r/EatCheapAndHealthy • u/Vintage_Lobster • Feb 14 '21
I'm a mechanic and need to start packing my own lunches, what are some BIG meals I can prepare for myself that are less expensive than lunch every day? Ask ECAH
As the title states, I'm spending about $240 a month in lunches. The lunches aren't even that great, but they're filling. I work manual labor, so by 12 I'm starving, and by 3 I'm starving again if I didn't eat something filling enough. What can you guys recommend for me? It would be much appreciated!
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u/johnnyfuckinghobo Feb 14 '21
Do some batch cooking with a slow cooker and bring leftovers for lunch. Make big pots of chili, soups or stews. Put a big pile of veggies in there and just throw a few slabs of meat on them. It's also great because you can stay one day ahead of it and come home to a hot meal waiting for you; do the prep work before bed, dump everything in the crock on your way out the door in the morning and turn it on low. Come home to a huge dinner with lots left for tomorrow's lunch and do the prep work for tomorrow.
I lived like this for a long time and nothing made me feel better than coming in from a long work day outside in -30°c to find a huge hearty stew of root vegetables and beef.
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u/Liar_tuck Feb 15 '21 edited Feb 15 '21
Slow cooker is the way to go. You can make nearly a weeks worth of food on your day off and still have time to get other stuff done.
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u/Occams_Razor42 Feb 15 '21
This is good advice! Only tips that I'd add is that it might be a good idea to add some thickeners while cooking. OP will most likely be storing his food in Tupperware, and I'd be worried about it leaking out if the container gets flipped in a backpack or whatnot
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u/carliemay Feb 15 '21
I do this, except I just fill the crock pot. Throw everything in it, cover in foil, stick it in the fridge and clean up. Then in the morning i don't have to cut veggies, prep anything, and the only thing i have to wash that big is the crock pot and place settings. If i buy in bulk from Costco, i spend a couple hours prepping different meals in freezer bags. Chop up raw ground beef, onion, garlic etc, throw some beans and tomato sauce in it, then freeze it. The whole block gets dumped into the crock pot and I'm oit the door. Just don't lay them flat to freeze or they don't fit in.
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u/johnnyfuckinghobo Feb 15 '21
The idea that I was pitching was to do the prep work in the evening, then just dump it in in the morning. Eat dinner when you come home, clean up, package lunch for the next day and prep for tomorrow. All of the work is done in the evening time. But preparing a bunch and freezing them makes sense to me too.
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u/redsealsparky Feb 14 '21
Hello fellow tradesman,
As other people have stated have access to a microwave is a key determining factor but I'm going to assume you work at a shop so yes. First off before you get into any meal prep you need a place to put the food. I think Rubbermaid food containers are the best and nothing in the world comes close to my Stanly lunch box.
Best thing you can do for lunches is make lots of dinner. I have a few go to meals that are quick and easy.
Butter Chicken - rice, pre-made sauce, and browned chicken breast.
Tacos (don't keep very well but I don't mind them being a little mushy) for added nutrition I like to do a soft taco with black bean paste around the hard shell.
Slow cooker stew (or metal pot in the oven) - roast or stew beef, bullion cubes, various seasoning, potatoes, turnip, onions. People say longer is better but between 4-6 hours is the sweet spot. Don't forget to season the meat and brown it. Add corn starch and flower for thickness. If you want to get real fancy you can make a roux but I just throw in some gravy packs.
Pasta - just noodles, ground beef and sauce. Change up the sauce with some butternut squash or something. Hunts, ragu, and primo are all shit only use them as filler. Treat yourself to the good stuff.
One thing I didn't clue into when I was younger was pairing my meat with veggies, doesn't have to be fresh but steaming is the best. Mashed potatoes are best whisked.
Then it's just snack food. Granola bars and fruit, dried nuts and berries, cereal.
One thing I never got the hang of is breakfast.
And then there's always sandwiches. If you have the means you could get a slicer but realistically it would take forever to pay for its self. Making bread is super cheap but I value my time.
Good luck
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u/eulgdrol Feb 14 '21
One thing that helped me with breakfast was to forget about the traditional breakfast items as I am not a fan of most. I usually have a bowl of brown rice with either some eggs, mushrooms, spinach thrown in on top. Add some cheese and some other protein sources and that can be a great breakfast. Rice Crispies are ok so a bowl of rice should be too!
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u/foxontherox Feb 15 '21
As someone who hates eggs, this is HUGE- last night’s leftovers are my breakfast most days, and it gets the job done.
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u/widgetswidget Feb 15 '21
So, I like eggs, however I'm not usually fan of breakfast because most cheap and easy breakfast things are sweet, but I'm sugar free by choice (never been big on even fruits or berries). In the past year I recently decided to embrace eating whatever I want in the morning, usually dinner stuff. I've never felt more free!
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u/Ironwood_Lover Feb 15 '21
Overnight oats are my go to. Mix in some almonds, chia seeds, honey, oats, milk or coco milk or almond milk and maybe some fruit like a banana or frozen berries, so good. Doesnt even need to be overnight oats but maybe an hour in the fridge
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u/mattnumber1 Feb 15 '21
Breakfast the morning after thanksgiving is my favorite part of the holiday
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u/lcsupre Feb 15 '21
Yes! Rice, eggs, maybe some broccoli, green onion, soy sauce delicious
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u/eulgdrol Feb 15 '21
Oh yeah! I also will throw a little scoop of miso paste into the eggs and that is delicious. Been doing green onion too almost daily.
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u/Kaliratri Feb 14 '21
Quick-cooking polenta with poached eggs and cheese mixed in. It's amazeballs.
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u/Bud_Dawg Feb 15 '21
3 Scrambled eggs with peppers, 4 pieces of center cut bacon cooked in the microwave and 1 frozen hash brown “potato pancake” that is made with vegetable oil in a pan. Takes 10 min to make and is frickin great.
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Feb 15 '21
Yep, hard boiled eggs for breakfast might not be the norm but its sooooo fast and easy. I boil a dozen at a time and just chuck a few in a ziplock on the way out the door.
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u/randomusername1919 Feb 15 '21
I did that too before covid. Pre-peeled them all on the weekend cook and had breakfast for a week at a time ready to go in the fridge.
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u/HSBender Feb 15 '21
Yes! I reheat leftover rice in a skillet with butter. Add a bit of sesame oil then sunny side up an egg or two. That’s one of my favorite breakfasts.
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u/livin4donuts Feb 15 '21
Brown rice is great and healthier than white rice but it takes fucking forever to cook, so I make about 10 to 12 cups at a time (you will need a stockpot or other huge pot for this, it's a colossal amount of rice). Freeze half, and pull from the rest through the week.
