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

    • samojed on 18/11/2016 - 12:10
      +1

      I both read and replied to this ;)

  • Noragrets on 18/11/2016 - 09:45

    For some reason I've never eaten at work. I was a smoker so I spent my breaks smoking rather then eating. Now I've quit I'm hungry but I'm too lazy to cook and getting take away means I'd be spending most of my break driving. It saves me money, but when I go home I eat everything I can find in the cupboards.

  • tunzafun001 on 18/11/2016 - 10:03

    I get around 11 minutes for lunch, these are my go to choices:

    2 minute noodles (5 pack $1.20) with tuna (buy the middle size tin in oil for better taste with noodles, 2 serves for $1.15 vs around $1 for a single serve small tin) goes down a treat.

    1 litre yoghurt with a pack of frozen berries.

    Pitta bread, tomato sauce, pineapple, shredded ham, cheese etc (5 min pizza under a grill).

    Baked Beans / Spaghetti on toast

    Apples, Bananas

    Bread, ham, lettuce, tomato

  • HeartFeltAxe on 18/11/2016 - 10:25

    I make my KFC from home.

  • smpantsonfire on 18/11/2016 - 11:14

    If i start late, or have a day off, I'm always at the pub. $8 for a full sized decent meal is a bargain.

    Never been one to portiobut I'd do occasionally take left over if I start early. I figure $8 isn't a lot on lunch and the quality of meal is great

  • samojed on 18/11/2016 - 12:05

    I get myself $8-$10 meals in the food courts every day. It's how I reward myself for earning a couple of hundreds of dollars that day. I tried bringing in leftovers, but it just doesn't taste the same. I cycle to work, don't drink coffee, so why not spend money on something I truly enjoy.

  • tazdevil76 on 18/11/2016 - 12:51

    Always bring from home, either Ham and Cheese sandwich which I put in the toastie machine here at work, or buy cup noodles where you just add water. Cannot justify spending money in the food court.

  • Mrgreenz on 18/11/2016 - 13:09

    Usually have lunch from yesterday's dinner. Just make a larger portion.

    Then fill in the other days with tuna and salad if the fold for dinner isn't great cold

  • windrc on 18/11/2016 - 13:36

    Depends on how difficult and costly for the meal I want to have.

    E.g. grilled fish with salad or chips from the food court would cost around $15.
    For the same amount of money I could buy and cook with a good quality fish fillet compared to those frozen basa fillet crap they serve to you.

    But compared to say Kfc, I don't have the equipment and the know how to make it myself.

  • howbazaar on 18/11/2016 - 14:29

    I like to combine leftovers like taco filling or other meat with a bread roll from the bakery; or I'll just nuke food from last night.
    I have mi-goreng and soup packets in my desk drawer.

    I'll often see what HJ's shake to win has on offer.
    Really liking the KFC $5 lunch at the moment. Their $5 brekkie is not bad either.

  • kerms on 18/11/2016 - 14:39

    Skip lunch.

    Two meals a day are enough. Give it a google.

    Takes about 3 weeks until you get used to it.

    Your only hungry cause your body is used to the regular feeding. (That's my personal experience anyway).

    Think of the savings! And the fat loss!

    • Pecan on 18/11/2016 - 21:11

      Rather than skipping lunch, I have a protein shake instead. For me it feels better than not eating anything at all and does a reasonably good job at keeping me sated until dinner.

  • jsediv on 18/11/2016 - 15:16

    $2 bag of mixed salad from coles (2 servings)
    80c can of tuna from coles (different flavours)
    and a slice of cheese and maybe some crackers on the side.

    Approx $3 per serving.

    In b4 mercury in tuna cans

  • dbun1 on 18/11/2016 - 15:42

    I bring lunch from home everyday except for Friday as a group of us will go out for lunch or order pizzas in.

    Lunch from home usually consists of leftovers, salad (with either chicken or tuna) or on the weekend I'll meal prep lunches for the week.

  • Roqua on 18/11/2016 - 16:16

    I'm a tradie, I can't afford the time to cook my own food….

  • noodle23 on 18/11/2016 - 17:06

    for me either: Tuna salad:
    - Canned tuna
    - Avocado or feta cheese or eggs
    - mix salad leaves from colesworth
    - nuts

    or Potato salad:
    - fried bacon
    - celery
    - boiled potatoes
    - mayonnaise (hellmanns)

    so easy and cheap!

