Top 10: Lunches worth making
Is your New Year’s resolution to save money and eat healthier? Let’s knock two birds out with one stone and talk bringing your lunches to work. You’ll save thousands of dollars over the year, and you’ll know exactly what you’re eating every day, because you made it yourself.
Bringing your own lunch doesn’t have to be boring. In fact, these ten tasty treats are totally worth making and will make your colleagues green with envy:
1. Antipasto Frittata – A delicious homemade frittata with a rocket salad is the perfect lunchtime feast. It’s quick and easy to make, just add a variety of grilled vegetables along with some fetta and eggs and bake in the oven. Enjoy it hot or cold for lunch with some tomato relish.
2. Minestrone Soup – You can do a huge pot all at once and freeze it in portions for later. This is a great way to use up all the vegetables in your fridge and give yourself a wholesome, nutritious lunch. Eat with a fresh, crusty bread roll to make it a real restaurant experience.
3. Burritos – These can be made ahead of time and frozen. Pop cooked rice, beans and your meat of choice into a tortilla and wrap it up snug like a bug. When you’re ready for lunch, zap it quickly in the microwave.
4. Mushroom risotto – Best made for dinner the night before and then heated up in the staff room microwave the next day. Freshen it up for the sequel with a sprinkle of Parmesan and some lemon juice.
5. Curry – Curry is great a few days after you’ve made it and all the spices have had a chance to marinate in together. Visit an Indian spice shop and pick up some authentic seasoning to make up your favourite curry at home ahead of time. Serve with fresh instant rice.
6. Tuna salad – This is the easiest, yummiest thing you could ever make. Brown rice, a can of Sirena chilli tuna in oil (dump the whole thing in), finely chopped celery, carrot, garden peas and red capsicum. Finish with a drizzle of lemon juice and season to taste.
7. Parmesan-crumbed chicken strips – Use panko crumbs and parmesan to coat thin strips of chicken breast and shallow fry them in some peanut oil. These are equally good cold or warm at lunch with a salad.
8. Turkey bagels – Almost nothing beats a fresh bagel with cream cheese, shaved turkey breast, cranberry jelly and lettuce.
9. Caesar Salad – Crisp cos lettuce, sharp parmesan, crunchy bacon bits and croutons and even some cold chicken breast. Keep your dressing separate until you’re ready to eat it to guarantee freshness.
10. Rice paper rolls – Healthy and delicious! Pick up the rice paper wraps from the supermarket and fill them with finely chopped vegetables, sprouts and even chicken or tuna. Wrap them into their little bundles and serve with a peanut dipping sauce at your desk.
Do your prep ahead of time and pack your lunch the night before – no one wants to get up 20 minutes earlier to bag their own food. Groan.
Once your lunch is packed, drop your car keys into the box so you don’t forget to take it with you – you won’t get far without keys!
Top 10: Lunches worth making
Is your New Year’s resolution to save money and eat healthier? Let’s knock two birds out with one stone and talk bringing your lunches to work. You’ll save thousands of dollars over the year, and you’ll know exactly what you’re eating every day, because you made it yourself.
Bringing your own lunch doesn’t have to be boring. In fact, these ten tasty treats are totally worth making and will make your colleagues green with envy:
1. Antipasto Frittata – A delicious homemade frittata with a rocket salad is the perfect lunchtime feast. It’s quick and easy to make, just add a variety of grilled vegetables along with some fetta and eggs and bake in the oven. Enjoy it hot or cold for lunch with some tomato relish.
2. Minestrone Soup – You can do a huge pot all at once and freeze it in portions for later. This is a great way to use up all the vegetables in your fridge and give yourself a wholesome, nutritious lunch. Eat with a fresh, crusty bread roll to make it a real restaurant experience.
3. Burritos – These can be made ahead of time and frozen. Pop cooked rice, beans and your meat of choice into a tortilla and wrap it up snug like a bug. When you’re ready for lunch, zap it quickly in the microwave.
4. Mushroom risotto – Best made for dinner the night before and then heated up in the staff room microwave the next day. Freshen it up for the sequel with a sprinkle of Parmesan and some lemon juice.
5. Curry – Curry is great a few days after you’ve made it and all the spices have had a chance to marinate in together. Visit an Indian spice shop and pick up some authentic seasoning to make up your favourite curry at home ahead of time. Serve with fresh instant rice.
6. Tuna salad – This is the easiest, yummiest thing you could ever make. Brown rice, a can of Sirena chilli tuna in oil (dump the whole thing in), finely chopped celery, carrot, garden peas and red capsicum. Finish with a drizzle of lemon juice and season to taste.
7. Parmesan-crumbed chicken strips – Use panko crumbs and parmesan to coat thin strips of chicken breast and shallow fry them in some peanut oil. These are equally good cold or warm at lunch with a salad.
8. Turkey bagels – Almost nothing beats a fresh bagel with cream cheese, shaved turkey breast, cranberry jelly and lettuce.
9. Caesar Salad – Crisp cos lettuce, sharp parmesan, crunchy bacon bits and croutons and even some cold chicken breast. Keep your dressing separate until you’re ready to eat it to guarantee freshness.
10. Rice paper rolls – Healthy and delicious! Pick up the rice paper wraps from the supermarket and fill them with finely chopped vegetables, sprouts and even chicken or tuna. Wrap them into their little bundles and serve with a peanut dipping sauce at your desk.
Do your prep ahead of time and pack your lunch the night before – no one wants to get up 20 minutes earlier to bag their own food. Groan.
Once your lunch is packed, drop your car keys into the box so you don’t forget to take it with you – you won’t get far without keys!