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So Whats For Lunch? [Update on how I'm quitting smoking]
brandotheninjamaster
Registered User regular
Registered User regular
So I was going over last month's expenses and I tallied up how much I was spending on restaurant food and was shocked; it was $387.00 (that also includes nights where I didn't feel like cooking and got something out. Family of 4 = $Texas). Irritated at that number I have decided to brown bag my lunches from now on. I am fairly skilled in the kitchen but honestly come up at loss when it comes to lunch (dinner is more my specialty). So I need some ideas on what I can make and take to work for lunch. My area has access to a fridge and a microwave. Thanks PA!
brandotheninjamaster on
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I can't even imagine what I spend on lunch... been trying to stick to stuff like Taco Bell, nice and cheap... but occasionally spend too much and go to places like Arby's, Fazolis, Hardees...
I had the same lunch everyday for 12 years when in school:
Turkey sandwich
Potato Chips
Little Debbie brownie
Drink
Yeah, sandwiches. Also, this site helps a lot when you have the goods but can't think of what to make.
If you get bored of wraps, salads and sandwiches, increase the quantities you prepare for dinner and take leftovers for lunch; your place of work having a microwave helps here.
You don't have to sacrifice coffee, just make your own. For $160 you could get a drip coffee maker, a cheap grinder, 3-4 insulated travel coffee mugs (or a few thermoses), filters, and pounds of coffee beans. After the initial investment all you'll need to buy is coffee beans and filters when you run out.
My coffee is around $1.50, my wife's is $2.99 give or take. I think the problem is that we're indulging in these coffees everyday when it should be a more weekend/3 day a week thing. I've also thought of the coffee machine solution, but my wife like a certain kind of coffee from dunkin donuts the iced mocha latte (I feel very emasculated ordering it for some reason) and I am unable to find anything else that she likes. Although if this keeps up it may be cheaper for me just to buy a Dunkin Donut franchise :P.
You could buy a relatively cheap espresso machine and make your own iced mocha lattes. It's not hard at all.
Though most people seem disguisted that I drink black coffee... no sugar or cream. I see nothing wrong with it... Hell, I change it up now and then and drink straight espresso, which has a much more powerful taste...
... And yeah, I couldn't make myself order anything flavoured. Mocha is a rare exception, as it's more of a base than a flavor. Breve Latte's aren't bad, either (Espresso and steamed cream/half&half). Won't do Mocha at Starbucks though because it's just power base and hot water... cost effective, but tastes horrible.
... This could easilly turn into a workplace secrets thread if I keep going, so I'll stop here.
....... I hate when Barista's lie to me and tell me the coffee is fresh.
........... Oh, and "cappucino" is a lie. Gas stations and McDonalds "cappucinos" are powder water. A real Cappucino is half fucking foam, you prissy high-school bastards (not you... just... complaining out loud)
Ironically enough, I have access to free Starbucks coffee at work. I usually make one of those as my second cup.
Maybe, but I tried to make one myself and...it, uh turned out pretty bad and I don't think I'll try it again.
You can get an lower end espresso machine for 50 or 60 bucks. I can't tell you how much money mine has saved me... plus, I got it at a garage sale for $5 unused.
I'm stupid when it comes to coffees; is an espresso pretty much the same thing as a latte ingredient wise?
Can of tuna + something. Tuna + sauce, tuna + rice, tuna + light salt, whatever. Cheap, easy, healthy.
Fruit + yogurt + granola. Still relatively cheap, generally very healthy (possibly a bit light on protein depending on your dietary needs).
Leftovers. Leftover stir fry, leftover burrito, leftover stew, leftover chili, leftover anything. For a cheap and healthy lunch, prepare a big batch of brown or wild rice with lean chicken and some veggies (peas, peppers, and onion work great). Divide the batch into five small tupperware containers and you have five healthy, ready-to-go lunches for your week.
Really, it all kind of boils down to three options:
1: Lunch that doesn't need preparation (probably fruit / vegetable + dairy + miscellaneous)
2: Something in a tupperware container.