  • buckster on 18/11/2016 - 20:25
    +1

    Cheese, salami/sopressa & relish sandwiches.

    Have the above ingredients in work fridge, bring two pieces of buttered bread to work each day from home.

    WARNING: Do not try if you like variations in your lunch.

    Tremendous savings over the last 3 years

  • devank on 18/11/2016 - 20:35
    +3

    I guess I don't have any other better place to confess!

    I have my second breakfast with coffee around 10AM. That's not the confession :)

    Then wait till 2 pm for any leftovers from meetings. At least twice a week something comes to the office kitchen.
    If not, shops have special price after 2pm. $3-$5 for a small box of Asian food.

  • lcer on 18/11/2016 - 21:10

    In the same boat as those who like to buy lunch. It's not that I am too lazy to make lunch. For me, it's a way to get out of the office for a walk and I actually like the food court and cafe options near our office. For me, the go-to meals are:

    Small size Japanese meal (usually teriyaki chicken) - $4.50
    2 x sushi rolls - $5
    Large size Japanese meal (teriyaki chicken or chicken curry) - $8.90
    Bento box - $9.90
    Banh mi - $6.50-$8.90
    Vietnamese noodle salad - $9.50-11.90
    GYG burrito - $11
    Bowl of ramen - $11

    Plus I'll get a $4.50 coffee in the morning or afternoon (maybe a snack to go with). It's one of life's pleasures that I don't feel like skimping on.

  • [Deactivated] on 18/11/2016 - 21:16

    The local Japanese place sell a decent curry / teriyaki / karrage etc etc for $4.29. Cheaper than many of the things I'd make myself and cheaper than most of the decent frozen meals (even on special). The do a lot of business (they take 60-90 seconds to assemble it all) and are cash only :o

  • subydooby on 18/11/2016 - 22:37

    Banana wrap, easy cheap, fresh and I can eat it on the go. Peal banana, place in wrap of choice, eat. I used to have banana sandwiches but need to slice the banana up first. Alternatively tuna salad wrap for something different.

  • mr_asstight on 18/11/2016 - 22:39
    +4

    Eating is a waste of $. I prefer to starve and keep money in da bank

    • thedriver on 19/11/2016 - 16:45

      Fast all day, only drink water or black tea. Don't eat until until 6pm after heavy weights at the gym.
      Smash a protein sushi and eat whatever healthy options I have at home until about 10pm or 11pm.

    • outlander on 21/11/2016 - 01:09

      Couldn't agree more. Why spend time and money on food when you can aquire all the nutrients you need from the air and sun, like plants do?

  • Bigboyburrito on 18/11/2016 - 23:14

    Working in corporate for a foodstuffs company. Lunch provided daily. Pretty damn good when trying to save!

  • phamid on 19/11/2016 - 01:55

    Catered lunch for me each day and we have plenty of drinks available whenever, plus an actual espresso machine.

    Meal prep is usually for dinner with the leftovers.

  • StewBalls on 19/11/2016 - 08:08
    +1

    Bah, I just steal my colleagues lunches from the staff fridge. :P

    • illumination on 25/11/2016 - 00:46

      I pos'd you cause it's kinda funny..
      but damn you're a bastard LOL

  • FatBlanket on 19/11/2016 - 09:29

    Cook up 4 lunches on a Sunday. Baked chicken, baked pumpkin, baked veggie salsa. Or sometimes a massive chilli con carne.

    Its cheaper, it's healthier, and often its tastier. I have a smoothie for dinner too. So very little time spent during the week on cooking.

  • Typical16-bitEnjoyer on 19/11/2016 - 11:53

    I cook up a chook, Lamb shoulder, pork shoulder, ribs in the smoker each Sunday, and have enough leftovers mixed with veg for 12 Frozen lunches and dinners. Easy peezy

  • BuyoTheCat on 19/11/2016 - 12:32

    I usually get my own lunch. In the last 4 years have been less than 5 occasions that I have bought lunch.

    2 main factors:
    Money and the type of food.
    At about $10 a meal, that is approximately $2000 for the year.

    These days my tastebuds favour blander food with less chemicals.
    I like to know what kind of flavoring and seasoning that goes into my food.

    I cook for one at home, so my stuff is not fanciful but tasty.
    I like slow cooking. bolognese and brisket or ribs.
    I also like to roast vege. then I add grilled chicken breast or ready made roasted chicken.

