Affordable & healthy on-the-go meals?

19 comments

1. I can only suggest pot noodles, but that’s probably why I’m obese.

   Joking (sort of) aside, piggybacking on this to see if any one of you ‘real’ people have bought that huel stuff that is always being advertised on here? Is it any good?

2. I normally have soup for lunch but I work from home. >.<

3. I pack a lunch. Much cheaper than buying it pre-made in a supermarket and probably healthier in that it’s likely got less preservatives, salt etc. I like making things like pasta salads, rice dishes, omelettes, couscous, mini buns and pies.

4. I have oats made with oat milk and scoop of protein powder(flavour changes daily) I add whatever frozen fruit I’ve got in the freezer. I have this every day about 10.30 and then don’t bother with lunch

5. I prep my meals before working in the office, sounds bland but some well seasoned chicken & some rice does the job, load up on veg on the side if you want filling up too.

6. I make mine in advance but it’s really simple, filling and takes 2mins to prepare. . I get a bag of Spinach and put a tin of mackerel on top, they have different flavours too that I usually alternate with. . You can eat it cold or warm it in a microwave for a minute or so for a warm meal. I do this for a minimum of 3 x lunches per week. You can add rice or couscous to make it more filling.

   . . For variety, I add tomatoes, peppers or other veg I have available, and do chicken or salmon for 2 days.

7. Brown pita stuffed with houmus and cucumber slices. Bit of salt and pepper

8. Box o salad, if it comes with a sauce – do not apply, because it will be full of rubbish

9. Cous cous and some protein is my go-to. Or falafel. Vegan sushi as well (minus the wasabi and soy. M&S used to do a 3 bean Mexican wrap that was great but I think they’ve stopped it.

   Sometimes just a potato salad. Still not exactly healthy but it’s filling on its own so no extra empty calories after.

10. My husband cooks dinner and makes enough for lunch the next day- this is great if you have a microwave in work . If not you can make yourself a healthy pot noodle- fill a Kilner jar ( or similar) with some dried noodles, frozen veg of choice and some cooked meat / vegetarian protein source. Add some soy sauce/ chilli/ flavouring of choice . When your ready to eat add boiling water and leave to stand for about 5 mins. It’s really easy to make up – you can use frozen cooked meat if you want and it’s tasty

11. Do you have access to hot water, microwave anything else at work?

12. Chop some salad, boil some eggs/tin of tuna etc. Plenty of fruit. Overnight oats made with milk and scoop of protein powder and frozen berries. All cheap and all decent food. Spend 15 minutes each night making next days food. No excuses for eating crap and wasting money buying lunch in shops each day, if you go into a shop hungry then you will buy crappy foods

13. The only thing I can thing of is M&S, but not everyone’s definition of affordable haha

    I’ll join in on the chorus of making it at home if you’re looking for filing and health. You can freeze spaghetti and rice dishes and loaded them up with sautéed/roasted vegetables and proteins of your choice. I sometimes use uncle bens rice when I’m lazy and you can find roast vegetable mixes at supermarkets. This week it’s Spaghetti bolognaise with a ton of carrots and mushroom.

    I’d love to see healthy warm options in the supermarkets.

14. Usually home-made sandwich (flat pack really – pre-done meat from the cold section and optional condiment) and crisps or tinned soup if I’m in the office.

    I’ve kicked around the idea of using one of the part-baked potatoes with either beans or cheese, and if you’re able to batch cook stuff like chilli that could work too. I’ve done that WFH but not in the office yet.

15. Subway or the supermarket do a meal deal

16. I have a thermos pot which is great for hot food – I cook soups, chillis, curries at home or just throw in leftovers. Microwave a portion in the morning, put it in the pot and you’ll have a hot lunch hours later. Also saves time on buying lunch or waiting to heat stuff up at work.

17. Boil some pasta, add a tin of tuna add some cream cheese (low fat works). Healthy, high protein, low calorie, low fat and you can make in large batches and keep in the fridge. You can also change up the flavour by adding different spices and low calorie sauces to it

18. Morrisons salad bar (but watch what you fill it with if healthiness is key), or soup and a bread roll with some cooked meat or cheese if you have access to a microwave.

19. I often have cous cous (in a thermos, still warm at lunch time without needing a microwave or kettle). I often add soya/Quorn/tofu/etc pieces and (usually frozen) vegetables.

    My other usual work lunch(/tea if I’m working late) is potato/sweet potato with vegetables, Quorn etc, and sauce. I microwave it in advance so it just needs reheating, but not as good on the go. If I’m pushed for time before work, I’ll swap the extras for a tinned curry/chilli/etc (a bit more expensive but still cheaper than a meal deal).