healthy lunch. Yes, I find it quite filling.
Edit: Also it comes in different flavors. The ones I remember are strawberry (my favorite), vanilla, chocolate, banana, and mint chocolate. They also have high-protein and caffeinated varieties.
Another edit to clarify my own experience: I’ve been drinking the shakes for lunch for about 2 years but I’ve been enjoying Soylent for longer than that. I’ve included a scoop of the powder in my breakfast for the past 10 years. My doctor is quite happy with my health and my last blood work results (June '23). I only share this because someone has a problem with my suggestion of Soylent and claims it’s not good for you. So there is my own experience, for what it’s worth. YMMV.
Not really that cheap, but when I have the household to myself during WFH, a typical lunch consists of a wedge of blue cheese with some added apricot marmelade. I can finally stink up the house with my eclectic taste without anyone complaining.
Cup of noodles is easy and light
OP said they want to eat a little healthier, not a little less healthily.
We don’t spend 16 hours in the fields anymore, a cup of noodles is fine
Missing the point.
I make a week of lunches all at once. I have 12 hour shifts so it’s kinda breakfast and lunch that I snack on through the day. I get everything from Aldi so it’s pretty cheap too.
Baby carrots, honeycrisp apple, light string cheese, yogurt, and a sandwich containing lunch meat and cheese and mayo. Recently, I started fridge pickling jalapeños for my sandwiches too, and that was the right call. I have this pretty much every day. I was broke af when I was younger, so eating the same thing every day vs maybe not getting to eat… I learned to really appreciate getting consistent meals even if it’s not something different very often. It’s not for everybody and I understand if this doesn’t sound remotely appealing to you lol.
Microwave basmati rice and Trader Joe’s microwave yellow tadka dal. Addicted to it right now. Sometimes I’ll slice up half a beef sausage or Polska kielbasa, fry that in a pan for a couple minutes and throw it on top along with some sriracha sauce.
Cook rice in rice cooker with two eggs, when it’s done I peel eggs and chop up some carrot/cucumber and eat it with Sriracha mayo. Impossible burger on a bun with Sriracha mayo and cucumber and corn chips on the side. Left overs, which are usually pretty good. Sometimes cheese pizza rolls.
