To ask for your non-sandwich work lunches?

[BrieEncounter]

We have recently moved offices and the new catering facilities are much better (fridges and microwaves) but the onsite price of food is outrageous! £5 for a simple sandwich and the hot offering even more

So I have decided I really need to bring packed lunches in but could do with some inspiration! I know sandwiches are easiest but what other things do people bring in for lunch? We rarely have leftover food as it tends to go to a kids portion and frozen so I'd need to either make things from scratch and freeze or buy some things that are cheap but can be heated in the microwave or just kept in the fridge until lunchtime!

Am after some inspiration to jazz up my lunches! Thanks!

Pesto salad with peas, cous cous with lots of chopped veg and feta, soup and a roll, wraps with Houmous and salad, salad with tuna and hard boiled egg.

Jacket potatoes
Wraps
Salads
Pasta

If you cook anyway, I’d just make more.

Or make a batch of soup and take it with a scone or a roll.

I often take salads - making a couple of big batch of roast veg, lentils, or other kinds of robust salad for the week.

i like to take soem salmon and veg uncooked. stick it in the microwave for 2-3 mins and you get a nice steamed meal

Don't do this.

It stinks the whole place out. No one will like you 😂

doesnt stink at all! have it regularly - others do too in our office, its not mackerel or something very pugnant

I make a feta and tomato omelette. Sometimes I eat it cold or warm it up in the works microwave 😋
The Uncle Ben's rice pouches are great too. You can add whatever you like to them. I have Mexican rice and add peppers and chicken etc.

Roasted veg with some balsamic vinegar and seasoning (peppers, aubergine, courgette, red onions, tomatoes) mixed up with a pouch of cooked lentils and some crumbled feta (makes enough for three lunches)

Beans on toast is good for a change.

Have you tried the Merchant Gourmet pouches? They are pre-cooked grains, puy lentils, all sorts... and are a delicious base to a salad as they provide flavour and texture and fill you up. I add spinach leaves, raw peppers, some protein (cheese cubes, chicken, tuna), seeds or nuts. A pouch will last me two days.

Wow, so many great ideas! Thanks all. And I've just fallen down a rabbit hole of bento boxes too which look amazing

I fear I may end up spending more on big lunches to bring in than just buying an expensive salad here!

Any suggestions for bento box containers?

Are you sure it doesn't smell?...I like fish and wouldn't like it if someone was cooking salmon for lunch in the office....