Lunchtime at Work - Eat out or Bring Your Own from Home? What's Your Story?

esq on 15/11/2016 - 13:55
Last edited 17/11/2016 - 01:03 by 1 other user

I considered making this a poll but thought nah, I'm asking this for details.

I myself am used to spending around $12 on food-court type meals each day.

I struggle to find healthier options now that I no longer work in the city. I have to admit I'm lazy, I've never been motivated enough to prepare at home or smash tuna cans though I bloody well should.

Edit: Looks like OzB generally likes to prepare their meals at home, and it's mainly sandwiches. Thanks for the details and anyone who hasn't, feel free to chime in.

I myself wouldn't change my habits to save money, but I am keen on hitting a low body fat percentage in the following months so may be forced to do bulk prepping, either that or get on Youfoodz (brisbanites know what I mean). I also don't have easy access to a fridge/microwave most of the time.

Food & Grocery

Comments

      • whitewatermelon on 17/11/2016 - 08:28

        When I first started, it took ages, but I reckon I'm a bit of a pro now.
        I grate quiche veggies in food processor, make that on weekend when I'm cooking dinner. Same with the soup. Easy to have a couple of meals cooking at same time.
        I make both bento boxes at the same time. The longest part is waiting for the eggs to cook.

    • Kevin07 on 17/11/2016 - 11:13
      +4

      haha my version of low carb high fat is KFC

      • Lukian on 17/11/2016 - 17:59

        KFC isn't low enough carbs for the diet everyone seems to like.
        You'd have to eat the chicken without batter, or limit yourself to two pieces :O

    • orly on 18/11/2016 - 20:51
      +1

      I'm pretty certain that 4 slices of low carb bread is far from being considered a "low carb diet"..

      • whitewatermelon on 19/11/2016 - 19:45

        Thanks for the concern, but 4 slices is only 8g of carbs (I get the expensive, super low carb bread for hubby). Given that his blood test results have improved, the doc isn't concerned about 4 slices of bread vs 2 slices.

        • orly on 19/11/2016 - 21:29

          I stand corrected. The "low carb" breads that I've seen in the supermarkets are still nearly 20g of carbs and you obviously are not suckered into such bogus claims.

        • whitewatermelon on 19/11/2016 - 21:56

          Yeah, I have to buy this from the health food shop, or order online, though I still buy "normal" bread for me and the kids (the lowest carb white bread I can find).

  • Godric on 16/11/2016 - 20:37

    I been buying lunch every day for past few years only last month have i cut that off and started bringing in lunch, except for Fridays.
    Figured an extra $200 savings a month could help lol

    • gimli on 16/11/2016 - 21:25
      +1

      Hollows

      • Godric on 17/11/2016 - 17:39

        Swolloh?

  • vip123 on 16/11/2016 - 20:51
    +3

    lucky for me, theres a buffet at work, which means i never have to worry about prepping for meals.
    Theres a range of hot food, a sandwhich bar, drink dispenser and an ice cream/yogurt machine!
    2 coffee's a day cost me $5 :)

    • PVA on 16/11/2016 - 20:58

      i guess a hospitality job at a hotel? son was the same and cost him $2. made up , in a way, for the crap pay.

    • esq on 17/11/2016 - 00:29

      You working at Crown mate?

  • vip123 on 16/11/2016 - 21:02

    casino

  • gimli on 16/11/2016 - 21:24
    +1

    Can of tuna, carrot, bread roll

    • CI on 17/11/2016 - 07:28

      Reminds me of uni days. Dat poverty life tho

      • gimli on 17/11/2016 - 21:50

        Not really poverty just time saving

        -other option would be tuna sandwich

        • CI on 17/11/2016 - 21:57

          I was referring to uni life

  • froggym on 16/11/2016 - 21:26
    +1

    I usually just buy some cold meat and a bun at coles on the way to work. It usually ends up about 3 to 4 dollars and I get variety by changing the meat each day.

  • Cheap Steve on 16/11/2016 - 22:03
    +8

    I've eaten the same meal at work every day for the last 10 years. Tinned tuna on brown rice with cherry tomatoes, avocado, walnuts and light soy sauce.

    Buy these ingredients from Aldi and leave in the fridge/pantry at work. Heat up the brown rice in the microwave for 1.5 minutes while I prep the other ingredients.

