DS Forums

 
 

working lunches


Reply
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Old 05-03-2008, 18:24
jigsawjake
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 3,913

If you take a packed lunch, what food and drink do you take to work with you -?

i tend to take squash in an old bottle and a tuna roll.

If you buy lunch at a shop what do you buy -?

I tend to also buy a tuna baguette and orange juice.

I'm looking for interesting alternatives, if anyone buys or takes anything unusual with them.

edit - i suppose what i also need to know is, given there is no fridge at work where i can leave food, if i took chicken, prawns, eggs qhiche, yoghurt, or anything like that would it still be safe to eat at lunchtime?
jigsawjake is offline   Reply With Quote
Please sign in or register to remove this advertisement.
Old 05-03-2008, 19:26
Barbarella81
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 559
I take a packed lunch into work most days...I usually have a sandwich (chicken and salad or houmous & carrot), some nuts, dried fruit, yoghurt, and a small salad or fruit. It seems to stay okay until lunch, but then I store it in a cool place.
I know its not an interesting alternative as such though....
Barbarella81 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-03-2008, 20:00
Midiboy
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: London
Posts: 7,759
Mon-Thu I vary between M&S layered prawn salad, Pret A Manger tuna nicoise salad (or ham and egg bloomer/chicken basil special), toasted panini fdrom Italian shop round the corner from work, chicken Mahgreb salad with couscous or chicken caesar salad.

On a Friday I do Borough Market and either have chorizo on ciabbata with rocket and roasted peppers from Brindisa, venison burger, chargrilled fishin a wrap with salad or ostrich minute steak on a baguette.
Midiboy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-03-2008, 21:10
ontheloop54
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: The Big Smoke
Posts: 2,747
Mon-Thu I vary between M&S layered prawn salad, Pret A Manger tuna nicoise salad (or ham and egg bloomer/chicken basil special), toasted panini fdrom Italian shop round the corner from work, chicken Mahgreb salad with couscous or chicken caesar salad.

On a Friday I do Borough Market and either have chorizo on ciabbata with rocket and roasted peppers from Brindisa, venison burger, chargrilled fishin a wrap with salad or ostrich minute steak on a baguette.
Sounds delicious but expensive!!
ontheloop54 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-03-2008, 21:18
Elanor
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Derbyshire
Posts: 13,041
Oh look, another lunch thread! Sorry, I'm going to have to post my lunch link again.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ginger_...7601368797142/

Tomorrow I have lemon roasted salmon with spinach, and avocado and some yoghurt with strawberries.

Oh, and although I do have access to a fridge, I never use it - I make my lunch the night before and stick it in my fridge overnight. Then when I go to work I keep it in my desk til lunchtime, and so far everything's always been fine. Nothing's gone off yet.

Sometimes I have yoghurt with frozen fruit, and by the time it gets to lunchtime the fruit has defrosted but is still nice and cold. Sometimes I have one section of my box frozen anyway (pasta stuff, peas, etc) and then it works as a chiller pack for the box, but is defrosted by lunchtime.
Elanor is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-03-2008, 21:20
jigsawjake
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 3,913
Oh look, another lunch thread! Sorry, I'm going to have to post my lunch link again.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ginger_...7601368797142/

Tomorrow I have lemon roasted salmon with spinach, and avocado and some yoghurt with strawberries.
Wow, elanor, I didn't see your lunch thread before, sorry.

Tell me more.
Did you make this yourself?
Where did you get the box with the different compartments, that looks handy?
Are there recipes for these different items?
jigsawjake is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-03-2008, 21:25
sunshinegirl
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 583
[quote=jigsawjake;22058306]If you take a packed lunch, what food and drink do you take to work with you -?

i tend to take squash in an old bottle and a tuna roll.

If you buy lunch at a shop what do you buy -?

I tend to also buy a tuna baguette and orange juice.

I'm looking for interesting alternatives, if anyone buys or takes anything unusual with them.

edit - i suppose what i also need to know is, given there is no fridge at work where i can leave food, if i took chicken, prawns, eggs qhiche, yoghurt, or anything like that would it still be safe to eat at lunchtime?[/QUOTE]

I wouldn't leave anything like that out of the fridge for any length of time, especially in a warm office. You could buy an insulated lunch bag that you can place a coolpac from the freezer into.

Cooked meats and dairy products are high risk foods as far as food poisoning bugs go.
sunshinegirl is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-03-2008, 21:25
Elanor
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Derbyshire
Posts: 13,041
Wow, elanor, I didn't see your lunch thread before, sorry.

Tell me more.
Did you make this yourself?
Where did you get the box with the different compartments, that looks handy?
Are there recipes for these different items?
Oh, it wasn't my lunch thread, don't worry. I just like posting my link.

The box was from here:
http://www.beckyandlolo.co.uk/depart...aptop_lunches/

It was the best thing I bought last year, I love it. It's completely changed how I eat now. I used to always take a very dull sandwich, and perhaps and apple or something, and the apple would always get squished a bit or bruised in my bag... Now I tend to cook nice things at night, and have leftovers in my lunch the next day.

I don't really have recipes (although some of the photos do have them attached if you click to see the comments) but I could tell you some if you say which you wanted...
Elanor is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-03-2008, 21:28
jigsawjake
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 3,913
Oh, it wasn't my lunch thread, don't worry. I just like posting my link.

The box was from here:
http://www.beckyandlolo.co.uk/depart...aptop_lunches/

It was the best thing I bought last year, I love it. It's completely changed how I eat now. I used to always take a very dull sandwich, and perhaps and apple or something, and the apple would always get squished a bit or bruised in my bag... Now I tend to cook nice things at night, and have leftovers in my lunch the next day.