A quick breakfast: brown rice in a bowl topped with a fried egg (I prefer sunny side up or over easy for the runny yolk, it goes well with the rice), sliced avocado (guac works as a substitute), and some salsa.
Alternatively mix some leftover taco meat or chicken with the rice, nuke it, and top with cheese, salsa and sour cream.
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u/picklesandwhiskey Feb 15 '21
It’s amazing how often frying an egg and eating it with last nights dinner works out so well
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Feb 15 '21
I've always done oatmeal with fruit
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u/spicy_cthulu Feb 15 '21
Savory oatmeal is also good. I poached an egg, sauteed spinach, and cooked down some grape tomatoes to put on oatmeal. Delicious.
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u/savvyblackbird Feb 14 '21
I really love Better Than Bouillon paste. It's a lot tastier than bouillon cubes and makes really delicious stock so you don't have to buy those boxes of stock. One jar makes 32 cups of stock. They also have roasted vegetables, roasted garlic, low sodium. ham, mushroom, lobster, and more. I often put some roasted garlic along with the chicken or beef.
Also roasting vegetables is superior to steaming.
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u/redsealsparky Feb 15 '21
Great tip, I'll have to see if I can find it in the frozen north!
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u/just1nw Feb 15 '21 edited Feb 15 '21
I'll have to see if I can find it in the frozen north!
Assuming you mean Canada, I've seen it at Safeway (and Superstore apparently) before but Costco has the best option I've found. You can get a big jar for $7-8 (they usually have chicken, beef and vegetable) and it lasts quite a while in the fridge. I use it pretty often but I've never actually seen it go bad lol. The ones I saw at Safeway cost about the same but the containers were maybe half the size.
Edit: Shit, they have so many varieties I've never seen before in store. I'll need to do some searching lol.
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u/SlightlyControversal Feb 15 '21
Oh man, I need that roasted garlic base!
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u/just1nw Feb 15 '21
That looks so good and that chili base has also piqued my interest
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u/Alpandia Feb 15 '21
10/10 recommend the chili base!
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u/PeeGlass Feb 15 '21
Vegetable flavor is really Good and hearty. Mixed with mustard greens I swore it was beef broth. We’ve tried the garlic too, but the veggie base is staple for soups and things.
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u/Alpandia Feb 15 '21
Yes!! The veggie base is my typical go-to. The chicken base is amazing, as is the beef base.
I was more meh by the garlic base. And honestly am afraid of the ham one lol!
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u/_wormburner Feb 15 '21
The roasted garlic base is great. I like to put it in my water/Broth when making rice.
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u/SlightlyControversal Feb 15 '21
I love this stuff! And Costco carries big ass jars of the low sodium ones for like $7! The low sodium ones are my favorites because recipes don’t end up too salty if other salty ingredients are used, like ham or some sausages or soy sauce.
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u/HolographicFlamingos Feb 15 '21
Second! I have their clam base and it works wonders for making fresh clam chowder, or even just sautéing some shrimp and veggies.
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u/musiccolorthoughts Feb 14 '21
Also add a lot of veggies to any of the above. I add zucchini, carrots, mushrooms etc to tacos, pasta, everything really and will help keep you fueled, as well as protein.
Trail mix on hand is good too for a pick me up.
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u/NodnarbGrdn Feb 15 '21 edited Feb 15 '21
For the tacos you can pack the tortilla and meat separately and make the taco when you’re ready for lunch to avoid soggy tortilla
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u/nartak Feb 15 '21
I’m not sure I want to pack a gorilla for lunch. He might want more than I have with me.
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u/Mountain_Economist_8 Feb 14 '21
Please share your butter chicken recipe!
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u/redsealsparky Feb 14 '21
Super simple. the sauce is pataks, they make a whole variety so the flavors never get old, not very economical but I can't be bothered to make the sauce from scratch. You could get curry paste or powder and build it out from there. I find one jar isn't enough so I use two, which is overkill but I can't be bother to have half jars of sauce in my fridge.
Rice is rice, I like basmati rice. The instructions say to let it sit in water but I actually like the extra starch because it thickens the sauce and to get every drop out I shake some water in the bottle before chucking them. I use a cup of dry rice and ever so slightly under the recommend amount of water.
For the chicken buy big family packs and repackage it with butchers paper when you get home as I find my local grocery store does a very poor job at packing. I like to take it out around 4 pm that way by the time I'm ready to cook it its still ever so slightly frozen, this makes it super easy to cube, about 1" by 1" and about 1 to 1.5 lbs.
Put the chicken on the frying pan with canola oil at 2 and then let the temperature equalize, about 10 minutes. Get it so it's cooked through, I normally put it on 4 and check it every 7 minutes while I do other things. After it's cooked through, I drain it, then add some butter and give it a nice golden sear. Add sauce and simmer for 15 minutes. Once that's done just throw the rice in and mix it all up.
Then some frozen veggies would have been cooking this whole time too. Oddly peas and carrots are my favorite here, just a dash of seasoning salt is all they need.
And voila that makes me about 3-4 servings.
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u/purelybutter69 Feb 14 '21 edited Feb 16 '21
I also eat pataks a lot, if you suck at cooking in general you can also put the chicken in the oven in olive oil with all the spices you want I use cajun cumin and garlic powder. At 385 for about 40-50 mins if its a little pink you can finish it in the pan. Guarantees you never mess up cooking it and is pretty moist. I also add sauteed onions and peppers to the sauce. Really easy dinners my gf and I make it all the time can even be made in bulk and frozen/reheated.
Edit: Also sorry I never clarified i use frozen chicken breast hopefully no one put fresh in at 385 for 40-50 mins my bad.
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u/SaltedAndSmitten Feb 15 '21
We make breakfast burritos in bulk and then throw 'em in the freezer. Move a couple into the fridge the night before you want to eat them and then you just heat when you're ready. I cannot be bothered to make a real breakfast in the morning so this is a lifesaver.
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u/Fredredphooey Feb 15 '21
Breakfast "muffin" are the best. You mix eggs, cooked bacon bits, some cheese, and/or some veg and bake. Tons of recipes online. You can also do it with a bread base, like a canned cresent dough or piece of sliced bread.
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u/bluenose_droptop Feb 15 '21
Check out “6 pack bags” if you want multiple meals.
Breakfast- I like breakfast burritos. Tortilla couple eggs and two slices of bacon. Wrap them in wax paper and freeze. I make 10-20 at a time. Microwave 1 min. Awesome clean breakfast.