    Cheap, quick, healthy and delicious.

  • [Deactivated] on 16/11/2016 - 22:13

    I have the same struggles too!
    As a uni student, i'm easily spending $15-20 for lunch + coffee to keep me going through the day.
    Although some good cheap eats i found were

    • Coffee + Muffin at 7-Eleven = ~$3 is a great steal for a bite.
    • Frozen meals (Lean Cuisine/Weight Watchers)= ~$3-5 when on sale at coles/woolies.
    • Pork Rolls = $3-4 (if you ever have an asian bakery near you, that is one of the best options to get full)
    • esq on 17/11/2016 - 00:30
      +1

      Allow me to recommend:
      $5-6 breaky foot long at subway.
      $5.95 HJs super stunner

      Re pork rolls: do you mean banh mi? Where in syd are they $3-4?

      • woshinwb on 18/11/2016 - 20:12
        +1

        burwood rd opp meet fresh

    • anastasiastarz on 21/11/2016 - 05:17

      Muffins are $1.50 at Safeway QV after 6/8pm.

  • jeka1103 on 16/11/2016 - 22:21
    +1

    I bring from home, might buy once a week at most. My meals range from salad (works out to be about $4 a serve, can get 4 days out of the stuff I get), Woolworths soups from the deli (can usually get 4 of them for $12), a cup of microwave rice & frozen steamfresh veggies with some shredded chicken or other leftover meat ($1.25 per rice cup and the veggies on special are about $1 per packet), to 2 minute noodles, toasted cheese sandwhich or leftovers from the night before (usually pasta or stir fry).

    I'm all for the lazy options, the Woolies soup and rice cup + veg are my favourites because all you have to do is microwave them, plus there's no washing up of lunchboxes, its all self contained (the rice + veg you'll need to mix together in a bowl or something, I just use the bowls at work and then chuck them into the dishwasher when I'm done).

    • twoface41face on 16/11/2016 - 23:52

      I used to get those woolies soups until I saw the sodium content in those bad boys. 40%of The average Australian diet. *Not the recommended intake. It wasn't until I read that I tasted the saltines.

  • Baebs on 16/11/2016 - 22:29
    +1

    $8 roast chicken and $2 salad from Coles = a few days worth of tasty sandwiches that take a few minutes to make.

  • Donaldhump on 16/11/2016 - 22:37

    i buy takeaway for a few reasons.

    the lunch i make tastes like sh*t
    the $$ spent on Tupperware that i lose / gets lost to the fridge gods is alot.

    • Lukian on 17/11/2016 - 18:00

      Takeaway containers from an Asian grocer as mentioned above?

  • voldemart on 16/11/2016 - 22:41
    +1

    Bring 2 packs of mi goreng instant noodles for lunch to save cost? You can still get a 40 pack box for about $12 in Asian supermarket so that's about 60 cents per lunch :)

    • bezza on 16/11/2016 - 23:27
      +6

      he doesn't want high blood pressure and heart disease

      • Love a bargain on 16/11/2016 - 23:37
        +5

        & possibly malnutrition at the same time

        • ozeebee on 17/11/2016 - 00:25
          +1

          Just add roast chicken or boiled eggs to mie goreng for a balanced nutrition.

        • bonezAU on 18/11/2016 - 13:51
          +1

          @ozeebee:

          Adding roast chicken doesn't lower the sodium content ;)

    • esq on 17/11/2016 - 00:35
      +1

      lol PTSD flashbacks to my uni days - mi goreng at 2am gaming munchies time

  • urzu on 16/11/2016 - 23:38
    +2

    Slight variation here: I buy frozen Coles meals for the coming week and usually have a different one each day for lunch. Lots of variety, for only $3.5 per meal.

    Favourites are green curry, chipotle, butter chicken and chilli con carne.

    Perfect mix of economical and convenient for me!

    • AssamLaksa on 17/11/2016 - 05:47

      This is exactly me!

      Except I don't quite like the frozen rice dishes so I usually get the pastas and lasagnas.

      • urzu on 17/11/2016 - 09:38

        The pastas are pretty good too. I frequently cook pastas though, so I like to try something different.

        I've tried weightwatchers and all the other frozen meals but always revert back to the Coles brand. Great quality, filling and cheap.

