Who here packs work lunch? What are your favorite lunches (and lunch containers)?

[Anonymous]

Just started a new job that requires that I pack a lunch (cannot leave to pick up and cannot order).

I've been making do by slapping some pbj together and grabbing an apple, but my taste buds are bored and a week of eating sandwiches didn't agree with my digestive system! What do you take? And do you have a lunch carrier or system you particularly like? Good thing is we do have microwaves available to use on site.

Tonight I packed up some dinner leftovers - vegetables, pasta, and meatballs in red sauce chucked into a glass Tupperware, with plastic wrapped around for extra security. And a snack container of popcorn and chocolate. I need to buy some sort of lunch sack I think.

[Anonymous]

I keep the containers from takeout - I have a ton over time - and I fill them with leftovers, or make some kind of quick pasta and put several portions in the fridge or freezer. I do bring them home again to reuse, but it’s no big deal if I don’t or they get lost. I also buy yogurts and fruit to bring for breakfast.

[Anonymous]

Leftover dinner in a thermos and Tupperware, as appropriate.

[Anonymous]

Leftover dinners, or soups/chili/stews in winter, salads sans dressing that I add when at work in summer, that I make in big batches over the weekend and pack in 5 containers for the week.

[Anonymous]

I like to make something that's just for lunches - usually soup or chili in the winter - and then, when I'm putting it away, pre-portion it into glass containers with lids. This makes it super easy to toss a bowl of soup, a piece of fruit, and maybe some crackers or a cheese stick into my lunch bag in the morning. (I do have a reusable lunch bag, and a variety of sizes of reusable containers. Also a set of silverware in a little case.)

[Anonymous]

I work 12s so eat breakfast lunch and dinner at work. Breakfast I keep in the small freezer we have though. I have a vegan sausage patty with egg bites. For lunch/dinner I usually take leftovers, I intentionally offer extra if we out for dinner, also regular dinner from home leftover. Sometimes cheese/crackers and fruit. Sometimes a frozen Trader Joe’s dinner. We have a fridge, microwave and toaster oven.

[Anonymous]

Leftovers in a glass Tupperware, a fruit and a piece of candy or snack (since the days I'm in the office are long).

The challenge for me is coffee refills. I've been bringing tea bags and the office has (but doesn't stock) a Keurig...I may be that jerk who brings in the one cup French press. And maybe oatmilk creamer if it stays good longer than dairy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I keep the containers from takeout - I have a ton over time - and I fill them with leftovers, or make some kind of quick pasta and put several portions in the fridge or freezer. I do bring them home again to reuse, but it’s no big deal if I don’t or they get lost. I also buy yogurts and fruit to bring for breakfast.

I save them too! It drives DH crazy. He was so happy when I used them up to pack Thanksgiving leftovers for people. I had a good stash, but they are gone now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Leftovers in a glass Tupperware, a fruit and a piece of candy or snack (since the days I'm in the office are long).

The challenge for me is coffee refills. I've been bringing tea bags and the office has (but doesn't stock) a Keurig...I may be that jerk who brings in the one cup French press. And maybe oatmilk creamer if it stays good longer than dairy.

Do you label all your food? Label creamer? Do people rummage around your food... I could see people using your creamer.

[Anonymous]

I bring a tuna pouch (usually eat plain, but the jalapeño flavored one is surprisingly good), celery and carrots, Triscuits, an orange or applesauce and a small container of sunflower seeds for a snack. Sounds depressing, right? But it’s a snack type lunch and easy for counting calories.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I bring a tuna pouch (usually eat plain, but the jalapeño flavored one is surprisingly good), celery and carrots, Triscuits, an orange or applesauce and a small container of sunflower seeds for a snack. Sounds depressing, right? But it’s a snack type lunch and easy for counting calories.

Do you eat at your desk or in a communal setting? I like tuna, but I don't think I'd want to eat a tuna pouch by colleagues, and I would feel weird throwing it out in the garbage and having it sit all day. Same with eggs - love eggs as an easy protein, but worry about smell.

[Anonymous]

I plan dinner to have leftovers a couple of times a week. Usually enough leftovers that I can get about 3 lunches out of them. I like to take them cold and reheat at work, but heating in the morning and using a thermos is ok too.

When I'm on the ball, I make a batch of farro or quinoa on the weekend, roast some veggies (often with dinner, with lots of extra), and make "greens & grains" bowls with chickpeas, black beans, or shredded chicken.

[Anonymous]

Salad in a glass container.

Leak proof glass containers exist for anything that can leak.

Fruit

Nuts

Chocolate

[Anonymous]

I buy those bagged salad kits and dump one in a big Tupperware. I try to use 1/2 the dressing packet. Also pack a protein bar.

[Anonymous]

Yeah, I need to do this too. I waste so much on buying lunch just because I’m not a morning person and can’t wake up early to make one. I do make my kids lunches sometimes, but often my husband does that.

It turns out pbj is one of my favorite lunches
I could add cheese stick
Grapes or small orange
For breakfast, I’d bring oatmeal packets and maybe a banana
I live fried egg sandwiches if I have time, like egg McMuffin
I bring Starbucks via packets for coffee. They’re strong, so I use like half a little pack at a time