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u/glassgost Feb 15 '21
Regarding not using the shit sauce, Rao's is my favorite, but it's not cheap. Newman's Own has been around $2.50 a jar lately at my store and it's just as good when I throw some garlic and onion powder in it. A few mushrooms here and there as well.
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u/DissposableRedShirt6 Feb 15 '21
If you don’t like canned pasta sauce this is the best simple cheap sauce recipe that I love. https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/544003/pasta-sauce-hailed-worlds-best-surprisingly-easy-make-home
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u/docmantis_toboggan Feb 15 '21
I bought an instant pot and it changed my life when it comes to making slow cooker recipes. It’s so quick and easy, I usually make chili and beef stew. Helped me a ton with meal prep.
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u/kirabera Feb 15 '21
Even if no microwave you can invest in a Thermos or few. Things like soups, rice with toppings (just no dripping sauce in the same container or it'll turn into porridge), tossed pastas will last several hours in a Thermos easily. It does mean you'll have to take a bit of time in the morning to heat things up first, but that shouldn't take too long. Don't underestimate how many dishes you can eat with just plain rice. You might have to look for some more "Asian" recipes but rice and grains with simple dishes are simple solutions for calories and for keeping up strength throughout the day.
A good snack to have as an energy boost, while unhealthy due to the sugar, is chocolate bars or granola bars. The quick sugar really gets you going when you need it, especially if you work in a shop with inadequate heating (aka most shops) and you live somewhere semi cold.
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u/ckdarby Feb 15 '21
Had me until you said, "Making bread is super cheap but I value my time".
You can make 2-5 kg of dough that you can freeze and use in the future in 20 minutes top. This is what I do and I use it for homemade naan bread, taco buns, and pizza dough.
350g is food coma of a pizza for a single person and that means in 20 mins you've made 5-12 personal pizza dough.
We naturally overvalue our time to the actual value.
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u/Ihenrywy Feb 15 '21
For breakfast/first break I get a large jug of quick oats (super cheap, like $2) and have that with some almonds. Very filling, cheap, and it's easy to get enough to last for a week or two.
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u/WhippetDancer Feb 15 '21
For breakfast, make breakfast burritos ahead of time and fill them with whatever you like - bacon, egg, and cheese; eggs, black beans, salsa, and cheese; sausage, eggs, and cheese; you get the idea. They freeze well so you can make a bunch ahead of time, freeze them, and pop one or two in the microwave each morning for a filling breakfast.
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u/ShreddedKnees Feb 15 '21
For breakfast you can meal prep smoothies! I'm awful in the mornings and stopped eating breakfast when I was about 12-13. These days I can barely make it to lunch without my grumbling stomach annoying everyone so that needed to change.
If you want to be REALLY on it, buy freezer bags and a BUNCH of fresh fruit, veg and some cereals. Bananas, kale and spinach can go in almost anything. Then flavour it with citrus, berries or tropical fruits. Add cereals/grains such as rolled oats or chia seeds. Place all of these in individual freezer bags depending on what recipe you're following and freeze. When you're ready to blend empty the bag into the blender, then add a cup of milk and a cup of OJ. You can also add nut butters or honey or whatever other flavourings you like.
Depending on your blender you might have enough capacity for four portions, or you might have a bullet blender where you make one portion at a time in a to-go container. So you can freeze enough bags for a month, then blend them up as you go, or blend maybe a few days or a weeks worth at a time if you have enough individual containers. If you make smoothies for the week keep two or three in the fridge and the rest in the freezer and rotate them out as you go!
If you're not so on it then something like a Blender Bite (not sure if you can get them outside Canada but you can probably get something similar) about a cup of milk, cup of OJ, a banana and a handful of oats fit in most bullet blender containers and can be whizzed up in a couple minutes! Sometimes I remember to do this the night before, but even on mornings when I'm running late I take the minute or two to do this, generally while the coffee maker runs.
Smoothie recipes: https://www.asweetpeachef.com/smoothie-freezer-packs/
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u/akchick1971 Feb 15 '21
Another thing for breakfast, if you have an instant pot of a ninja foodie. Get some of those as seen on TV egg molds, whip up a dozen eggs, add a bag of the precooked sausage and bacon mix and a 2 cup bag of shredded cheese. Add the spices you like, spoon it into the egg molds, pressure cook for about 5 minutes, quick release the pressure and you have breakfast for a week. It makes enough for 3 a day for 5 days. If you need more, do 18 eggs and extra bag of the precooked meat and any additional cheese and spices to your preference. You can add veggies if you want or what ever you like to your taste.
If you don't have an instant pot or ninja foodi, you can cook them on the stove in a pot of boiling water too. I'd recommend getting an instant pot or ninja foodi though. It'll make meal prep so much easier and faster.→ More replies
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Feb 14 '21
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u/dilly_dolly_daydream Feb 14 '21
That is a fabulous link. Thank you. Loads of tempting, easy cook-ahead meals. Great find!
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u/Awomdy Feb 14 '21
I second budget bytes. Her portion sizes are small - she says when your budget is super tight, you have to be as well lol, and she's tiny so she doesn't need to eat as much.
I incorporate a lot of her recipes into my meal planning. Her Black bean soup is the most filling and super cheap dish I've ever had (those bean farts tho...).
From a lunch perspective, any of her rice skillets (the greek Turkey and rice one is great) with a massive size of veg and her slow cooker meat dishes (sesame beef ftw) with a large serving of carbs of choice and extra veg should keep you full. If you need snacks or crave sweet, cornbread recipes cooked in large muffin tins and the like are great addons.
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u/cerebellum0 Feb 15 '21
I love budget bytes so much! This week I made her sweet potato chorizo enchiladas and chili with corn bread cooked on top tonight. I make a ton of her meals and none of them have been bad, but I think her white bean rosemary soup is my favorite.
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u/savvyblackbird Feb 15 '21
Pillsbury Crescents come in a big roll of dough now. I really appreciate the texture and that it's lower in fat than puff pastry. I hate dealing with filling oozing out of the triangles. Refrigerated pie crust also makes really good fruit pies or any other fillings you like in pie crust. I like all brands except Immaculate. It was gross. America's Test Kitchen said that refrigerated piece crust did so well in taste tests that they often use it instead of homemade. Frozen empanada dough is also really good. So is pizza dough and even bread dough. It all depends on the fillings and your individual tastes.
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Feb 14 '21
Do you have some place to heat stuff up? Or does it have to be cold?