        • AssamLaksa on 17/11/2016 - 21:49

          I usually just go for whichever brand is cheapest/on special that week!

    • illumination on 25/11/2016 - 00:41

      I used to do this but then I started realising the portions were way too small for me to be satisfied. I'd need two, and then once you doubled it it would be ~$8 (I would eat Lean Cuisine).

      So then I thought I might as well go eat non-frozen Pad Thai for $8-10 lunch special which is a larger portion, nicer, and … maybe healthier?

  • virhlpool on 17/11/2016 - 00:43
    +2

    Any vegetarians around? Some recipe suggestions please.

    • ilikeradiohead on 18/11/2016 - 12:17
      +1

      I often make a big bowl of chilli. The basic ingredients are tinned beans, tomatoes, cumin, smokey paprika + whatever else you want. I often add frozen corn, peas, onions, garlic, chilli or cayenne powder, spinach + whatever random stuff is in my fridge. I also cook a big thing of rice to pad it out. I often make this because all the ingredients can be stored for a while (tinned or frozen).

      You can also make dahl/lentils in a big quantity too (+ the rice).

      I also sometimes make south Indian/Sri Lankan vego Biryani in my Phillips all in one pressure/slow cooker.

      N.B. Not vego but my gf is so I make stuff that she can eat.

    • blackorange on 18/11/2016 - 12:34
      +1

      I'm vegetarian and try to bring my lunch most days.

      I'm a fan of the lentils & rice idea, make a big pot of each and pack a box everyday. A few fresh veges to add on top mixes it up so it doesn't get boring (spinach leaves, tomato, cucumber, capsicum, whatever's in the fridge).

      Sometimes I make a big stirfry (or two) and eat it over a few days.

      Mason jar salads are great if you incorporate a good amount of protein (chickpeas, beanmix, or an egg). Lots of ideas online. I also got a spiraliser and make salads using that.

      Whatever you make, if it's way too much put some in the freezer for those in between days when you run out.

    • blackorange on 18/11/2016 - 12:36
      +1

      Also hipsters have great veggie ideas copy them but simplify!

  • Brendoo on 17/11/2016 - 05:02

    Bring from home, cans of soup, tuna, left overs etc. Reason being - no food outlets open within cooee of where I work at the time I work.

  • inherentchoice on 17/11/2016 - 06:01

    I keep a mini pantry at work with some non perishables like tinned soup, tinned spaghetti, instant noodles and some other snacks. Plus sometimes I keep a frozen meal in the freezer.

    So if I haven't brought my lunch then I still have options other than eating out.

  • tomleonhart on 17/11/2016 - 07:33
    +9

    I like cooking so I always cook and bring left over for the next day. At $12 a meal, my wife and I would save $100 a week or $5200 a year by bringing lunch.

    A lot of meal can be thrown together quiet quickly. Here are some of my favourite that can be cooked for dinner the day before and easy to cook in big batch.

    • basil, mince, garlic, chilli, fish sauce, ginger in a frying pan and rice and fresh salad leaves. 10 mins to cook.
    • beef sliced, garlic, salt, pepper with soy sauce in a frying pan. Put the finish product on a bed of $3 pre washed salad. 10 mins to cook
    • mince, and garlic stir fried until cooked. Add in water. When the water is boiled, add in your favourite green/ Asian green. My favourite is bok choy. 10 mins to cook.
    • pork shoulder cut into cube(preferably the size of your 2 fingers put together), pan fried with garlic until golden, add in water and coconut water, salt, pepper, soy sauce, fish sauce And stew for 20-30 mins or until the water level is 1/4 the height of the pork cube. Serve with fresh salad. 45 mins to cook
    • basa fillet put in a steamer with ginger and garlic, drizzle a bit of soy sauce over it. Steam together with broccoli. Serve hot. 10 mins to cook.

    Does not take long to cook at all folks, and you control the salt, sugar, oil intake when you cook. :-)

    • Lukian on 17/11/2016 - 18:02
      +1

      You lost me at 'basa', so much tastier fish options.
      These are easy to modify to low carb too (just remove the rice from the first one).

      I pretty much don't cook anything that's not <=10 minutes of interactivity. :)

      • tomleonhart on 17/11/2016 - 18:27

        Admit basa isn't the best choice. But cheap haha.