    Bolognese slow cooked is so different to 15min stirfried mince. everyhing, mince and vegs, becomes this tasty paste-like sauce. good with rice, great with smooth polenta (also slow-cooked)

    I do not do fad diets. I do everything in moderation and i usually have more veg than meat and moderate amount of carbs.

  • Apostle0748 on 19/11/2016 - 15:27

    I have been working in the city (Brisbane) for more than 5 years and every day, I never bring in my lunch. I can afford it and I like the variety of food on offer, so why not. I also tend to eat a bigger lunch which is around the $15-20 mark each day as I don't eat dinner.

    Everyone asks me what's good to eat around Brisbane CBD as I have pretty much tried it all, plus side with that is I know where to go get good grub.

  • amiski on 19/11/2016 - 17:12

    Used to make my own lunch but found the prepping work and blandness/predictability of home lunches not worth it. Especially when I normally spend $5 on bought lunches anyway (choice of 2 gourmet salads - I usually get roach veg w chicken, and quinoa kale). Just need to be smart about where you're buying, and scope out good deals. I generally never spend more than $8 a meal, and still get something fresh, healthy, and what I felt like eating at that moment.

  • ChickenTalon on 19/11/2016 - 17:31

    I used to have an employee who did this:
    $6 - Arrive at work with a coffee and a muffin/toast
    $3.5 - We all go for a coffee around 10:30am
    $10 - Gets takeaway & coke for lunch (the minimum estimate, I recon he'd often spend up to $20)
    $3.5 - Afternoon coffee at 3pm
    = $23 per day minimum

    45 working weeks of the year that's over $5,000 p/a

    I couldn't understand it

  • 17731773 on 20/11/2016 - 06:36

    On Sundays I make up lunch for myself and my husband for three days. I bought bento style boxes from Aliexpress.
    Mine usually include some protein, I make up some meatballs or chicken. I have coconut wraps with curried egg. He eats pasta so I make him pasta salads or wraps.
    Last weeks lunches his top mine bottom:
    http://imgur.com/G0zNGEg

    • coolhead on 21/11/2016 - 10:04

      good one and nice planning

  • decr on 20/11/2016 - 07:58

    I cook for the kids but not for myself for some reason so it's some odd bits and pieces for lunch for me. It works great though as it's counted as work time if you don't leave your desk and going home earlier is more important to me as it really helps with the evening routines.

  • RiderX on 20/11/2016 - 09:16

    Our company provides us $15 worth of lunch every day but from the same place. Not much choices but that's the real savings for ozbargain deals.
    P.S unlimited free softdrinks & sparkling water.

  • imahapyboy on 20/11/2016 - 14:30

    $5 is my budget for lunch~ hungry jack is my best friend

  • Ritchma on 20/11/2016 - 22:49

    I cook for myself everyday. I only eat healthy food and because I'm very active I need a lot. There is five cafes around my workplace and to get enough quality protein and vegetables for lunch I would have to get at least two meals and that means 20-30$ just for lunch. I know what I like so whatever I cook for myself tastes better than food I can buy around workplace anyway. Not to mention it's made out of better quality ingredients and it's not even half price…

    • outlander on 21/11/2016 - 01:11

      Don't take this the wrong way, but if we ever end up on the same sinking ship, you're taking the other lifeboat.

    • esq on 21/11/2016 - 08:36

      What do you cook? By what you said it sounds like $10-15 daily budget, am I right? Do you grocery shop every day?

      • Ritchma on 21/11/2016 - 17:55

        I get groceries every two/three days usually. Most of the time it's just raw vegetables, fried or oven baked meat or some kind of meatballs or high quality sausage. I would say breakfast, tea break and lunch together would be around 15$. I just keep it simple and healthy. At this moment I'm following a template what is telling me how much and when should I eat so for example it would tell me eat 170g lean meat and 2 cup of vegetables for breakfast and 170g lean meat, 2 cups of vegetables, 30g of healthy carbs and 1 serving fat for lunch…

  • OzTightArse on 21/11/2016 - 10:01

    $12 x 225 days = $2700/yr. In a decade that's $27,000 which is the amount of money I had saved since 2005 :).

    Either bring from home, skip lunch, or rely on company's lunch events are the way to go.

