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OT: Lunch ideas

Maya

Veteran

This is completely unrelated to anything, but I know we have some culinary talent here so I thought I would ask:

I am not very creative at all when it comes to making my own lunch for work, but buying lunch is getting too expensive. The fact that I am somewhat picky and vegetarian adds another layer of difficulty. I can't just do 20 variations on a turkey sandwich or eat a piece of leftover chicken.

I am not sure whether I hate cooking because I'm bad at it, or I'm bad at cooking because I hate it...but in any case, I am not a talented cook at all, so I need some fairly simple ideas.

The only thing I'm going to say is out are salads. I don't find them filling or satisfying enough. The only thing I can think of that I really hate is eggplant. Other than that, I'll keep an open mind.

General

34 replies

Latest reply was from Maya

marianna

Veteran

Maya, I hate cooking too. I'm bad at it and have no creativity at all. I'll be following this thread for interesting ideas too! I LOVE eggplant though.

Ele

(website)

My no. 1 fallback lunch is LEFTOVERS, but as you aren't big on cooking, that won't really work. When I don't have any of them, I like something quick, easy to prepare and filling- a favourite is a legume salad. (I know you said no salads, but this is different! Not a green salad!) I find them filling and infinitely adaptable; I've got a "formula" on my blog for them:
http://www.kitchenist.com/cook.....-salad/537

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

(Eggplant is my favourite vegetable!)

Maya, we started a thread on this topic before. Ana did I think. Check out her "threads started" part pf her profile too.

You MUST take lunch with you. It's very cost effective and healthy. I packed a lunch for Greg everyday when he worked at an office. Now he works from home and I still make lunch and I have a whole slew if things in the pipeline all the time. I'll chime in again later.

chewyspaghetti

Veteran

My two favorite things that I cook in bulk and keep frozen for lunches are:

Bean and Cheese Burritos
sounds eh, but I cook my beans from scratch in the crock pot (a diced onion, a spoonful of minced garlic, a squeeze of lime, and enough homememade veggie broth to cover the beans- cooked on high overnight), then I add jarred salsa, spices, and chili sauce, smash them and cook until they are just right. Once I have the burrito made, I put them in a single layer on a baking sheet and leave them open in the freezer until frozen solid. Then you can toss them into a big ziploc bag and they won't stick together.

Meatless Meat Pies
I made a turkey version for the meat eaters, but these are just as good.
cook some Smart Grounds or other crumbly veggie meat (soy rizo or plain tofu would work) with chopped veggies (onion, carrot, celery, potato- whatever you like). After it's cooked pretty well through, add veggi broth and cook until it's all absorbed.. Let that sit in the fridge overnight. The next day, cut up refrigerated pie crusts into quarters (or make you own pastry dough- mibne never comes out very well) seal into a cone shape and fill with meatless filling. Seal the edges and bake at 350 until they are golden brown. I freeze these the same ways as the burritos.

I also really love rice dishes for lunch- add protien with nuts or tofu, fruit for a little sweetness, and whatever veggies you have around. Almost any type of Asian or Indian sauce is good in these types of dishes.

Oh- potato pancakes filled with vegetables, omlettes, egg or veggie burritos.....

mmmmm.... I'm getting hungry!

londonkiwi (now back in NZ)

Veteran

I always take my lunch to work, saves a lot!

Left overs are definitely a winner. The other thing i like to take to work is soup. A thermos is pretty cheap to buy. Grab a bread roll to go with it. You could make your own - soup is very easy or just buy from the supermarket.

If you have a staff kitchen at work then a grainy bread toasted with fresh tomato or avacardo is yummy.

Rice and pasta salads are also great and I particularly love couscous salads. Does your no salad ban include these?

Hummos and some vegetables to dip. Crackers and cheese is another option. What about falafel and pita?

I also love eggplant - have you ever tried baba ghanoush (smoked eggplant dip)?

Maya

Veteran

I remember that Angie but I don't know how to find that thread. Also I don't think it was veggie specific so I don't know how helpful it would be for me. I remember there were a lot of fishy-type dishes mentioned.

I can only bring lunch 2 days a week. The other 2 I sort of have to eat out because the office is so small and lacks any proper eating area. I hate eating at my desk. It doesn't give me the feeling of an actual break.

Once it warms up, I can start bringing my lunch and eating it outdoors at least. Luckily there are some inexpensive places around and I don't really eat junk food. I always bring an apple and granola bar for a snack and usually have some kind of veggie-based soup. I don't know if this is true for other states or cities, but in NY calorie information is mandatory, which certainly helps put me off from the bad stuff!

Thanks for the ideas Khris and Ele.

