The cost-of-living crisis has sharpened many people’s minds when it comes to saving money. With the average cost of buying lunch from the average high street coffee chain now standing at between £10 and £15, people who prepare their own packed meal can make huge savings.
Taking your own lunch to work is also a great way to control what goes into your food; for example, it is possible to avoid the added salt, fats and UPFs contained in many high-street convenience foods. The doctor and journalist Chris van Tulleken has outlined the dangers of the overconsumption of ultra-processed food, including the increased risk of obesity, heart disease, cancer, and strokes, in his Sunday Times bestselling book Ultra Processed People.
Let’s take a look at some healthy lunch ideas for work:
Soup
Soup is a fantastic lunch option for several reasons. It is cheap, easy to batch cook, can be healthy and delicious, and comes preheated if you transport it in a flask. Seasonal soups are a great way to make the most of the best of the season’s vegetables and get several of your five-a-day in one meal. They can also be bulked out with rice or other carbs to make them even more filling if required.
Glam sandwiches
The humble sandwich is experiencing a renaissance, even having its own Instagram movement of people showing off their incredible butties. Sandwich aficionados are opting for healthy sourdough bread and pack their sandwich fillings with vegetables and proteins, usually combined with a sauce. Sandwiches are a failsafe option for lunch satisfaction and are a universally popular choice from office lunch delivery services for those days away and brainstorming sessions.
Luxe salads
Another great option to prepare yourself or for office lunch delivery is salads. Some salads can be made in bulk batches, although it is best to keep loose leaves separate in the fridge, and most don’t need heating. They will increase your fruit and veg intake and can be bulked out with rice or carbs to ensure they are filling.