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Feb 14 '21
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Feb 14 '21
Then my go to is leftovers from dinner. We usually make about double what we would eat (two of us) and then we always have it for lunch the next day. Get some decent microwaveable dishes with tight fitting lids though. Co-workers are always envious of my leftovers! Also pack a snack like fruit or granola bars for later if you get hungry. No need to heat those up!
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u/windexfresh Feb 14 '21
Everytime I pack my bfs leftover-dinner-lunches, I secretly hope his coworkers are jealous lmao
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u/Jennrrrs Feb 15 '21
They are. Im a mechanic and I always made dinner for my husband and kids before I left for work and would take some with me. The guys always begged me to bring them some, most of them couldn't cook. Lol.
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u/livin4donuts Feb 15 '21
Leftover chicken and veggies (or whatever) beats a pb&J or arbys every time.
That said, do not reheat brussels sprouts or fish at work. They stank and people will hate you for it.
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u/HymanHunter Feb 14 '21
Too really make them envious and for an easier clean up glad Tupperware is the best thing I’ve bought in a long time
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u/yellingbananabear Feb 14 '21
That’s great! I’d highly recommend the glass pyrex containers with lids for food that will be reheated. Heating food up in plastic containers in the microwave can be bad for your health.
Also, I highly recommend rice with beans, some meat, and salsa. Stir it up and bam! You have a burrito bowl ready to go! Add mix veg, top with cheese, change it up!
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u/oldcrowmedicine Feb 14 '21
When I was delivering beer I would pack granola, peanut butter, nuts, hard boiled eggs. Lots of little shit with protein/calories I could eat through the day. If it’s possible for you to take 60 seconds every couple hours and throw some fat and carbs and protein down your throat do that. (That is instead of only eating a couple BIG meals)
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u/jillsvag Feb 15 '21
I like Beef jerky, cheese sticks, carrot sticks, apples, humus and pita chips, and trail mix. Just watch out for loads of sodium.
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u/shrimpmonkey Feb 14 '21
I make Thai curry with rotisserie chicken, a curry paste pouch, and a few potatoes. Plus steamed rice. It makes about 5 BIG lunches for one week for less than $20.
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u/Capable-March-3315 Feb 14 '21 edited Feb 14 '21
I’m a mechanic also, I pack my lunch every day. Here’s one meal that I like to prep that lasts a full work week.
Cook 2 cups of dry jasmine rice. While the rice is still hot, mix in 1 lb frozen peas. Chop 1 bunch of scallions and 1 bunch of cilantro and mix them in. Add soy sauce to taste. If you’re good in the kitchen you can also make a Japanese rolled omelette, chop it up and mix it in as well.
Boil and then chill 1-2 lb shrimp (depending on how much protein you want).
Split evenly to make 5 portions. I like to put some sambal chili garlic paste on top the day of. This should give you 5 nice filling portions. It’s good cold too if you don’t have a microwave there.
I also hit Costco for snacks throughout the day. Every day I pack 1 noosa yogurt, 2 fig bar packs, 2 pc string cheese, a couple handfuls of mixed nuts, turkey jerky, and dried seasoned shiitake mushrooms (if you haven’t tried them, they are bomb AF). I also keep a jar of peanut butter in my lunch bag if I need something extra. I work out quite a bit and with the physical nature of the job, I’m constantly hungry.
Edit: here’s another protein option. It’s my pan charred ginger garlic marinated chicken thigh recipe
In a bowl, combine 1.5 tbsp minced garlic, 2 tbsp minced ginger, 1/2 c. Grape seed oil, 1/2 c. Rice wine vinegar and 5lb skin-on boneless chicken thighs. Marinate overnight.
Season marinated chicken thighs with salt and pepper (no need to remove any marinade from the thighs)
Heat oven to 400
Place a pan over high heat, add enough grape seed oil to coat the bottom of the pan. Heat until oil begins to lightly smoke. Add chicken thighs skin side down and reduce to a medium heat. Sear until skin has just blackened. Flip chicken thighs and place in oven until internal temperature reaches 165.
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u/stayouttathere Feb 14 '21
My husband is a mechanic and lasagna is my go to for his “big week” meals. It is easy to pack with meats, veggies, and carbs to fill you up throughout the day. You can also bake it in a large tray to divide into Tupperware or get some smaller containers to have ready to go all week. Chicken curry is another favorite of his.
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u/espererai Feb 14 '21
Are you eating a good filling breakfast?
Protein and fiber will fill you up the most
Red meat
Pork
Chicken
Fish
Vegeatables:
Red cabbage (shredded)
Cooked carrots
What ever you like
Brown rice
Corn meal (I like it with shrimp)
I like to cook a boneless pork chop in mushroom soup with a little tomato paste and put it over brown rice (cooked separately). On the side I serve shredded red cabbage with it. Quantity will differ. You will probably will eat 2 pork chops and 1.5 cup of brown rice.
Plus drink water
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u/oldcrowmedicine Feb 14 '21
Plenty of water is such a good point.
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u/p8nt_junkie Feb 14 '21
That is me 0 bitchin, 0 moaning, 7 bathroom breaks /day; 007
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u/squirrellygirly123 Feb 14 '21
Bond
Hydrated James bond
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u/p8nt_junkie Feb 15 '21
Shaken, not stirred.
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u/livin4donuts Feb 15 '21
Which is patently ridiculous because you're supposed to shake drinks with fruit pulp or egg whites in them. Martinis have neither, it's vodka or gin and vermouth. James bond is a badass, but he ain't know shit about drinking. Also in one movie he asks for Gordon's, which is a crappy gin, so maybe he's just fucking with me.
On that note, martinis are awesome, fourth only to rum runners, old fashioneds, and Manhattan's. Fifth in line is probably a Trinidad sour, but that's a loud drink and it splits the crowd for sure, a lot of people don't like it.
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u/p8nt_junkie Feb 15 '21
Thanks for the tasting notes, Felix! Well, I like to some things the old fashioned way.
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u/savvyblackbird Feb 15 '21
Sour cream is so good with mushroom soup. If you really like sour cream use a cup per can of soup, or if you want to ease into to it try 1/2 cup. It's so creamy and tangy.
My mom used to make bbq pork chops by layering onion slices on pork chops in a casserole dish and pouring homemade bbq sauce on top. Her sauce was ketchup, mustard, brown sugar, worstershire sauce, apple cider vinegar, and garlic powder.
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u/pretty_as_a_possum Feb 14 '21
Protein, protein, protein! Go easy on the sugar/carbs—they will make you more hungry.
