Lunch
Repeat after us: no more sad desk lunches.
by: Ella Quittner
March25,2019
9Comments
9Comments
I went through a phase earlier this year during which I ate a toasted English muffin for lunch every single day, for three weeks. I started out with a bang. Think, flashy towers of toasted muffin halves, swathed in mayo and sambal, cradling fried eggs. Grilled cheeses with a whole gang of melty constituents and caramelized alliums. And then, as time went on, things took a turn. One Wednesday, the toaster wasn't working, and all I could rustle up was a handful of wilted arugula and olive oil. A few days later, I found myself tucking into a muffin-half swirled with a single teaspoon of peanut butter, from a jar a colleague had intended to discard.
By about day 19, even my polite seatmates could no longer avert their gazes.
"I have some leftover rice pilaf!" blurted Eric. "It's in the fridge. You should really, um, switch it up."
From Our Shop
In an effort to prove I could take a hint—and, honestly, because I started to find cornmeal crumbs in all of my pants pockets—I decided then and there it was time to make a change. With the help of my colleagues, I compiled the following list of $5 or less lunches to get me through a full work week (plus, one bonus).
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Top Comment:
“So all I bought was the log of goat cheese ($3.99 minus 20% =$3.19) , the arugula ($3.99 minus 20% =$3.19) and the lemon ($0.49), for a total cost of: $6.87. But two fritters per serving wasn't enough for me. I'd say this works out to more like 3 servings, at $2.29 per meal. That's actually less than the author's estimated price per serving, but ig you didn't have the oil and/or quinoa this would cost significantly more too. ”
— Alanai
Comment
A quick note about how our math works: We base prices on local markets or online delivery services, like FreshDirect and Amazon Fresh. When it comes to pantry staples (think: salt, pepper, olive oil, vinegar...), we assume you already have those on hand.
Ready?
Squash & Cheddar KaleSalad
The math:
- About $1.00 of squash ($3.99 for a whole one)
- $2.36 of kale ($2.36 for one bunch)
- 44 cents' worth of almonds ($6.99 for 16 ounces)
- 81 cents' worth of cheddar ($5.64 for 7 ounces)
- 55 cents' worth of lemon ($0.55 for one)
The total: $5.16 for two servings: $2.58 for one serving
SpanishTortilla
The math:
- $2.58 worth of potatoes (2 pounds at $1.29 per pound)
- $1.19 worth of onion ($1.19 for one)
- $2.33 worth of eggs ($3.49 for a dozen)
- About $1.50 of Parmesan ($4.75 for a quarter-pound)
- 40 cents' worth of butter ($3.79 for 8 ounces)
The total: $8 for six servings; $1.33 for one serving
Curried ChickpeaSandwich
The math:
- $2.58 worth of canned chickpeas (2 cans at $1.29 each)
- 20 cents’ worth of celery (from 1 bunch, at $2.99)
- 20 cents’ worth of shallot (for one small shallot)
- $1 worth of mayo ($4.99 for a 15 ounce jar)
- 30 cents’ worth of curry powder ($3.99 per jar)
- 30 cents’ worth of turmeric ($3.99 per jar)
- 50 cents’ worth of parsley (99 cents for a small bunch)
- $2.32 worth of sliced bread ($6.99 per loaf at the sandwich creator's neighborhood market)
Total cost: $7.40 for four servings; $1.85 for one serving
Broccoli Salad With Pesto, Apples &Walnuts
The math:
- $3.99 worth of basil ($3.99 for a bunch)
- 23 cents' worth of garlic ($4.99 for a pound)
- 55 cents' worth of lemon ($0.55 for one)
- $4 worth of walnuts ($7.99 for 8 ounces)
- About $1.75 of broccoli ($3.49 for roughly two heads)
- $1.78 worth of apple ($1.78 for one)
The total: $12.30 for three servings; $4.10 for one serving
Cheesy Fritters & SimpleSalad
The math:
- $1.09 worth of quinoa ($5.99 for 16 ounces)
- $2.38 worth of goat cheese ($2.99 for 4 ounces)
- $3.49 worth of arugula ($3.49 for large container)
- 55 cents' worth of lemon ($0.55 for one)
The total: $7.51 for two servings; $3.76 for one serving
Spaghetti With Garlic, Olive Oil &Sausage
The math:
- $1.09 worth of spaghetti ($1.09 per pound)
- $5.62 worth of sausage ($5.62 per pound)
- About 30 cents' worth of garlic ($0.51 for a head)
- 49 cents' worth of red chili flakes ($2.94 for a bottle)
- $3.92 worth of Parmesan ($7.84 for about 5 ounces)
- 75 cents' worth of parsley ($1.49 for a bunch)
The total: $12.17 for four servings; $3.04 for one serving
Tags:
- What to Cook
- On the Cheap
- Not Sad Desk Lunch
See what other Food52 readers are saying.