  • amazonaddict on 21/11/2016 - 10:35

    I buy $12 Aldi chicken breasts on a Sunday + few packets of $2 mixed Veggies from Coles. (Next shopping with be 2 weeks later)
    Slice the chicken into small pieces, boil with some salt and then place that in the freezer.
    Every weekday morning, I microwave a cup of veggies for 4 mins and then fill a small container with them and some frozen chicken.
    Then at lunch time, (after returning from Gym), I microwave the box again for 2 mins and a disgusting lunch will be ready. I have been doing this for last four years. However, I take a god made Cookies & Cream protein shake (+ Skim milk) before hitting the gym. It is bloody delicious and, basically, fills me up.

  • csjc on 21/11/2016 - 11:11

    I usually cook a bigger dinner portion and pack the leftovers for lunch. If there's no leftovers then it will be sandwiches for lunch.

  • frostman on 21/11/2016 - 12:45
    +1

    Years ago at (work) lunch time, you were able to stroll down to a cafe on your lunch break and order something decent that doesn't require a personal loan or eat into 50% of your grocery shopping budget.

    Nowadays it's a race for food businesses such as Cafe's to be rich, their only goal is to be rich and perhaps 2nd goal is to serve people with a decent meal worth its weight.

    Given there's a big media and global push for fitness and 'hot bodies' (thanks to Instagram and the likes), many Cafes have now jacked up the price of anything that is half-healthy such as Smoked Salmon wraps, Grilled fish/chicken choices, etc. In less than 2 years, one of the cafes I order a girlled barra with veggies has gone up from a starting $10.90 to now at $14.90. No change to the fish size, serving or anything. Yes there is a slight inflation but that shouldn't be too apparent else noone would afford to eat anymore.

    Basically, the average cost for a lunch meal at work (CBD area, speaking from experience) is a good $15 + $3 for a bottle of water/drink. Anything less than that and i'd advise you to seek a cheeseburger meal from Maccaz. Why? because a shitty fat-laden Laksa will set you down for $12, a similar Malaysian Wok-Noodle meal full of sodium and MSG + copious amounts of bean sprouts will be similar.

    Solution? bring food from home. Grill some chicken overnight, next day whack em in a warp with mayo, and light salad.

    • anastasiastarz on 23/11/2016 - 05:30

      How does Pressed Juices operate? $10?! for a new age smoothie? And all the bloggers are all over it too, must be sponsored…

  • niknah on 21/11/2016 - 17:30

    I've been aiming for $20 per lunch this month. Using the Amex shop small deal which gives you back $10. Trying a new place every day.

    • esq on 22/11/2016 - 01:08

      Any choice finds?

  • [Deactivated] on 24/11/2016 - 17:33

    It depends on my mood lol. Sometimes I opt to go out and eat. But mostly, I prefer bringing lunch from home. I used to cook by myself, so whatever I cook the day before, I keep it safe for the next day lunch. It can be shrimps, ham, burgers, sandwiches, salad or whatever. Eating junk food every day can affect your health badly and results in obesity.

  • sunny00 on 24/11/2016 - 19:26

    I usually eat out.I don't have time to prepare for my lunch.

  • illumination on 25/11/2016 - 00:49

    Generally speaking I'll try to bring home made.

    Common options are pasta/spaghetti which has been mentioned a few times here.

    When I do eat out, I generally will try and be a stinge about it. That usually means one of the following:

    • Looking for a Groupon/Scoopon/Living Social option
    • Picking a lunch special option
    • Domino's $5 Americano pizza (Pepperoni & mushroom)
    • Vouchers from Shopadocket
    • Going to Woolies and finding something half price that I might be able to heat up quickly

    If there's a work lunch then of course I won't look at any of these options…

    … but I may try and fight for the bill to get my points. I'm lucky that others don't care about points and are usually ok with me doing this :)

  • Biance on 29/11/2016 - 13:51

    I go through phases - I went through many years of stocking the work fridge with salad ingredients and making a fresh salad roll or wrap at lunch.

    I now work somewhere where I can skip my lunch break and eat at my desk while working to get paid more, so I've been eating a lot of frozen dinners.

    You can easily stock up on them when they are on sale for around $3 each, and after trying all the different types you can just pick out the better ones. The Weight Watchers brand etc. are a pretty good filling meal for sometimes less than 1000 kj and $3 with no prep time.

    My husband has just decided to stopped eating lunch at work. Or if he does it is those Vita-wheat crackers with spread he keeps in his desk drawer.

  • [Deactivated] on 04/03/2017 - 01:35

    I enjoy bringing my lunch from home.

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