        • Lukian on 17/11/2016 - 18:27
          +2

          Hoki?

        • mmd on 18/11/2016 - 00:56

          @Lukian:
          More expensive, but can be had for $5-7/kg and is much more safer.

  • Sydgun on 17/11/2016 - 07:45
    +3

    You can prepare your sandwich fresh by using a compartmented lunch box and put your ingredients in each compartment depending on what you've got available to pack (ham,chicken,cheese,sliced tomato,gerkin, lettuce….).The sliced bread can be buttered in advance and wrapped up. When you're ready to eat, just open the box, unwrap the bread, place all ingredients in the sandwich bread and Bob's your uncle!

  • [Deactivated] on 17/11/2016 - 08:54

    I bring lunch in most days, so I am not subjected to the runaway food price inflation so badly.

  • zine21 on 17/11/2016 - 09:21
    +3

    If youve grown up in a big family, and then lived alone, its pretty hard to make meals that last just for the night. So usually I'll have plenty of left overs in the fridge/freezer. Some things I take (and I usually get people commenting on how delicious it smells so taking stuff from home is actually great way to share different foods) : Dolma - made with wine leaves, cabbage leaves or stuffed zucchini, eggplant, capsicums etc, borek (change the filling up and its so easy to make different types with easy use filo) home made baba-ghanoush - which people seem to think is a dip but really its a meal if you make it at home with fresh roasted eggplants and then you fry some onions and crack couple of eggs in etc. I make few different things with bulgur (kisir, cigkoftte etc) add some lettuce, cucumbers what ever I have at hand as well as some pickles to the side to make lettuce rolls and done. Sung choi bao is also pretty simple and great to take. I make large quantities of pasta sauces - so beef ghoulash is my favorite - freezes really well and tastes just as good after. I also freeze beef randang, panang curry etc - things that take a while to cook (use cheap cuts - cook slow) and these things dont really have vegies in them usually so again freezes well. And then you can make the rice/pasta the night before- hardly any work. Just chop up some fresh vegies on the side to add a bit of change. Rice paper rolls is another thing great for dinner and wrap in glad wrap and theyre great the next day. I don't add noodles into it - so just veg - cucumber, lettuce, carrots, avocado, mint leaves etc Ill make some with smoked fish or chicken or beef - what ever I have at hand. Just make your dipping sauce with hoisin ( I usually add sambal, bit of mirin, sake and what ever else I feel like adding to change it up a little - bit of lemon zest and juice is good too)

    If Im feeling kind of lazy- Ill make a simple bean salad which is just a can of bean, some shredded carrots, celery, arugula, apple, lettuce etc again what ever is at hand and the important part is the dressing cause the beans take on the flavor of that - I love this new sesame seed dressing from coles - makes everything taste awesome but lemon, sambal and olive oil etc is okay too.

    When it comes to food I think people forget the importance of spices and herbs. things can be changed from boring to pretty amazing using simple few things. Cooking it self can be a great way to relax and just relieve some stress

    • esq on 17/11/2016 - 10:18

      Taking sang choi bow - how do you this without spilling everything? Or do you take the lettuce separate to the filling?

      • zine21 on 17/11/2016 - 10:29

        Depends on what sort of lettuce you use but you can usually just roll the lettuce with the filling and place them tightly next to each other and it holds its shape - use a small toothpick if needed. If I cant be bothered I'll just lay the leaves at bottom with filling on top and eat it like a salad.

  • [Deactivated] on 17/11/2016 - 10:40

    I leave one day a week; mostly Fridays for lunch with work mates. Otherwise, its home prepared lunch. Tuna sandwiches; have to be very creative with these but the flavoured ones help. the new Sriracha one is pretty good. bought it at Coles. Otherwise. mostly dinner from previous night and a salad for lunch. I try to get ideas from Yummly.com as well.

  • webtonmoy on 17/11/2016 - 10:52

    I generally bring from home, first for saving the money and also because I do not enjoy eating outside food regularly. Usually I take rice with some curry (meat or fish) and vegetable.