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Anne
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Marilyn
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Alanai
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susielou
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Yolanda
Ella Quittner is a contributing writer and the Absolute Best Tests columnist at Food52. She covers food, travel, wellness, lifestyle, home, novelty snacks, and internet-famous sandwiches. You can follow her on Instagram @equittner, or Twitter at @ellaquittner. She also develops recipes for Food52, and has a soft spot for all pasta, anything spicy, and salty chocolate things.
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9 Comments
Anne May 28, 2019
Easy, inexpensive work lunches are a constant struggle/goal. I start by scanning the weekly circular for my local grocery store to see what's in season, what's on sale, and what I can get for a discount with coupons. From there I start brainstorming ideas for meals. This week's work lunches are a rotation of Chicken Waldorf Salad (poached chicken breast, Granny Smith apple, red seedless grapes, slivered almonds, and scallions) and Confetti Egg Salad (egg salad topped with diced red pepper and minced scallions). Both may be served on Wasa rye crackers, whole wheat pitas, or a baguette. Sometimes I'll add a handful of spinach to make the egg salad more robust.
Marilyn May 23, 2019
Hi, Great ideas for Lunch for under $5.00, however do you have more finger foods for work, where you don't use utilities. Thanks.
Alanai April 3, 2019
I made two of these recipes -- the cheesy fritters with arugula and the chickpea salad sandwich -- and thought they were both great. The main thing I would point out is that these could easily cost more than the stated price unless you already have the ingredients on hand and incorporate the extra stuff you inevitably buy into future meals.
Take the chick pea salad, which I made today: celery ($3.99), parsley ($1.50), curry powder ($3.69), turmeric ($3.34), chickpeas ($2), shallots ($1), tomatoes ($2.79), whole wheat pita ($1.39). I already had the mayo, red wine vinegar, and salt and pepper at home. I also had a 20% off coupon for some of the groceries, so the total cost to me was: $16.91 or about $4.23 per serving.
Was it good? Yes! But realistically, no one buys one stalk of celery or half a bunch of parsley or half a cup of mayo. Some stuff you already have, most you don't.
For the fritters, I already had the quinoa, salt, pepper and oil. So all I bought was the log of goat cheese ($3.99 minus 20% =$3.19) , the arugula ($3.99 minus 20% =$3.19) and the lemon ($0.49), for a total cost of: $6.87. But two fritters per serving wasn't enough for me. I'd say this works out to more like 3 servings, at $2.29 per meal. That's actually less than the author's estimated price per serving, but ig you didn't have the oil and/or quinoa this would cost significantly more too.
susielou March 31, 2019
Your recipes look tasty and nourishing. What about using some of the same ingredients in different recipes, so that buying them, especially fresh, is not a one-time purchase? (Ex. Kale, chickpeas, quinoa, shallots, part.)
Yolanda March 31, 2019
Do you just reheat the fritters in the microwave the next day or what?
kimikoftokyo March 31, 2019
I guess I better get buying. I am the type who will eat the same things everyday out of simple frustration because I do not know what to buy anymore. Lol
Sanpan March 31, 2019
Looks good definitely worth trying
Marc L. March 31, 2019
Ditto: please, more Whole 30 lunches for $5 using foods that hold up well in a drug the next day. Great idea!
Ashley March 26, 2019
More of these, please! Although I do question whether the pasta would get dry after sitting overnight + several hours during the day
