Sandwiches for lunch, ideas for lowering cost

[Bringonthesunforthewashing]

We are a family of 5, sandwiches for pack up are costing a fortune!!

Only 2 of us like tuna
Only 3 of us like ham
Only 3 of us like chicken
Only 1 likes egg
No one likes cheese

I have been buying a gammon joint from Aldi, the 1.3kg ones and cooking that every Sunday as dp likes ham and he takes the most lunch.

Does anyone have any suggestions? Even if I buy and cook chicken breasts that will cost a fortune.

I am currently making at least 15 sandwiches a week with more for supper etc.

There must be a cheaper way?

While you’re asking them, make a rota for prepping lunches! You’re not the only one who eats them so you shouldn’t be the only one making them.

Coronation or tikka chickpeas

These are really nice

Chicken things roasted and striped are better value than chicken breast roasted

Carrots grated and hummus - carrots are cheap as chips

chicken drumsticks in a marinade roasted and given instead of sandwiches

Have a look at taming twins lunch box ideas

Chicken legs with the bone in are super cheap. I bung a load in the slow cooker and then remove the skin and the bones when cooked and you essentially have a bunch of pulled chicken.

Grated carrot and hummus

Coronation chickpeas

honey and banana

peanut butter and banana

good old cucumber sandwich with salted butter

i make vegetable pakora with leftover veg (Nadia Hussain has a great recipe) and they are great in a sandwich with lettuce and mango chutney

I put leftover chilli in a wrap with lettuce (cheese optional) and that’s gorgeous

I second the pp advice to bulk with more veg. If you Mix tuna with sweetcorn, diced peppers and red onion you will use 1/3 to 1/2 as much tuna.
Chicken mixed with mayo, celery and apple.

How much is it actually costing you per person per meal though? My guess is that it's actually not much compared to the alternatives.

The cheapest thing you could make would be leftovers you'd likely waste anyway or a veg-based lentil/bean soup with bread/butter. But if they aren't keen on that, then your options are sandwiches with bulk bought fillings. I would imagine that is still cheaper than the £2.53 per child per day I pay for a school dinner (I don't make packed lunches on principle).

But the bigger question would be what are they eating besides sandwiches for lunch? Because usually the sandwich is the cheapest bit to make. What are they taking as a drink? What else is going into the lunch besides the sandwich? It's the extra bits - the packet of crisps, the flapjack, the two pieces of fruit, the yoghurt, dried fruit and nuts, whatever that goes along with the sandwich that costs the most. This is why filling up on hot hearty food like leftover stew or lentil soup can be most economical.

Unless you are on a health drive (which I am assuming not) there is a great range of pot noodle style meals if they have access to a kettle.
Usually there is 1 brand on at £1 each.

Just came on to suggest doing similar with chicken as you do with ham. Buy a big packet of chicken thighs and cook in the slow cooker or as tray bake. Makes great chicken sandwiches.

And agree that you can bulk out. Chicken mayo sandwiches around here usually include a little grated carrot and some gherkins at the very least. Tuna we like to make with capers and then put avocado in the bread (although that probalby UPS the price, not lowers it).

One or two days a week of basic jam/peanut butter/marmite instead?

A ham sandwich isn't a ham sandwich for me without tomato, lettuce, mustard and mayo with a couple of slices of pickled cucumber!

Thank you everyone.

After reading all the replies I can see our family are really stuck in a rut and eat such boring old fashioned lunches!

The ideas you have given are really helpful and interesting and I will be introducing them, I am quite excited about it 😊

Deleted as wrong thread! Sorry!

I have salad and roasted veggies in a wrap with hummus

I’m hoping you come back and update us on what sandwiches the family deemed acceptable

Buy a whole chicken. Cook it slowly and shred all the meat . Or keep the drumsticks to eat cold. Or buy thigh fillets instead.
Use baguettes and fill with lots of salad and less meat.
Roast peppers add a lot of flavour.Sweetcorn or roast carrots for texture?
Hummus and finely sliced veggies in wraps or pita?
Home made meatloaf ? Pork mince on its own or mixed with beef, chicken mince or turkey mince..breadcrumbs,onions and herbs. Sliced thinly and with pickles and /or sauces you like. OR
Sometimes I feel like telling them all to make their own !

Sorry I didn’t update before now!

We decided that we would still buy the gammon joint from Aldi for dp’s lunches, I have tuna or egg.

Kids now refuse to take lunch - because it’s very uncool and absolutely no one does.. wtf!! No matter what I say they refuse (offered everything and they won’t take it).

Thank you so very much for all your ideas. I would certainly love to try so many of them (I have uc so very restrictive diet), but if I ever can I certainly will. No doubt in 6 months the kids will have matured and be more willing to try different things and to actually eat at lunchtime!

I didn’t realise before I was asked if we ate sandwiches for our evening meal and I didn’t answer! No we don’t x

Cook an extra large roast chicken from aldi (£5). It's much cheaper than the equivalent chicken breasts & should last a whole week for sandwiches.

Sandwiches are expensive!!! Ditch the sandwiches!!

I've found chilli works a treat. I just have it hot or cold in a pot depending of wether i have access to a microwave. teally cheap and you can do a ton and keep it in the fridgeor freezer. Prepared and frozen burritos can also be good

I've also Done dhal. And cooked whole roast chicken in the slow cooker

For a change, beef brisket is a cheap cut and makes the richest sandwiches.

@Bringonthesunforthewashing

If the kids are teens, consider giving them a modest weekly allowance for food and they can choose to either buy food at school or buy lunch things themselves, my dd did the latter and prepared lovely lunches pocketing the change, her favourite was couscous, salad and roasted vegetables with humous.

I realise you've moved on already but my favourite sandwich filling is either peanut butter and dates, or cheese, apple and celery (grated cheese, finely chopped apple and sliced celery in a little yogurt/mayo mix). I'm more likely to have the peanut butter one in winter as if just tastes wintery!

When I was at school a few years ago, no one took packed lunch past primary. It was either dinner school or a trip to the local deli/chip shop/subway/greggs etc. Just FYI - they are probably correct!

I know you say they're not taking lunches any more but just to say - easier and healthier hummus is a tin of butterbeans whizzed up with either a couple the roasted red peppers out of the jar or a cooked beetroot. Garlic, s&p and it's done and delicious.

That sounds delicious

Aldi also sell this, think it’s about £3 for 400g

Yep, Aldi and Lidl both sell ham trimmings - I think both also do chicken trimmings too FYI. £2.99 for 400g.

So typical that your kids have decided to get meals now though 😂