  • yoonibear on 17/11/2016 - 11:23

    Looking at my lunch now, it's pretty sad :(
    Tuna on rice with hardboiled egg and olives

    • FatBlanket on 19/11/2016 - 09:32
      +1

      sounds good to me

  • Sleeken on 17/11/2016 - 11:45

    I usually cook up a large amount on the weekend and then freeze/refrigerate it for throughout the week: spiced baked chicken and salad, chilli con carne & vegetables, curry & rice etc. Eating healthy bought food can be really expensive so I feel the hour and a half it takes to cook and wash up on the weekend is worth it in terms of nutrition and price.

  • mahazza on 17/11/2016 - 11:53
    +1

    I prep. Mainly for health reasons, I like to control what I eat. It's a bit cheaper than eating out, but not by much really. I make a HUGE salad for 3 lunches, takes around 15min on a Sunday and Wednesday to keep the lunches fresh. Salad goes a bit soggy sometimes after 4 days in the fridge, hence the 3 day prep. Also Sunday and Wednesday work around my local farmers market open days - so I can prep the freshest stuff.

  • Lancerx on 17/11/2016 - 12:07
    +2

    if only we have $4 lunch like in singapore etc..I would not be worried about my lunch ever..but then again there's the "health" factor to consider too

  • Cluster on 17/11/2016 - 12:10
    +1

    Bring from home. The only problem with not eating out is you miss out on important information about the workplace and colleagues. People will say things in a cafe they wouldn't dare say in the office. It's not just rumours, but crucial intel about what the boss is doing and who he's going to sack.

  • cameldownunder on 17/11/2016 - 12:21
    +1

    Toast + cheese + ham, for the last 2 1/2 years

    Toast bread $3.5 makes about 12 toasts -> .30 per lunch
    Ham $5 makes about 20 toasts -> .25 per lunch
    Cheese $10 makes about 20 toasts -> .50 per lunch
    ———-
    $1.05 per lunch.
    Company provides filtered water.

    • Lukian on 17/11/2016 - 18:06
      +1

      Have you had your cholesterol and blood pressure checked in the last year and half? :)

      • cameldownunder on 17/11/2016 - 22:37

        Yes. Perfect. Both.

        • mmd on 18/11/2016 - 00:57

          How bout your bowels?
          Processed meat everyday???

    • Slippery Fish on 18/11/2016 - 01:30

      My god man, what price are you paying for ham! Even at $5 a kg that's only 50gram a sandwich… Hardly worth the effort if it's any less than 50 gram o.O

      • LurvinOZB on 18/11/2016 - 07:08

        $5/kg ham? Pls share where u buy at that price? Have been waiting and waiting for cheap ham to fall below $12/kg but it's futile.

        • Slippery Fish on 18/11/2016 - 08:16

          Lol local butcher charges $11kg, maybe hit some butchers up.

  • messiah1095 on 17/11/2016 - 12:46

    Normally a sandwich that I or my wife makes. Occasionally will get the canteen here (work at a school) to make me a salad roll if I'm running late for work and didn't get time to pack lunch. $3 for a salad roll and they're pretty great as well!

  • kirt on 17/11/2016 - 12:50
    -4

    Depending on how much you value your time, it's fairly easy to justify spending $7 or $8 a day on subway or sushi…eg:

    Your personal time = $100 per hour, so five minutes making lunch at home plus cost of ingredients is about $8 + $1.50 = $9.50.

    • bl1027 on 17/11/2016 - 14:36
      +1

      When you factor in the amount in taxes, fee help, superannuation, train fare, lunches, work clothes and the amount of time spent on work related activities like getting to and from work, overtime, client functions etc, you'll find that you make much much less than $100/hour.

      My gross rate is $45/hour but when I take all those things into account it works out to be $20/hour.

  • miicah on 17/11/2016 - 12:54

    I have salad stuff (lettuce, tomato, onion) and ham in the fridge at work as well as a loaf of bread. Only 3 of us in the office so no one nicks anything.

  • malouphix on 17/11/2016 - 13:25

    Bring leftovers for lunch, but usually, a tin of tuna will do and a banana. Cheap quick and able to have it anywhere.
    Not wasting money buying food out every day for lunch, I'd rather own another house than throw money away, but that's just me, it's never too early or late to start.

  • karimaka on 17/11/2016 - 13:39

    Here is what i do. I know it doesnt work for everyone.