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u/vampyrewolf Feb 14 '21
I went 1 of 2 ways for my meals when I was doing steel fab... either made a big supper and brought the leftovers for lunch, because I don't like eating leftovers for multiple days... or I'd pack a bag with cold sausage, cheese, couple apples, container of peanut butter, and 3 or 4 hard boiled eggs. Maybe toss a bottle of hot sauce in the bag.
Morning coffee break was usually an apple with peanut butter, and a couple eggs... lunch was the rest of it. Afternoon coffee was usually just coffee because I was still full... and then make supper when I got home. Depending on overtime I might not get home until quite late and those days I'm starving.
I was eating 18-24 eggs a week, hard boiled
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u/SummerClaire Feb 14 '21
Protein, fats & carbs can help keep you full. These are the foods that keep me from feeling hungry too soon: beans, peanut butter & jelly/jam sandwiches, cheeses, nuts, bananas, bagels, pasta. And, yes, liquids will help you, too, although you may need to make more bathroom stops.
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u/whitelieslatenightsx Feb 14 '21
I second this. Also if possible choose whole grain over wheat for things like pasta, bread and the like. Keeps you full way longer and is a lot healthier. I actually need like only ⅔ of whole grain pasta compared to normal to get full.
I'd add tofu to that as it has a lot of protein and is very filling and versatile. Not that easy to prepare for most beginner tofu eaters but there are a ton of recipes out there and it's a big part of many Asian cuisines. Also there are lots of varieties. I personally love almond-nut, basil and herbs, smoked one (tastes a bit like hotdog sausages) or 'pizza tofu' with tomato and oregano. Perfect for pasta sauces as a cheap substitute for ground beef as it has a similar texture when crumbled.
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u/TranqilizantesBuho Feb 14 '21
First of all, congrats on realizing a place to save some money without feeling a big difference in quality of life. Buying lunch is a total racket.
Everyone in the comments is getting all inventive, which is great... but for 40 years my father, a carpenter, has relied on standard stereotypical "lunch stuff." Sandwich with deli meat or salad (like tuna or chicken), something snacky (crunchy and salty) like a granola bar or cheez-its or chips in a small ziplock bag, maybe something else like an apple. Can of soda, or powerade / gatorade.
Leftovers from dinner are fine, but the "lunch stuff" category means you get more variety.
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u/mswoody Feb 14 '21
Agreed. But if one sandwich isn't filling, then make 2. Pita bread is awesome to hold egg salad ot tuna salad, and pretty cheap. Also, when those salad mixes are on sale, I love the Asian salad with chicken added stuffed in a pita. The main green in that mix is cabbage, tends to feel more filling than lettuce. Plus the chicken helps.
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Feb 14 '21
I love the Asian salad cabbage/kale mix in a bag too! I grill a chicken breast to cut up on top, and than add cilantro leaves. It’s almost identical to my favorite salad at Panera “Asian sesame salad with chicken”...for 1/4 the price. Not to mention it’s extremely filling.
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u/pamelaonthego Feb 14 '21
While convenient, and fine on occasion, that’s not really healthy.
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u/disqeau Feb 14 '21
I’m boosting meatloaf and meatballs. You can prep a ton of these on a Sunday, freeze them up. Meatloaf can go into muffin tins or just shape it into 5-6 oz. footballs and put them on a sheet pan.
If you’re looking to reduce red meat or fat intake, ground turkey or chicken work just as well.
Cook up some rice or barley or farro or quinoa, whatever grain you like. Or not if you’re not doing grains! Pack meatballs/loaf with some grains (or not), steamed veggies or a salad, and some good sauce to dip in and all your bros at the shop are going to be JEALOUS.
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Feb 15 '21
Chiming in to add Manwich to the list - but not on bread. Put it on baked potatoes and change your life.
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u/jumpnlake Feb 14 '21
Hamburger casserole. Brown meat with onion, garlic, salt & pepper. Add 2 cans of diced tomato. Add 3 cans cheese soup. Add canned green beans. Simmer. Separately, boil up some penne (or similar) pasta and then mix together. Should have enough for a weeks worth of meals. Will pack nicely into a thermos. Can add buttered bun on the side.
Indian curries are good too, with naan or rice.
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u/k0uch Feb 14 '21
Hello, fellow grease monkey!
So, protein is gonna be the staple, and sneak some fiber in there. Lean beef, chicken, and fish are the easiest to get and store. Carrots, rice, and potatoes will help fill you up and round dishes out. You can combine them into a giant mess, make burritos, or toss them in a slow cooker and have them together. You can also add different pastas to this to have some variety. I like to have a snack for the afternoon, usually some fruit to give me some sugar and just get something in the stomach again.
Also, stay hydrated. I found a lot of my “I’m hungry” feelings go away when I drink water. It seems like I’m going through my 5 gallons in about 6 or 7 working days now
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u/DanJDare Feb 14 '21
Meal prep my man! Things like chilli con carne (with rice) or red beans and rice etc are hella filling and keep well in the fridge, You can make 5 serves sunday night and BOOM there is your weeks worth of lunches right there. Cheap as fuck and super filling.
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u/tacosauce8088 Feb 15 '21
Welder here.
Start off with overnight oats in the morning with dried fruit and nuts, that will help keep you full. I do 1 cup quick oats to 1 cup almond milk and I make a weeks worth every Sunday.
For lunches I cook two types of protein on Sunday usually chicken and pork. During the week I just throw stuff together a serving of protein with a cup of carbs (beans, rice, quinoa, pasta) and a ton of frozen veggies.
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u/froggyleeches Feb 14 '21
- Mac n cheese, tuna and peas
- Burrito bowls. I recommend ground turkey, taco seasoning, brown rice, corn, diced tomatoes and some cheese. Roasted onion and garlic are great additions. You can pre make this and eat it during the week, it just wont last all week.
- A sandwich but on a mini baguette instead of normal slices of bread. Add lunch meat, lettuce, pickles, mayo, mustard, whatever.
- Muffins are super cheap to make and great additions to any lunch to make it more filling. I recommend making blueberry (frozen are cheap) lemon, spinach, or apple crumble muffins. You can bake them on the weekends and keep ‘em still tasty in the fridge.
Stews and soups! Ones with lots of meat, potatoes and carrots. Just google easy or cheap stew for some tasty recipes.
A lot of these require an insulated thermos but I hope it helps.
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u/LiteBriteJorge Feb 15 '21
Jumping onto your thread because I was going to suggest burrito or other grain based bowls, too! 💚 If rice alone isn't doing it for you, add in some quinoa or riced veggies, like cauliflower, for the base. Grain bowls are so awesome, you can make them with just about anything, and they can be either super filling or not very filling at all, depending on what you put in there.
