How to Save Money with Healthy Lunches

Everyone knows they can save money by packing a lunch from home to take to work or school rather than buying a lunch each day. Sometimes we are rushed for time and end up making poor choices due to time restraints, or due to lack of imagination or knowledge. I will show you how to make very inexpensive lunches and also provide variety and super healthy choices that provide fiber, protein, and tons of vitamins.

Rice Dishes

Buy some dry brown rice from the store. The store brand is usually the cheapest and can make about 20-25 servings for around $3-$5. I also like to have dry black beans and kidney beans on hand. These are often inexpensive as well and can provide geat nutrition for little money, just like the rice. Finally, with some frozen vegetables on hand, you'll be on your way to making healthier and less expensive lunches.

There are many variations of rice dishes you can prepare. I like to make about 3 servings on Sunday to take to work Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.

Asian Flare

It's very easy to simply soak some of the beans overnight over the weekend and then cook the rice and beans together for about 45 minutes. After the rice has absorbed all the water, I like to add a bit of soy sauce, some frozen broccoli, cauliflower, snap peas, corn, and whatever else is on hand. Additions to the Asian flavor can include baby corn, onions, carrots, tofu, garlic, sesame, and anything else you fancy.

Mexican-Inspired Dishes

As before, simply cook the rice and some black beans together, then add some onion, tomato, cumin, garlic, and any other spices and vegetables you like. You can even make a cold dish with salsa and some imagination.

Other Varieties

The varieties are endless for this dish. Add some turmeric and lime with lots of veggies for an Indian-inspired lunch. With lots of basil, oregano, and some tomato sauce and veggies you can treat yourself to an Italian-themed rice dish.Make a cold salad-esque lunch by adding fresh tomatoes, onions, avocado, spinach, shredded carrots, and anything else you like.

One Step Further

I have a garden where I grow tomatoes, cabbage, basil, lettuce, and onions, as well as a few other spices and vegetables. This stretches your dollars even further and helps lessen your impact on the earth as a whole as well!

As I said, I usually only eat these dishes on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. I don't want to get tired of this healthy meal, even though there are endless possibilities as far as variations go, but it's basically still just a rice dish. So, on Tuesdays and Thursdays I try to take a sandwich or some pasta or something else. These lunches can be made at home without breaking the budget as well.

An easy and healthy sandwich I personally love is a vegetable sandwich. Grab two slices of whole wheat bread and add a slice of tomato, some lettuce, spinach, onions, olives, peppers, whatever you like. If you prefer a condiment, choose mustard. Another sandwich I love is a peanut butter and banana sandwich. With whole wheat bread and a thin layer of peanut butter (or almond or cashew butter, which is healthier), smash up a banana or slice a banana and layer it in the middle. Other varieties of this sandwich include any fruits such as apples, berries, and even pears. You can also add walnuts, pecans, or another nut for added protein and fiber.

These lunches are fairly inexpensive and easy to make. They pack in the nutrients by adding more fresh fruits and vegetables into your daily diet. Many think eating more healthy foods is too expensive or too difficult to work into their lifestyle, but this article has proven that to be a myth, especially if you have your own garden and a little imagination. Enjoy your healthy and inexpensive lunches!