In praise of home packed lunches (Packed Lunches)

Member Name: jasminesarah

Product:	Packed Lunches
Date:	18/10/08 (181 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Cheaper, better for you

Disadvantages: Takes a little planning

In these lean times, most of us are looking for ways to skim down our spending. If you buy a sandwich every day for lunch at work, along with maybe a packet of crisps and a drink, you could easily be spending an extra £1,000 a year. Although, in some places at least, children's school dinners are better value, there'll still be some kids nutritionally better off taking a packed lunch, and it can be much cheaper for parents too.

I've had plenty of excuses for not making my lunch in the past - I just get up too late, once I've made the kids' lunches I can't be bothered with my own, I get bored of sandwiches... Still, enough is enough, I can't justify the expense of popping into town to grab something, and having just moved to an office on a business estate where the only nearby lunch option is a greasy and decidedly dodgy looking burger van has helped concentrate my mind!

Firstly, if you are going to have sandwiches, these can be prepared in advance, either the night before, or if you are the organised type you can sandwich up a whole loaf and put them in the freezer. Yes really, your sandwiches won't mind being frozen, although some things will freeze better than others, and if you are using salad I would say don't freeze it in the sandwich, take that fresh separately. I can vouch for cheese and pickle sandwiches being fine, and also houmous and grated carrot. You can wrap them individually ready to be taken out of the freezer when you get up, and by the time lunchtime rolls around they should be defrosted. (Although on very cold days make sure you've left them somewhere warm-ish.)

If you are bored of ordinary sandwiches why not use a sandwich toasty bag, if you have a toaster at work. No mess, and a toasted sandwich in a couple of minutes, the smell of which is guaranteed to make your colleagues jealous! Otherwise, how about experimenting with wraps, bagels or pitta bread?

My favourite lunch though, does depend on having a microwave at work, or investing in a good vacuum flask - soup. I find that, especially as winter approaches, having a warm lunch makes you feel like you have had something substantial and sets you up for the afternoon! There are loads of easy soup recipes about, I recently made a big batch of parsnip soup which worked out at 17p a bowlful! I froze it in individual portions, taking it out the night before, and reheated in a couple of minutes at work. To be extra authentic a handful of fresh coriander in a sandwich bag is the finishing touch! But if you aren't willing or able to make your own, cans of soup are a great inexpensive standby, and ideal to keep in an office drawer.

Making your own lunch can save you hundreds of pounds, can be a great way of using up leftovers, and the chances are that your choices will be healthier too - if you don't already, why not give it a go?

Summary: Well worth the effort!