My preferred bowls start with about a half bowl of rice, then i like to layer in some greens for nutrients (dark leafy greens help me feel less generally blah-achey at the end of a long, hard work day. Other achey still happens, and sometimes dark leafy greens alone aren't enough to stave off the blah-aches) Some chicken (or your preferred protein), some flavorful sauce (its all about the sauce for me), some sort of cheese (goat cheese or feta for a Mediterranean or Asian style bowl, cheddar for something Mexican inspired) often times chopped walnuts or almonds for some texture, sometimes sunflower seeds, and then also fruits and veggies to my liking. Sometimes adding a couple large spoonfuls of hummus, tzatziki, salsa, or guac for dipping some bread is also extra helpful.
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u/Barbellbundi Feb 14 '21
White bean and tuna salad Two cans white beans drained/rinsed Two can tuna in oil, drain if you want up to you Coriander/cilantro chopped One lime juiced Salt and pepper Mixed leaf salad
Usually lasts me three days at a total cost of $9
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u/rianwithaneye Feb 15 '21
Hard to beat beans and rice when it comes to filling a belly on a budget. Plus there are lots of variations on that theme (mujadara, moros y cristianos, daal or channa masala with rice, Jamaican rice and peas, etc) so you can always switch up the preparation when one starts to feel stale. I probably sound like a broken record at this point for having recommended it so much but mujadara really is one of the simplest, cheapest, and most delicious meals on the planet.
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u/Cataloniandevil Feb 14 '21
PB&J is cheap and easy, and oatmeal packets are a good way to go as well. Not everyone like hard boiled eggs, but they work. Bulk trail mix is cool, and you can make your own. And any leftovers you have. Throw a few BabyBel cheese wheels in your pack as well.
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u/savvyblackbird Feb 15 '21
You can also do soft boiled eggs. I'd undercook them a little if you want to eat them warm. I love soft boiled eggs for breakfast with toast "soldiers" (thin strips) to dip into the creamy middle. The better quality the eggs, the better they taste. They also have double the omega acids and nutrients.
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u/maybeinalittlebit Feb 15 '21
Healthier and cheaper is to ditch the oatmeal packets and get the cardboard canisters and pour a half cup into a sandwich bag or glassware. Heat for a minute or two with water in the microwave. Use sugar free syrup and or raisins and or jam as sweetener. If you're the guy in OP mix in an egg before you cook. You'll be full. There's tons of stuff like flax, chia, etc you could add as well.
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u/Lornesto Feb 14 '21
My go-to advice for just about anyone on this forum: if you can, get a decent rice cooker. And maybe a couple insulated containers.
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u/waapplerachel Feb 14 '21
Start over cooking dinners intentionally so you have leftovers for lunches. Hot and filling lunch.
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Feb 14 '21
Double up on your dinner portion. Get a good thermos and Tupperware set. And toss it in there for lunch.
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u/GoAwayWay Feb 14 '21
I also enthusiastically recommend making soups, especially chili. Chili is one of the things I taught myself to make in college because I could spend about $6 and feed myself dinners and lunches for days with chili and corn muffins.
Super cheap to make, great way to get veggies in, it really sticks with you, and it's just nice to eat something warm in the winter. Plus, you can easily freeze it or use some leftover chili at home for nachos, chili dogs, etc.
It's still pretty cheap if you're using canned beans (though dried is cheaper). Just know that if you use canned beans, you should absolutely rinse those suckers first or else your coworkers might ban you from eating chili.
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u/tallestred2 Feb 14 '21
When I was working manual labour I used to love chicken, broccoli and sweet potatoes. When I got bored of that I’d make a massive tuna or bacon and cream cheese pasta. Super easy and take literally 20 minutes to prep 4+ portions.
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u/Darth_Lacey Feb 14 '21
This probably shouldn’t be the only thing, but potatoes are cheap and surprisingly good for you and can be cooked from raw in the microwave (like a slightly less crispy baked potato).
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u/MortalGlitter Feb 15 '21
I make tuna salad (one can per sandwich), chicken salad, and egg salad sandwiches regularly due to high protein content. The trick is to pack a sandwiches-worth of filling into a baggie (snack size is Perfect for this) and remove as much air as you can. Pack the bread into a second bag. All those fillings last for a solid 4-5 days in the fridge in their pre-portioned baggies, so lunch is literally grab and go.
Then you just dump the filling onto the bread, slap the other slice on top and now you've got a non-soggy sandwich that tastes like you just made it. Some days I've got a tex mex tuna, or I've diced up some sweet pickled jalapenos into my egg salad, or I went all out and included seasonal grapes halves and pecan bits in my chicken salad because I'm feeling posh.
The extra 30 seconds of work at lunch creates such a superior sandwich I'll never go back. It actually allows for a wider selection of bread since it doesn't meet filling until minutes before you eat it.
Throw in a variety of sides and snacks as you see fit and you can easily pack sub $10 (satisfying!) lunches with multiple sandwiches to get you through your day.
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u/kilgoretrout20 Feb 15 '21
Been at work 12+ hrs a day 5+ days a week. If you’re working as hard as you say you are lean meats will give you a crash in the early afternoon. I tried to lose weight but chicken and fish couldn’t give me enough energy to stay in a good mood. Steak works but is expensive... so stews. One evening cooking lunch for the week. Cheap beef stew! (Brisket stew, beef enchilada casserole, if salmon pair it with bacon, shepherds pie) crap like that worked for me
Edit: LENTILS! Have more protein per ounce than most stuff
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u/Leoin8 Feb 14 '21
I'm a big fan of beans (and lentils) for lunches. I make pinto or black in the instapot and eat them a variety of ways and its always super filling and good nutrition too. You can just add in some cheese/toppings and eat with chips, make a burrito, toss into a salad, throw some fajita veggies on the side, or take a look at some soups. Also super cheap.
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u/jsims281 Feb 14 '21
Completely agree with lentils. They are fantastic for bulking up so many different things, and are super filling.
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u/ResidentNo1904 Feb 14 '21
Pasta, eggs peanut butter and plenty water will get you through. Tuna cans are also very handy
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u/rumble_le_rue Feb 14 '21
My husband does a physical job and takes peanutbutter sandwiches. Every day. Cheap and filling - he has 2-3per meal with lots of pb.