I don't really have recipes (although some of the photos do have them attached if you click to see the comments) but I could tell you some if you say which you wanted...
Thanks, there is so much there to look at, I may come back to you over the next few days, it all looks so NICE!
jigsawjake is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-03-2008, 21:32
jigsawjake
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 3,913
[/[/b]QUOTE]

I wouldn't leave anything like that out of the fridge for any length of time

Cooked meats and dairy products are high risk foods as far as food poisoning bugs go.[/quote]

OK, that's what i thought.If I did get an insulated lunchbag and one of those frozen things which go in it - i know what you mean, like a sort of frozen block thing - it will be ok?It will probably be in there for about 5-6 hours at a time.
jigsawjake is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-03-2008, 21:40
sunshinegirl
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 583
Yes, that should be fine. Check the recommendations on the bag though just to be sure, as different makes may vary.
sunshinegirl is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-03-2008, 21:42
Elanor
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Derbyshire
Posts: 13,041
[/[/b]QUOTE]

I wouldn't leave anything like that out of the fridge for any length of time

Cooked meats and dairy products are high risk foods as far as food poisoning bugs go.

OK, that's what i thought.If I did get an insulated lunchbag and one of those frozen things which go in it - i know what you mean, like a sort of frozen block thing - it will be ok?It will probably be in there for about 5-6 hours at a time.
I'm part of a group of people on Flickr who all have the same box as me (Laptop Lunch Box) and many of them have bought it with the insulated bag and the freezer pack thing - they seem to think it works perfectly well and stays chilled til lunch time. I've never bothered though, as I said, and my lunch is out of the fridge for about four to five hours before it's eaten, and I've never had any problems. A frozen part of the lunch works just as well as a chill pack, but so long as your box isn't on top of the radiator or something, it should be fine. I keep mine in the bottom of my desk, where it stays pretty cool.
Elanor is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-03-2008, 21:52
sunshinegirl
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 583
I'm part of a group of people on Flickr who all have the same box as me (Laptop Lunch Box) and many of them have bought it with the insulated bag and the freezer pack thing - they seem to think it works perfectly well and stays chilled til lunch time. I've never bothered though, as I said, and my lunch is out of the fridge for about four to five hours before it's eaten, and I've never had any problems. A frozen part of the lunch works just as well as a chill pack, but so long as your box isn't on top of the radiator or something, it should be fine. I keep mine in the bottom of my desk, where it stays pretty cool.
That lunchbox looks great, am sending for one myself.
I agree a frozen part of your lunch should work just as well as an ice block. I have used a frozen carton of juice in my bag sometimes and as you say by lunchtime it has defrosted. I have to say my lunches never look as good as yours though
sunshinegirl is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-03-2008, 21:56
Elanor
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Derbyshire
Posts: 13,041
Oh my god, I'd never even considered frozen fruit juice! I'm so stupid. Right, that's my next plan, what a great idea!
Elanor is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-03-2008, 07:57
macca@90
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: In Front Of My PC
Posts: 1,688
Elanor
I bought one of the boxes in January and then sent off for the ice pack thing later as I didn't like leaving it in the fridge at work. Thieving gits
It is the best thing I have bought as I have saved a fortune, am eating well and have lost weight. I can now take my jeans off without undoing them
macca@90 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-03-2008, 09:09
Louismum
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Posts: 1,159
Oh look, another lunch thread! Sorry, I'm going to have to post my lunch link again.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ginger_...7601368797142/

Tomorrow I have lemon roasted salmon with spinach, and avocado and some yoghurt with strawberries.

Oh, and although I do have access to a fridge, I never use it - I make my lunch the night before and stick it in my fridge overnight. Then when I go to work I keep it in my desk til lunchtime, and so far everything's always been fine. Nothing's gone off yet.

Sometimes I have yoghurt with frozen fruit, and by the time it gets to lunchtime the fruit has defrosted but is still nice and cold. Sometimes I have one section of my box frozen anyway (pasta stuff, peas, etc) and then it works as a chiller pack for the box, but is defrosted by lunchtime.
Wow how interesting, you really do vary your lunches, well done. Really interesting
Louismum is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-03-2008, 18:12
Elanor
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Derbyshire
Posts: 13,041
Elanor
I bought one of the boxes in January and then sent off for the ice pack thing later as I didn't like leaving it in the fridge at work. Thieving gits
It is the best thing I have bought as I have saved a fortune, am eating well and have lost weight. I can now take my jeans off without undoing them
Hurrah! I have become evangelical about my box, I think it's great. Do your colleagues comment on yours? I changed jobs recently, and my new colleagues have been eyeing it up at lunchtime, but nobody's said anything so far...

I had the same results as you though - saved money, eating better, and lost weight. I find that I eat far more fruit and veg nowadays.
Elanor is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-03-2008, 18:49
macca@90
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: In Front Of My PC
Posts: 1,688
Hello Elanor

I love my box but only one person has asked to see it although someone else called it "dinky"

These people wind me up they do all the overtime going to bump up their salaries yet think nothing of spending a few quid each day on lunch

They are always on health kicks the latest being porridge but when they forgot the milk it was back to the link sausage on a roll and Kit Kat

Just bring your own and save a fortune and get healthy
macca@90 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-03-2008, 19:38
jigsawjake
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 3,913
I've just discovered something else i'm happy about, i put some rice and veg with tomato sauce in my food container a few hours ago, just opened it, and its still piping hot!

Now that means I can take things like hot rice, hot pasta, maybe even meat and veg with gravy!
jigsawjake is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-03-2008, 20:54
Midiboy
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: London
Posts: 7,759
Sounds delicious but expensive!!
Since I've given up the fags I don't begrudge spending a bit on myself at lunchtime !
Midiboy is offline   Reply With Quote
 
Reply




 
Forum Jump


All times are GMT. The time now is 17:30.