Christie

I think its very hard to cook for just one's self. Some of my ideas are store-bought, some are not ---

--Do you have a Trader Joe's near you? Most stores sell bean and cheese burritos, or breakfast burritos, that you could heat up at work.
--Trader Joe's also has yummy rice bowls ready-to-heat, and I noticed they sell a vegetarian version.
--hard boiled eggs or egg salad sandwiches
--pita sandwiches with cucumbers, sprouts, apples or pears, feta, pine nuts
--Caprese salad ---mozzarella, tomato, basil, and bread
--Hummus and crackers

Maya

Veteran

Ugh, I forgot to mention that I don't have a microwave at work. That would make my life so much easier. Alas...

The thing about leftovers is that I have to choose between having them for lunch or for dinner the next day, and being without a microwave at work, it makes a lot more sense to keep them for dinner.

Sorry eggplant lovers. I just find the texture sort of disgusting.

April

Veteran

Maya, I feel similarly about eggplant. It can be done well but usually isn't, and for some reason restaurants love to make it the centerpiece of their single vegetarian offering.

This sounds like a bad vegetarian cliche, but what about a sandwich of baked tofu? Here's an idiot-proof method.

Take a tub of Extra Firm tofu (the kind that comes packed in water, not the unrefrigerated sort), drain, and slice widthwise into 6 or eight pieces, depending on how thick you like your sandwich. Lay the slices on a clean dishtowel, lay another clean towel on top, and put a cutting board on top. When the towels have absorbed a lot of the water from the tofu, heat your oven to about 400. Take a cookie sheet and put a sheet of baking parchment on it -- not mandatory but makes cleanup a breeze. Brush the tofu on each side with soy sauce (if you have 6 thick slices, brush twice) and finish with a brushing of olive oil. Bake until it's as done as you like it -- at least a half hour. After it comes out, brushing it once with teriyaki sauce gives a little extra flavor but you can also leave it plain.

A sandwich of this, a little dijonnaise (dijon mustard mixed with mayo - vegan mayo if you prefer), and a layer of baby spinach leaves on whole grain bread makes a fine lunch. Even my non-vegetarian son adores these!

bella

(website)

Veteran

I echo the previous suggestions of pasta, rice, couscous and bean salads. These work really well if you make a habit of cooking a double batch for dinner.
Very simple couscous salad recipe: mix couscous for 1 small tomato, 1 spring onion, 1 handful of fresh herbs (parsley, mint, basil, whatever you have) or sprinkle some dried herbs, salt and pepper. I prefer a very simple olive oil and lemon dressing or some balsamic vinegar.
For pasta salad, I prefer a yogurt base. Mix whole kernel corn, small diced pickles, green olives and cucumber with pasta and plain white yogurt. Season to taste.The creamier the yogurt the better but I almost always use fat free yogurt. Non-vegetarians can add a couple of sausages to the mix.
As for rice salads, I usually prefer brown rice with tuna but that won't work for you. Instead you can use any of the formula above. I tried rice both with yogurt and with olive oil, both are very tasty.
I love Ele's suggestion of bean salad, too. My favorites are chickpeas and black eyed peas. There are so many possibilities.
Finally, one of our favorites is veggie burger in whole grain pita with a dollop of hummus and tomatoes. I cook the burger in the morning and don't mind eating it cold for lunch. We buy morningstar farms veggie burgers. Current favorites are tomato basil and spicy black bean.
http://www.morningstarfarms.co.....px?coid=23|59|59&family=363|634|675s
My roommate used to make quesadillas for us with small corn tortillas with real Mexican cheese, very yummy! We'd eat them with a bag of carrots or celery.
April's tofu recipe sounds yummy! I will try it next time I buy tofu.

elpgal

Veteran

Maya, How about packing lunch in something like a Mr. Bento (thermos lunch container)? That will increase your options tremendously.

Kari

Veteran

I'm glad you started this thread, because not packing lunches (or not packing lunches that are very interesting) is one of the hang-ups I have, too. I bring apples, snap peas, cheese sticks, sliced cucumber/mushrooms and hummus, yogurt, or almonds to munch on, but I find that I need something with a bit more substance in order to have enough energy to get through the day. Veggies alone don't cut it. So I end up cruising the snacks that people bring to our department to share, which are never healthy options.

I have a couple ideas of favorite meals that could be adapted to suit a vegetarian diet:
Quiche (with or without spinach) - our family has a great oil crust recipe that is a bit healthier than a traditional crust, and pretty easy to make. I've never done it, but I know you can make mini-quiches in muffin tins, too.
Stuffed, oven-roasted bell peppers stuffed with cheese, rice, and ground beef - would taste equally good to leave out the beef and substitute chopped veggies in with the rice and cheese.
Home-made crepes filled with white sauce, cheese, broccoli, and chicken (you could leave out the chicken easily) - they are actually much easier to prepare in advance than I would have thought, they taste great left over, and you can make several in bulk to save for later.