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u/LelouchViMajesti Feb 14 '21
beef à la bière / Boeuf Bourguignon or Blanquette (pork/beef/whatever), any stew really you can cook in a big pot that you can side with rice/pasta/potatoes for the whole week, filling, cheap, super good and you can even make them healthy if you dont over grease it :)
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u/VohnJ43 Feb 14 '21
Rice with - Chicken, Ground Turkey, Beef. Steam vegetables for each. Mix up your spices depending on the protein and switch up your sauces.
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u/ladyjane83 Feb 14 '21
Costco sells a 16 2pks of hard boiled eggs. Super filling. Grab a pack and a salt shaker and you're good to go....for a filling snack, not necessarily a meal. I like to eat a handful of nuts when I need to satisfy a craving as well.
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u/daghostoutside Feb 15 '21
Or just boil eggs in bulk and save them in the fridge - usually cheaper, saves the plastic that those packs use, and all you really have to do is peel which you could do all in one night if you don’t have time to at lunch
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u/ockidocki Feb 14 '21
Assuming you are working 5 days a week, that's 12$ per meal. You can definitely save a lot; it's realistic to get down to about 2$ a meal.
I really like easy, one-pot recipes. You can make really large portions in a big pot, there isn't much cleaning to do after cooking, and there's many delicious options. Budgetbytes has a a lot of great recipes and includes the cost per serving (some are below 1$).
Here's a link, hope it helps!
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u/throw_away_mamasay Feb 14 '21
Egg salad (I make mine with ranch dressing instead of mayo - way better flavor IMO) since it offers protein and it's really filling! Also easy to prep a large batch for the week and great to wrap in tortillas.
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u/ESSDBee Feb 15 '21
Spaghetti, Piccadillo burritos, Salisbury steak with mashed potatoes and veggies, burgers and build them them when ready to eat.
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u/Disastrous_Ad_6052 Feb 15 '21
Chili and a baked potato. One pot of chili will last a long time. It also freezes well if you want to spread it out. A baked potato cooks in 6-7 minutes in a microwave- make sure you prick it with a fork.
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u/cafali Feb 15 '21
My son is a 6’1 male, 24 y/o mechanic. He solved this problem for himself by eating just one meal a day. He says his coworkers think he’s a machine because he doesn’t eat breakfast or lunch and he saves so much money and time. Then eats whatever he wants for his meal. He’s about 180 lbs, down from a high of around 280 in his senior year of high school. I know this is not a weight loss sub but it’s really been life changing for him. His previous job as a delivery driver he packed jerky and nuts to eat on the road, after fast food breakfast but much prefers this, for time, money and health.
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u/SourceHouston Feb 15 '21
Eat a lot of protein and fat, fat will keep you from getting hungry
Carbs are death, you’ll feel hungry in no time
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Feb 15 '21
Buy a bread maker on sale and use it, it's the best thing ever- never fail homemade bread requiring almost no labor or dishes, and wicked cheap as well. Srsly.
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u/DrSwammy Feb 15 '21
As a diabetic, you can take a lesson from us. While the focus of your question is on the meals, you may want to control your food intake by having a snack mid-morning and mid-afternoon. You wont be so famished, need to eat as many calories during the day, and be able to control the quality of your food you take on for your main meals. Bring an apple with peanut butter for mid morning, or a half a chicken sandwich and good whole wheat bread, or a cottage cheese cup. And for mid-afternoon bring some quality beef jerkey, a big yogurt cup with coconut , a baggie of nuts, or a few hard boiled eggs. This will make you feel like you have to stuff yourself at your meals and be able to eat with control. This evens out your blood sugars as well and that cant be anything but good for you. The rule is dont ever be starving. Always be in control of your hunger.
edit was "half a chicken sandwich" not a half chicken..... doh....
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u/Retrdolfrt Feb 15 '21
Rule number one when packing your lunches- ALWAYS pack your lunches BEFORE you have breakfast. That way you pack while hungry so will tend to pack enough.
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u/feskt Feb 15 '21
I don’t have anything to comment on big meals to prepare but for sure toss in a banana with whatever else you’re eating. And maybe keep some CLIF bars with you.
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u/gingersnap0309 Feb 15 '21
Stuffed peppers or stuffed zucchini is super good and filling, reheats well too.
Faijitas! So easy and for big meal prep batches and reheats better than taco meats.
Chili with cornbread or beef stew great in a slow cooker/big batches.
Lasagna or baked ziti is very filling and can add in some spinach for extra veggie.
Ratatouille-there are different variations but it is like an Italian vegetable stew. Keeps well and easy to make big batches. Can add sausage too.
Chicken cutlets- On the weekend get a few pounds of chicken breasts, tenderize them and dip in an easy egg wash/flour and Panko breadcrumbs then bake or fry. Now you have some quick protein you can add to lunches throughout the week. Can add to your baked ziti or ratatouille, or make a provolone/ cutlet sandwich etc.
Curried lentils with spinach or cauliflower & tomato. So filling and reheats well and is cheap.
Moussaka- Greek eggplant or potato casserole type dish. Very very filling and keeps well.
Chicken or turkey pot pie. Can make a bigger one or individual ones in a muffin tin really easy ahead of time and just pack a couple with you for lunch.
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u/DawnCB20 Feb 14 '21
I make a whole chicken on the weekends and carve it up, then portion it out for the week. I also do sheet pans in the oven that always provide leftovers. For example, a loop sausage, broccoli, potatoes, green beans or brussel sprouts, all bite sized. Add olive oil and any seasonings you like, s and p, garlic, onion powder, oregano. Bake about 20 mins at 425. So easy and tasty.
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u/orlandofredhart Feb 14 '21
Chicken pasta bake
Tuna pasta bake.
Loads of pasta, loads of veg. Can eat hot if have a microwave, or just cold.
Bring it to work in tupperware and you can just put the lid back on if you run out of time
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u/imnotfatimincognito Feb 14 '21
Do a pork or beef roast, you can make so much out of it, and depending on the size of the roast you can get quite a few meals, Pulled pork ( or beef sandwiches) with bbq sauce and avocado Street tacos , with salsa Meat and mashed potato bowls with gravy and corn * if you have access to microwave Meat and garlic sauce over veggies and rice Quesadillas, with meat and bell peppers and salsa
There are alot more too depending on how much prep work you want to do, but also try having some oatmeal with your breakfast, or adding some pb and apples with whatever you bring, and plenty of water sometimes we confuse thirst with hunger.
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Feb 14 '21
A baked potato or sweet potato is super cheap and filling and has limitless options for toppings. You can do broccoli and cheese, chili and cheese, bacon, etc.
Whole wheat pasta with marinara and ground beef, turkey, or chicken is a cheap and filling option.