3: Premade microwave meals.
I advocate #2, its easy, cheap, healthy (if you cook right), and since you have your lunches boxd up and ready to go at the start of the week, there's less worry about "accidentally" forgetting your lunch and having a good excuse to eat out.
Nice. I'm going to look into buying one of those.
@gamefacts - Totally and utterly true gaming facts on the regular!
Those are some really good ideas, I'll probably be off to the store later on to purchase tupperware and such.
o_O really? that seems like such a stange combination.
Really, I would try to get off the habit of coffee if you can. It's not very good for you, it's addicting, and it's rather expensive when you can't drink homebrewed for whatever reason. I'm only 20 so I suppose I'm too young to judge you for it, but I don't drink coffee and I handle my classes fine. Sometimes people will use coffee as a means to avoid getting adequate sleep. This is probably reaching, but is there some reason you don't want to go to sleep at night?
Yeah, that's what I thought the first time, but it's just incredible. Creamy stilton works best, but I've have success with dolcelatte as well.
@gamefacts - Totally and utterly true gaming facts on the regular!
I sleep "ok" at night, but thats because I have a 6 year old and an 8 month old. I have 2 medium sized cups during the day and none at night. I am planning at some point in the near future to switch to tea, but I have to adjust myself (caffeine affecting the body differently). I'm also sluggish because I don't exercise at all and I smoke. All of these things are on my list of things to cure myself of, in fact I'm planning to stop smoking through hypnosis next month (I'm still a little worried about its effectiveness but thats another thread).
Best way:
Espresso Shots
Milk
Chocolate Syrup
Ice
...
First, drop a couple squirts of syrup in the bottom of the cup. Then, drop the espresso shots on top (coffee does not work for this), and swirl/stir it well. Pour milk and ice. Serve. Top with Whipped Cream if so desired
A mocha latte would definitely have espresso. I didn't mean for my description to be a recipe so much as a guess at what the ingredients of a "mocha latte" would be at a place that doesn't have an espresso machine (which I was assuming of dunkin donuts). I like them girly italian coffee drinks too, but for the morning I like a huge mug of drip coffee and some half and half.
Beware other people using your machine. My SO is absolutely awful at it. She makes dreadful brews that make me gag and then drinks them while exclaiming "this way I get to drink it all myself!" There is an art to espresso that admittedly I have not mastered, but she just butchers drinks with maniacal glee. For example, a good rule of thumb is to stop the machine once the stream becomes lighter colored, which should occur when 2 shots are complete or after about 20 seconds. Well she just puts a cup under there and keeps on goin on, making 4-5 shots of vile bitter liquid. Uh yea, not sure if this story has any relevance, but um, learned your lesson didn't you.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0016OD5A6?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&tag=nextag-kitchen-delta-20&linkCode=asn which may be a good valentines day present.
Edit cause I'm retarded: http://www.cooking.com/products/shprodde.asp?SKU=215123&ref=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nextag.com%2Fdelonghi-de-longhi-ec5-631490470%2Fprices-html
I think that's just the base.
You're right. Fail.
Here are some ideas:
- Look at the price of items before buying. For example, most supermarkets down here show price/unit of items they are selling. Sometimes its more economical to buy smaller sizes.
- Be careful with buying 2 for 1. Sometimes its actually cheaper to buy them individually :P Link to Example
- Coupons are your friend!
If you just drink espresso:
Now if you want to go more complex with mochas:
I guess you could factor in the cost of power as well, but then it just gets silly, and you'd have to factor the cost of traveling to the coffee shop as well. So make 50 mochas or 100 espressos and you break even. It looks like you can do that in 2 months.
This is what I have. I can't really taste the difference between what I make at home and Starbucks/Beaners. But, I also drink box wine and American beer. So, perhaps my taste is suspect.
I'd be willing to give it a try. I'll probably have it shipped to my mothers and give it to my wife.