I also like pita bread filled with sprouts and a tiny bit of mayonnaise.

Anyway, maybe that will give you a few more ideas.

Isabel

Veteran

Hi Maya,

Regarding not having a microwave, Target carries a thermos bowl that you can microwave at home ( without the top ) and then put the top on and it keeps things warm for over 6 hours.

I would recommend that you slightly over heat everything so that it stays warmer longer. I bought one for my sister and it works beautifully !!!

http://www.target.com/s/180-01.....rget104545

They carry a bigger and better one at their store, but you get the idea.

Finally, I am no cooking expert.....we have been trying to eat less meat. And the meat alternatives at the supermarket are great. There are some great faux cheese and spinach nuggets that are great with Ranch dressing or salsa. There are also tofu chicken cutlets that you treat as if it were genuine chicken - you can make chicken parmesan, sandwhiches, stirfry ( in your new thermos ) etc.

marianna

Veteran

A few ideas:

Do you like cheese? I LOVE cheese. One of my favorite sandwiches when I vacationed in Europe a few years ago was baguette with butter and cheese. Obviously not low fat in the least, but it's delicious and very portable.

Also, I love avocado and cheese sandwiches. Again, very high fat, but delicious... especially on good wheat bread. Add some alfalfa spouts and tomatoes and you're good to go!

I also like the idea of hummus and pita chips, and maybe some baby carrots and other veggies to dip in the hummus. Or maybe a tzatziki/yogurt based type of dip. I'm a huge fan of baba ghanoush but I know you don't like eggplant.

I am also sort of addicted to trail mix, which is always nice to have in your bag and is a great snack on its own or with your lunch.

elpgal

Veteran

Have you come across the vegan lunch box site? It looks like a bit of work, but it has a lot of good ideas.

http://veganlunchbox.blogspot.com/

marianne

Maya, I don't pack lunch for myself, only for my son. He uses a thermos, and I highly recommend it. OTOH if you only need to do it twice a week, you might be able to get away with sandwiches. Some ideas for sandwiches and wraps - egg salad, tofu salad (same idea), avocado/cream cheese, hummus or other bean spread, nut butter+banana. Also baked tofu (in marinade made with soy sauce, garlic, ginger, rice vinegar etc).
I also second(or third) Ele's suggestion of bean/grain salads, they make a wholesome meal - something like lentils, bulgur, some veggies, seasoned with olive oil and lemon juice.
Sometimes I make avocado sushi rolls, but they are more labor intensive for me.
I am neutral about eggplant, but DH hates it, so it rarely shows up in our house.
Angie, so Greg is working from home now, good for him!

chewyspaghetti

Veteran

Oh- falafel in a wrap with some cucumber salad on the side. Yum yum! They sell mixes, but it's actually pretty easy to make. I should make a big batch and freeze that.
Not having a microwave limits things, but what about pasta salad or potato salad (I like a healthier, more filling version with an olive oil and spice based sauce with added veggies. A good roll, fruit salad and some cheese is a nice light lunch

Maya

Veteran

All of your ideas are making me hungry :\

Marianna, cheese is my weakness. Cheese and chocolate. OMG, and cupcakes. It's a wonder I'm not 500 pounds. I'm *trying* to eat a little smarter now though, and so far I have been successful. I made a pig of myself over the holidays, but hey, that's what holidays are for. No more though!

Hummus and veggies are a very standard vegetarian snack idea, which I love, but I get tired of it. I dunno, I need to make my own hummus. I haven't found a store-bought hummus that I like, which is probably why I get tired of it.

One day my train was delayed and I was hungry, so I stopped by Au Bon Pain and picked up a snack of cheese, crackers, and grapes. It was fantastic but stupidly overpriced at $3. I think I will start making my own at home and bringing it with me. It really hit the spot.

Isabel, that sounds like exactly what I need. Especially in the winter, I prefer something hot or at least warm to eat! I'm trying to eat more veggies and not just fall back on faux meats. They are great to have sometimes but I prefer to keep them as treat rather than make them a regular part of my diet.

Bella, the tomato basil MF burger is my favorite too! That's a good idea.

chewyspaghetti

Veteran

Black bean burgers or baked potatoes if you can stand them cold- a thermos full of soup is perfect for cold days

cciele

Veteran

Hm, packed lunches are hard (ask my kids; they get boring sandwiches almost every day ). You've gotten a lot of great suggestions. Here are a few random thoughts:

- Those thermos food jars are great to keep warm things like fried rice, pasta, etc. as well as the ubiquitous soup.
- Maybe try lettuce wraps? You could have a container with the filling (water chestnuts, mushrooms, baby corn, tofu) and keep the leaves separate.
- A random pita filling/sandwich that grew on me in the East Coast was stir-fried veggies topped with BBQ sauce and cheese.
- Raw food recipes include a great faux salmon; you could make sushi out of it.