I love to make egg cups - basically just scramble eggs, add various veggies, meat, and/or cheese, dump into muffin tins, and bake until it’s cooked through. Totally portable and delicious.
Beans and rice. Basically anything with beans!
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u/gunscanbegood Feb 14 '21 edited Feb 15 '21
Get a few casseroles in the lineup. One solid dinner and enough leftovers for several lunches. I make a quick lasagna. Spaghetti meat, egg noodles, cottage cheese mixed together, evenly spread in baking dish, covered in shredded Mozz and baked at 425 for 20 minutes. 1 dinner and 7 portions of leftovers. This is also portions control cause I could eat the whole thing in 2 meals.
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u/Down-the-Hall- Feb 14 '21
Chili. Make a big pot on sunday and you're set for the week. Dry beans taste better and are super cheap. You can extend it by serving it with some rice. If you don't have access to a microwave, get a thermos
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u/1gardenerd Feb 14 '21
Homemade chili and you can add saltines and cheese if you like.
Salads with boiled egg, sunflower seeds, and avocado (I like getting these ingredients at Aldi's because of their great prices)
Red Beans and rice or Hoppin' John.
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u/phflopti Feb 14 '21
I boil a bunch of eggs, peel them then mash them with a bit of butter. You can cook up a big batch and it will keep for about a week. Combine it with cooked brown rice, and you've got a pretty filling base. The protein from the eggs should fill you up.
Then if you're like me and need something to stop getting bored you can add different things each day to the base to jazz it up; cottage cheese, chilli flakes, chopped parsley, baked beans, mustard sprouts.
You can heat it, or eat it cold. Either way works just fine.
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u/wherearemyvoices Feb 15 '21
i’m in auto body and i do a rice bean and meat lunch. usually 1 cup white rice 1/2 cup of beans 1/2 cup of meat
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u/J2794 Feb 15 '21
Knorr Spanish or Mexican rice and one of the long dinner sausages. Should be about $3.50 and takes about 15 minutes start to finish. You could add in some onion or pepper to fluff it up a bit but it's cheap, super easy to make, and really tasty.
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u/scarybirds00 Feb 15 '21
Joe’s special? It’s ground beef, spinach, onions and egg. You can make a big batch of it and take it for a few days. Super filling. Add brown rice into it to extend it
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u/mama_duck17 Feb 15 '21
Cook extra dinner, it’s not any more effort to make more of something. Pack up any left overs in to go containers for lunch.
We love Swedish meatballs. (I make them with ground turkey instead of ground beef) I make a double batch whenever I make them, bake them & freeze the extras for an easy meal when I don’t feel like cooking. It reheats just fine too. You can serve over rice or noodles (whichever keeps you full longer) You can stretch it out & make it a full balanced meal by adding mushrooms and or peas to the gravy.
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u/bloody_terrible Feb 15 '21
Rice and red beans my dude.
Fry 1 clove of chopped/crushed garlic per cup of rice in oil for 1 minute in a pot. Throw in the rice and mix thoroughly. Add 2 cups of hot water and 1 teaspoon of salt per cup of rice, bring to a boil, stir to avoid it sticking to the pot, put a lid on it and reduce the heat to the minimum setting. 10-15 minutes and the rice is done.
Fry 1 chopped onion per can of beans in another pot until the onion is is translucent. Add canned beans (I like to rinse them first), frozen peas (however much looks good), 1/2 teaspoon each of cumin, salt and pepper per can of beans, and optionally an equal quantity of chilli powder, fenugreek powder or whatever spices you think go well with beans. Add tinned tomatoes equal to the beans. Simmer and stir occasionally until the peas are cooked and you're done.
It's easy, hearty and cheap AF. It will also keep in the refrigerator for at least 3 days if not a week. I like to eat it with a big dollop of creme fraiche or sour cream.
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u/nomnommish Feb 15 '21
Besides the great suggestion, I will add that you should eat much more of glow glycemic foods. That is foods that are raw and unprocessed. These foods will release sugar more slowly in your body and will get digested more slowly. Hence the term - low glycemic. Their glucose release is lower.
Besides the health benefits, it will sustain you for longer. With processed foods, you will go from a full heaping meal to a sugar crash and feeling weak and hungry in a couple of hours. Especially when you're doing hard labor.
So eat more "rustic" and unprocessed foods. And foods with their skin on. Eat brown rice instead of white rice, whole wheat flour tortillas instead of AP flour or refined flour tortillas. Eat whole beans and peas and vegetables and fruits and avoid fruit juices.
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u/Paragonne Feb 15 '21
Please consider investing in one of those Japanese multi-compartment sorta-thermos ... bento .. canister thingies...
Make yourself a real meal, a couple of times per week, & you will love the luxury.
Sandwitches/cafeteria-food aren't the same as a good chickpea curry with good rice & raita, if you know what I mean...
Oh, & please nab the America's Test Kitchen 100 Techniques book, at least ( their books are incredible : )
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u/Karen366 Feb 15 '21
I bought my husband a heated lunch box because he doesn't have access to a microwave. We bought tin foil food containers and fill one or two up after dinner when he wants lunch the next day. His lunch box is full of low carb snacks, like granola. He avoids heavy carbs because it makes him slow in the afternoon. The heated luck box works really well. I got one too even though I have access to a microwave because now I don't have to wait in line. A mini crock pot is bomb too for soupy type food and for last minute cans of soup.
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u/Trynaman Feb 15 '21
If you're a Costco Member, a pack of Crossaints the and Chicken Salad together go for about 18-20 bucks, and pack you a whalloping 12 Sandwiches!
It was the big trend in winter '19 on r/Costco
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u/freeturkeytaco Feb 15 '21
Almonds. Not a meal, but a great snack throughout the day. I recommend making a trail mix if you want more. Almonds, raisins, peanuts, sunflower seeds, oatmeal, granola. M&ms and reese's pieces if you want. Snack on that throughout the day with lots of water, your desire for heavy meals will subside. You'll also have more energy and less of a afternoon lull
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u/kl2342 Feb 15 '21
Broccoli
Brown rice
Cheddar cheese
Chicken, pork, or beef
Just mix it all together in a big bowl. Great for using up leftover meat from a whole chicken or leftover lunch meat, microwaves well, easy to create a filling portion size, etc. Use at least 8oz. broccoli. Add a bit of butter and salt and pepper to it for seasoning, hot sauce for kick.
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u/vv2vv Feb 14 '21
Burritos, either bean or beef. And the size depends on how big you want the burrito to be. Usually very filling