home-made lunches to save money

[RacingSnake]

Having realised that we really need to save money, I have looked at our avoidable expenses and found that quite a lot is spent on lunches when out for the day. Often the food isn't much good either!

I have decided that we will take our own packed luches, cakes, soups, etc. I have bought a soup thermos with a wide mouth.

The trouble is, I don't really fancy boring sandwiches.

Would you all mind sharing your favourite suitable recipes? Pasties, cakes, scotch eggs, cold ratatouille ... I don't know what they could be, but need inspriation, please.

[MadBadandCoveredinSequins]

I feel your pain.

I think the key to the sandwiches is to use wonderful bread. Ditch the wrapped, sliced loaf in favour of pitta, ciabatta, focaccia, tortilla wraps etc. I don't have a recipe, but lamb meatballs with a minty yogurt sauce in pitta bread make a fab packed lunch.

[RacingSnake]

Great start, MadBad. Certainly no white sliced will be involved! One of my favourite economy measures is German Sonnenblumenbrot etc from Lidl. Not from Waitrose, which would cost more than a meal out in a four-star restaurant if used for lunches for three. Am wondering whether Swedish meatballs from SainsJamie's would be a good substitute for homemade.

[missorinoco]

Lovely salads. With rocket and parmesan or other yummy cheese.

Or soup. I'm a Heinz Tomato Soup fan for at work. It may be acomfor food thing. Cheap and cheerful.

[Essie3]

I've started doing this too! I'm vegetarian.

Agree that the key is the bread. I don't really like sandwiches, but I'm getting better now with fancy bread.
Some of my lunches recently:
Falafel salad in pitta bread
Couscous with feta cubes (these) and roasted veg - you can buy that in Lidl (thank you, Mumsnetters!). That takes a max of 5 mins to make, and it's, like, proper food! You can then drizzle sweet chilli or whatever on it.
Veggie sausage rolls - lovely.
If you take in soup, make sure you have cake. Although apparently it's supposed to fill you up more than 'solid' food, I find it doesn't last.
Last but not least... my barbecued tofu roll... fry tofu in strips and slather it in bbq sauce...

[SixtyFootDoll]

I pay the budget part baked baguettes and use those - 45p for two.
I particularly like brie with cranberry sauce and lettuce.

[MadBadandCoveredinSequins]

Is there scope for further savings by making the soup from scratch? You can get a ton of carrots or parsnips from one packet of seed. Lettuce pea and lovage is another fab combination with grow-and-make-it-yourself potential.

Check our Lidl's seed selection next spring!

[MadBadandCoveredinSequins]

Another thought (which I'm sure you've already had). I find on days out that it's the drinks which ratchet up the cost. Buy re-usable drinks bottles and fill them with tap water/watered down juice/gin or whatever you prefer. Take along home-made popcorn for treats.

Do not succumb to the siren call of the tea room (except on MN).

[nauseous]

Soups! Use lots of lentils, pearl barley, bacon, or sausage, tinned toms etc...

[RacingSnake]

Lovely, lots of soups.
Any good ideas for pasties etc?