Maya

Veteran

I was sitting here eating a giant bowl of edamame and wondering why it didn't occur to me before to bring it as a snack. I love edamame.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

High five to those who love cheese and chocolate! If I had to live on three things in the world it would be those plus tea. Then I’d add cake, dense brown bread and vegetables.

I think if you’re going to have cheese have the good stuff – no low fat measures. Just don’t have too much of it.

Roasted veggies on bread with hummus is another idea. Peppadews, cheese and frizee makes a fab sandwich. Add dates and dried apricots on the side too. There is no shortage of GREAT lunch options if you’re prepared to put in a bit of effort.

shana

Veteran

I don't make lunch for myself but I do make my son his lunches. He doesn't do sandwiches (only 6 and so picky already!) so we either go the thermos route or do bento/laptop lunches. I picked up a thermos at Target/funtainer and he gets pasta, rice or soups along with a roll or some crusty bread. Since he can't microwave at school, my trick to keeping it warm is to pre-heat the thermos by filling it with boiling water before I place the extra-hot contents inside. This seems to work fairly well.

Otherwise I do a bento boxed lunch - I ordered a bento box for him online and try to fill it with a variety of different items. There's tons of ideas on this page:

http://www.flickr.com/groups/laptop_lunches/pool/

Maya

Veteran

Angie, I am tickled to see how alike we are. Same eating habits, same sleeping habits, same clothing habits...:)

OK, I think I have a lot of ideas to run with. I even made a recipes folder in my bookmarks and found a lot of fab ideas from Cooking Light. I need to go grocery shopping!

Tricia

Veteran

I've been bringing hummus with baby carrots, cherry tomatoes, and a whole wheat mini-pita - it fills me up for an insanely low number of calories.

I also wanted to chime in about the bean/grain salad ideas...I make a lentil salad with sherry vinegar, shallot, and radishes that's to die for. I think it's a Rachael Ray recipe - let me know if it sounds good and I'll post it. Or, do you like quinoa? It makes a fantastic base for all kinds of yummy, filling salads.

Isabel

Veteran

HI Maya,

outside of the faux meat, a couple of things my sister takes with her pre-heated microwaveable thermos from home are :

oatmeal - sometimes with fruit, even a few semi-sweet chocolate chips which then
melt and are YUMMY, and of course with cinnamon

refried beans - mix in some cheese, sour cream, salsa or hot sauce, green peppers
onions and microwave the whole thing, then at work you can have
the mixture with corn chips, tortillas or soft tacos

mac-n-cheese - nothing exciting, but delicious none-the-less - I like it with sweet
peas and black pepper.

a chunky, veggie pot pie - use less liquid than that for a chicken pot pie and tons
of frozen veggies and then top it off with Bisquick ( let
me know if you want a recipe for this )

Michelle

(website)

Veteran

Maya, I haven't read through the comments on this thread, so apologies if I'm duplicating anything, but here are a few suggestions that came to mind immediately. If you want recipes, I can provide them any time. Just ask me here or drop me a PM:

Barley and corn salad (with red peppers, green onions, basil and parsley (simple dressing of olive oil, lemon juice and dijon mustard)
Black bean and corn salad (a spicy faux-mexican dish with red peppers, grap tomatoes, cilantro, avocado and a spicy dressing)
Mushroom and herb quinoa (quinoa is very filling and extremely good for you)
A wrap consisting of hummus and roasted vegetables (too bad you don't like eggplant, as it would be great for this, but pretty much any others will do)
You could always make a chick pea-based salad too, spaeking of hummus... Just open a can of chick peas and drain it, add whatever veggies and herbs you like and a simple oil/vinegar dressing
Couscous could also be a great option, and there are dozens of ways to play with that.
I made up a recipe for a sundried tomato and asparagus risotto that's also super filling. It sounds hard to make but it's not; just not super quick. The kind of dish you'd make on the weekend and then eat throughout the week.

Hope that helps!

EDIT: I see I did duplicate a couple of suggestions, but I just remembered. I make a lentil spinach curry soup sometimes that I load up with other veggies (carrots, celery and zucchini). You can make it super spicy as I know you like, and it's really filling due to the lentils. I also make a more standard minnistrone-esque one with veggies, red kidney beans and pasta that's very satisfying on cold winter days.

Dashrashi

Veteran

Maya--have you tried Sabra hummus? It's by far the best hummus I've been able to buy in the US.

AJ

Veteran

Maya, I don't know if this would appeal to you but my kids and I like wheat bread with peanut butter, granola and diced apples. Great as a snack or lunchtime sandwich!

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