Where we live, lunch out can run close to $20 just for one person! And that’s for just the two martinis! No, seriously, we know you’ve probably heard it a million times, but here it is again—you save a lot of money when you brown bag it. And it does not have to be a huge bother. Here is a creative way to make brown bagging effortless (almost), appetizing…and definitely not boring.
Packing a lunch on a workday morning is easy when you plan ahead and overlap at the meals you make at home. Here’s what you do…
Whenever you cook, make a few extra chicken cutlets or thighs (we love this marinade)…or an extra inch or two of flank steak at dinnertime…boil some extra eggs…or fry some extra bacon at breakfast. Also while preparing supper, chop up extra tomato, broccoli, carrots, mushrooms, nuts, cheese, peppers, celery, cucumbers, olives or whatever it is you’re chopping…and set aside some drained beans and/or artichoke hearts (or any other canned salad ingredient) and some washed and spun lettuce.
In the morning (or the night before), based on whatever you’re feeling, pick and choose your lunch ingredients from all the great stuff that’s now cut up and ready to go in your refrigerator (we like to call it Refrigerator Salad Bar), and make a terrific salad out of it to take with you. Here are some brown-bag salad recipes we enjoy. Remember that your salad container does not have to be fancy. Even those round plastic jobs left over from Chinese takeout work fine.
To avoid soggy salad greens at your lunch break: Pile your meats and cheeses on top of your leafy greens and vegetables, and pour your salad dressing on top of that protective layer. (Put the dressing on in the morning even if you make the salad the night before.) Just before eating, shake your container to toss and your dressing will cover those delicate greens.
Bonuses from homemade lunches: You don’t have to wait in line for overpriced food…and you know you’re going to love what you eat for lunch that day.
More ways to save money…
- Save $5,000 a Year on Expenses Everyone Has
- Growing the Right Vegetables Saves $$$$
- Top Ways to Save at the Supermarket
