New ideas for "packed lunch" for work ... please

[Lilymaid]

Help, please! I need a few new ideas for work lunches for the autumn. I usually buy salads etc at M&S or have the odd Pret sandwich but could do with some more economical ideas which I can prepare at home. I will be eating at my desk and my office has a small kitchen with fridge, microwave, kettle and toaster. I commute by train/tube.
I'll eat practically anything ... so could do with ideas that aren't too high in calories!

I've recently started taking my own lunch too Lily. Leftovers are always good. How about pasta salad or spanish omelette? Wraps seem to have less calories than bread, have a look at this one from the Hairy Dieters.

MN has some lunchbox ideas too here or how about some savoury muffins here.

If you've got a kitchen you can always do some completely boring but cheap low cal easy things like beans on toast and jacket potato and coleslaw.

Have you seen the Do you Bento? thread too Lily?

Tuna and sweetcorn pasta. You could make 3 days worth from 1 tin of tuna and one tin of sweetcorn. Just mix the tuna and sweetcorn, cooked pasta and a dollop of mayo. It will keep in the fridge for a few days.

Wraps can work out quite cheap. I prefer the Mission Deli wheat and white ones, these are on offer from time to time for £1 for a pack of 8. If it's just you eating them, I'd recommend freezing half the pack when you open it, putting a layer of grease proof between each wrap.

Filling ideas. Chicken Caesar. Iceberg lettuce, chopped up chicken, then a drizzle of Caesar dressing. Sliced red pepper goes nice in these as well. A bottle of Caesar dressing for around £1 will last for a few weeks. It's the cost of the chicken that will make the price vary. I usually use precooked thighs and pick off the chicken. It's under £3 for a pack and it usually does 6 wraps.

Cream cheese and ham with salad. Smear on some cream cheese, add a slice of ham, then add whatever salad you like.

Tuna & sweet corn.
Chicken & sweetcorn.
Cream cheese and smoked salmon. If you can get the value/basic smoked salmon pieces this would work out quite cheap.

I make a big box of something on a Sunday night that will last me and DH for most of the week. It is very convenient and I must admit that I don't really care that it is a bit repetitive. Things that have worked so far are:-

Spanish omlette and salsa
Brown rice salad with chorizo, mushroom, red pepper, chopped tomatoes and tinned mixed beans
Wholemeal pasta, roasted veg and red pesto
A 'sort-of' kedgeree which is just bismati rice boiled with curry powder, peas, sweetcorn, spring onions, tinned chickpeas and smoked mackerel (the vacuum packed stuff).
Daal and homemade naan (this is my favourite and really is sooooo cheap)
Homemade cornbread (from H F-W everyday book) and either tomato chutney or a spicy beanie tomato thing.
Minestrone soup

I think that is all the successful ones so far although i'd be interested if anyone as any cheaper pasta salads as the roasted veg and pesto is a bit pricey. Can't remember if you said you have a mircowave but if not then it is worth buying one of those insulated containers to keep food warm as salad get a bit dull in mid-winter!

Thanks for the ideas - I think I need to make the effort to get something made on Sunday ready for at least part of the week. When it gets really cold (and it does in a semi basement office with single glazing) I shall default to soup - either home made or supermarket tubs.
And I must attempt not to sneak out and buy chocolate which probably accounts for a couple of extra stone in my weight.

I've started taking in healthyish snacks recently too Lily. It does take more effort but not that much really and have only gone out for chocolate and crisps once in 3 weeks.

It is helping my purse and waistline

If you want quick, leftovers is the best option, or something you can freeze into small portions. I make big batch of soup and freeze in small tupperwares, stays fresh while travelling then just bung in the microwave. If making from scratch, cous-cous or pasta salads. If I run out of food and have to buy lunch from M&S just get a packet of rolls and cream cheese/ham or something & keep in fridge at work, at least that way you get lots of lunches for the price of one ready made sandwich.

You could get some Toastabags and put a sandwich in ready to toast at work.