Emergency/packet lunch ideas that aren’t disgusting

[Catspyjamazzzz]

So I am working somewhere I cant get lunch unless I bring it or I drive out to get some.
I’m not keen on going out at lunch so wondering if anyone had found something I can have for lunch and stash in my desk for emergency days. Something you cook with boiling water or a microwave.
Like a pot noodle but not as disgusting obvs!

Actually, some of the pasta packets are quite nice now - certainly worth trying.
I tend to leave cup a soups in my drawer at work or did when I had a drawer
A colleague brings in tins of things like ravioli or mac cheese
My (adult) ds likes the microwaveable rice packets, then chucks in a tin of tuna or some chopped up ham (the ham, obviously you'd have to take in fresh)

Aldi have a load of instant grain packs so like quinoa, cous cous etc, different flavours
Would that be enough? Or do you need protein like tinned fish too?

Mug A Soup. But more "hearty" than ordinary Cup A Soup.

I like a tinned Frey Bentos steak and kidney pudding (two minutes in the microwave) but might not be to everyone's taste!

We really like the bachelors pasta packets. They do so many flavours now and are great for a quick meal. I recommend the mushroom and Gorgonzola one.

Cous cous or naked noodles?

You can get all sorts of flavoured rice or grains in sachets to cook in a microwave, Spanish rice or Moroccan cous-cous for instance. Look out for Merchant Gourmet or Jamie Oliver brands.

Mug shots and microwave rice are my desk drawer emergency supplies.

I like to keep Melba toasts and some deli sandwich fillers/pates in jars, along with cup soups and noodles etc. Plus I'm always bringing in fruit and trail mix too. :)

Can't remember the brand but the Thai noodles you add boiling water to are lovely!

There are sachets of salmon/tuna and grains in different types and flavours, I think made by John West. They don't need to be fridged, and you can eat them hot or cold. They're often on offer too — I tend to keep a couple in for days I've been disorganised about my lunch!

Some good ideas thanks - I need something fairly substantial as working days are 7am start and we don’t have dinner until about 8pm!

There are some great hearty meal pots. Like bean stew or sausage hotpot thingies.

M&S have some great ones, bloody eyewatering prices but worth it.

My go to for this is an instant cous cous packet that you add water to and a tin of mackerel or sardines or tuna (as preferred) . I also keep a small tin of sweet corn and tinned green beans. Mix all that and it is enough for two substantial lunches. If you have space and a Tupperware box you can refrigerate half for the next day.

John west pasta salad thing, looks like cat food but quite nice!

How about the porridge ones? They're quite filling.

If you want something substantial Asda do a can of lentil & chickpea Dahl which is entirely acceptable. Keep that and a packet of microwave rise in your drawer.

Pot of porridge
Ainsleys cous cous
Mug shot

dolmio pasta pots are quite nice, i like the tomato and chilli ones. microwave for a couple of minutes.

I quite like pot noodles....

Also mug shots are OK.

The tuna couscous steam pots are really nice and when they are on offer an OK price.

Mug shots are great, some of them are very low fat. The roast chicken pasta is really tasty but the macaroni cheese doesn't really taste of much.

I got a new desk the other day and found a tin of Irish stew in the drawer. Try that.

In my locker at work I have:

Instant porridge pots
Naked noodle brand instant noodle soup things
Cuppa soups
Protein bars

I also on occasion take a tin of soup and some oatcakes or a roll or something.

Pack of crackers
Jar peanut butter
Tins tuna
Beans - take in a loaf and do b on t
Raisins, dried sprogs, dates
Biscuits
Little pots of fruit, del monte in plastic pots
Nuts

Could also take in tins of marinated 3 bean sad, add a can of tune, voila
Soup of course and the aforementioned ravioli, macaroni

I second Aldi quinoa or an uncle bens packet rice. You can bulk it up with cooked chicken/fish or even ready made falafel.