    I live in a household of 2 adults. we make dinner for 4 each night and bring the leftovers to work the next day for lunch.

  • richmond12 on 17/11/2016 - 13:51

    work was close to chinatown so makes sense for me to get a cheap lunch there. time and effort cooking and preparing food at home tbh wouldnt really save much…

    the amound of money i spend on coffee on the other hand…

  • lainey13 on 17/11/2016 - 14:22

    I just make more for dinner and have leftovers. A big cook will be on Sunday and I'll eat that for Sunday night, then Mon-Thurs lunches if there's enough left. Bulk out with brown rice cups, or salad, or eggs, or other nights dinners… if I need to eat it it'll be a treat, or I'll get a $5 Earl Canteen sandwich (after 3pm), or sushi rolls or something I can't make myself. No point buying a sandwich from outside, that's the most boring thing ever when I can make it myself!

  • bl1027 on 17/11/2016 - 14:25
    +2

    The main reason people have cited to explain why they buy lunch is that 'the savings is not worth their time' spending the extra 30 minutes total a week on making 5 lunches. Thats 6 whole minutes a day that could be spent generating income that is going to waste! Seriously, you spend more time checking Facebook and that doesn't lead to any savings….

  • Skramit on 17/11/2016 - 14:55
    +1

    I buy my lunch every day, except for odd occasions when I have dinner leftovers to bring in.

  • Trying2SaveABuck on 17/11/2016 - 15:21

    At the moment on a new health kick as a general rule i always make my own lunch (or the girlfriend does) considering of wholemeal crackers, carrot sticks, cucumbers, cheese and dip.

    However ill admit i buy a coffee for $3-4 everyday because i simply cannot function without (proper) coffee (not that instant crap).

    I'd say i only buy lunch if i have a work lunch/meeting to be sociable otherwise it adds up to much paying 15$ for lunch daily.

  • chibbingus on 17/11/2016 - 16:05

    Bringing from home everyday… some good ideas for lunch include wraps, salads (with meat), pastas, etc.
    Agree with others re: bulk cook - slow cooker can go a long way and a cheap cut of meat (beef brisket, pork leg, lamb shoulder) can go a long way and can easily be customised depending on personal taste e.g. san choy bau, cumin & paprika for a Mexican flavour, in a tomato ragu with pasta, etc

  • beeawwb on 17/11/2016 - 16:25

    $5.55 Subway 6" - I'm currently watching my KJ intake and this also ensures I get zero food waste (from preparing meals as a single e.g. buying fresh vegetables / bread and then not using all of them if I was to make my own sandwiches and bring them in) - and the Subway is only a couple hundred metres up the road.

    I could probably bring my own, yes, but I'm happy with the current arrangement.

    • Lukian on 17/11/2016 - 18:04

      You can freeze things, but bread doesn't really like to be frozen, unless you have a sandwich press or similar in your office to get the moisture out.

      • Slippery Fish on 18/11/2016 - 01:36

        Commercial snap freezing works for bread, comes out like fresh.

        Anyway try speedy bake bread, owned by Coles.

  • L0NGY on 17/11/2016 - 16:32
    +1

    $5 for 1 off 4 pack of 100g Leg Hams (400g) (Coles Brand)
    $12 for 2 off packs of premade Coles Salads (half a pack per day)
    $3 for salad dressing - (lasts me 2 weeks - $1.50 per week)

    Monday to Thursday = $18.50 for 4 days of lunches ($4.63 per day)
    Friday i leave for pub lunch or other.

    Bonus treats = punnet of strawberries when in season
    $5 for 2 off punnets (half punnet per day)

    All items bough during weekly shop - little-to-no prep required

  • Lukian on 17/11/2016 - 18:09
    +1

    I eat out each lunch break and spend about $10-$17 each day (unless working from home).
    Having previously working in IT Support, it's habit for me to get out of the office and enjoy my lunch break without interruptions.

    PS. No easy access to a microwave sucks. Only cold cuts/options for you if you were to BYO lunch.
    A fridge isn't an issue as you can chuck an icepack in a lunch bag if you need to.

  • oogabooga on 17/11/2016 - 18:34

    I normally have a stash of cous cous and tuna and cashews… Then I bring in broccoli and carrots each day. Just put cous cous in hot water with tuna. Then microwave the broccoli. Carrots you can munch on as well.

  • chickenwings on 17/11/2016 - 19:18

    I usually bring lunch in as I'm super cheap and eating out too often makes me feel greasy. I like to have a few different meals a week and can't bulk cook and eat the same thing heaps. For a super cheap meal you can bulk make japanese curry, potatoes, carrots and lamb/chicken that will last the whole week. I got sick of it after day 2 though but it's super cheap (works out to be like $2 a meal)

    some super lazy meal ideas:
    the john west onion and tomato makes a good sauce and I use it just with pasta. Sometimes with rice, sesame oil, garlic (in the tube), soy sauce and a fried egg.
    Wraps with pepperoni, lettuce, sliced tomatoes, cheese and peri peri mayo.
    Spag bog with mince, onion, sauce and a side of salad (I use the ones in bags at coles).

    I usually double dinner meals and have it for lunch the next day. Sometimes I use the slow cooker and make a hugeeee bulk of food like ragu, chilli con carne, those slow cooker packets at woolies (chicken casserole, greek lamb etc) and freeze it for meals later in the month. It also helps to have a partner that helps out with cooking as you can split cooking duties. Cooking for one is quite difficult as you can't make too much and you have to cook everything yourself.

  • imurgod on 17/11/2016 - 21:26
    -2

    My company pays for my lunch, wine, etc. Too fattening though. Not complaining, I often eat at the most exclusive restaurants in Sydney.

  • OzzyOzbourne on 17/11/2016 - 21:57

    Smashed avocado every day

  • Matt P on 17/11/2016 - 22:17

    Idea for some of you with a friendly social circle at work. Start a lunch club of sorts. Each person gets a day where lunch for all 4 is their responsiblity. I used to do me and 3 others. BBQ chicken, bag of salad, tub of cherry tomatoes and bottle of dressing/nandos sauce every 2 shouts. $15 bucks every 4 days and everyone gets a 1/4 chicken and salad. Everyone has their standard meal. One of the blokes used to make a lasagne and cook it 90% and finish in microwave. etc.

    on friday we wore pink… i mean ate out

  • [Deactivated] on 17/11/2016 - 22:24

    Wife usually bangs something together for me everyday for work the next day or i do it depending on how busy i am.
    On the odd occasion i treat myself to a meal from the subsidies caffe at work and knowing to ladies behind the counter gets those extra perks.

  • captobvious on 18/11/2016 - 00:05

    When it is busy i tend not to eat, not sure why? Working screws my appetite.

  • JMERC on 18/11/2016 - 00:30

    I work a few minutes walk away from a Woolworths - it's too easy to quickly buy some ingredients and prepare a meal in the staff kitchen. I tend to make my favourite rolls, roast chicken or tuna + brown rice and usually top up with some chobani yogurt.

    Obviously, this isn't an option for everyone but very convenient for me. I've only ever bought 'take-away' food once or twice in the past 2 years.

    However, most Sundays I try to do a big cookup and either cook grilled Chicken or spaghetti bolognes which lasts me 3-4 lunches.

    I aim for <$5 a meal and these usually fall around that mark.

  • skywards on 18/11/2016 - 00:41

    When I can be bothered I prep my lunch on Sunday for lunch for the week. I alternate between spag bol, stir fry veggies, chopped salads mixed with brown rice and flavoured can tuna. Any leftovers from my lunch prep can be for dinner. I limit myself to buying lunch at least once a fortnight.

  • fastnbulbous on 18/11/2016 - 00:41

    Intermittent fasting can help lessen the burden of deciding what is for lunch!

  • Donaldhump on 18/11/2016 - 04:03

    if you wanna eat cheap, buy the entertainment book, and "volunteer" to fetch a mate/colleague some lunch while you are out getting yours.

    use his/her meal to get yours for free…

    even when they find out i doubt they care as they get fast food to desk service

  • ian895 on 18/11/2016 - 08:27
    +2

    No-one is going to read or reply to this but, I buy some wraps, chicken, salami, cheese, ham and aioli. I have a fridge and sandwich toaster available in the office, so it makes things quite easy. I also sometimes buy a carton of soft drink cans when they're on special because of that Ozbargain life.

    Fridays I go out for lunch and don't spend more than about $15.

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