Save Money by Making Lunches for Work/School
Saving money can taste good and be healthy. Making sandwiches once a week or once every other week also saves me time! And I find that, with time specifically set aside to plan and make lunches, my family eats better.
Start with the Bread!
I find that an interesting sandwich starts with a good bread. Sourdough, Italian or French bread, potato rolls, even banana bread -- all can make a good, hearty sandwich for lunch. Bread is one of the only things that you can refreeze. So buy some interesting bread when it's on sale, freeze it, make your sandwiches for the week, and freeze the sandwiches. The sandwiches will thaw by lunch time -- and the filling will stay fresher.Other bread ideas for sandwiches:
Rye
Marble
Organic
Italian
Raisin
Baguettes
Boules
Pumpernickel
Hamburger Buns
Bread Sticks
Dinner Rolls
Flat bread
Croissants
Hot dog Buns
Sub Rolls
Hoagie Rolls
Torpedo Rolls
Bagels
English Muffins
Use your imagination!
Keep your bread fresh
Rubbermaid #3800-RD-WHT Giant Loaf Bread Keeper
Amazon Price: $10.67 (as of 12/15/2009) 
Progressive International Clearly Fresh Bread Keeper
Amazon Price: (as of 12/15/2009)
When freezing sandwiches
- Substitute yogurt for mayo
- Some vegetables don't keep their texture when frozen. Add fresh vegetables right before packing the lunch.
- Sandwiches will thaw by lunch and taste just-made fresh!
Quick & Easy Sandwich Ideas
For those mornings when you just have to move quickly!
Sometimes you may run out of sandwiches from the freezer. In that case, be imaginative:Banana bread with peanut butter
Peanut butter topped with apple slices
Cream cheese with apple or cucumber
Peanut butter and raisins
Tuna and Swiss cheese
Leftover chicken/turkey with pesto
Peapod
I save so much time and money with Peapod I can't believe I didn't start using it sooner!
Cucumber & Turkey Sandwich Filling
You can substitute chicken in place of the turkey
I use leftover meat for this sandwich spread. If I'm going to freeze the sandwiches, I substitute yogurt for the mayo and eliminate the cukes. Normally, I just keep the spread in the fridge and any not used for sandwiches gets used on crackers for a snack.Combine the following ingredients. Chill until ready to use.
1/3 cup mayonnaise or plain yogurt
1 Tbsp. dried dill weed
1 cucumber, peeled, seeded, chopped
1 cup cubed dill Havarti cheese
1/2 cup cooked turkey, chopped
Vegetarian Sandwich Spread
This is a dish that doesn't freeze well.
Finely chop raw vegetables of your choice. Drain on paper towel. Mix together some mayo and cream cheese. Amount of mayo and cream cheese depends on the amount of chopped vegetables. Mix together vegetables and cream cheese/mayo mixture. Refrigerate. Spread on sandwich bread or use as cracker spread.
Suggested vegetables:
Cucumbers
scallions
carrots
green/red pepper
Finely chop raw vegetables of your choice. Drain on paper towel. Mix together some mayo and cream cheese. Amount of mayo and cream cheese depends on the amount of chopped vegetables. Mix together vegetables and cream cheese/mayo mixture. Refrigerate. Spread on sandwich bread or use as cracker spread.
Suggested vegetables:
Cucumbers
scallions
carrots
green/red pepper
Ham Salad Sandwich Filling
Combine the ingredients below and refrigerate until ready to use.
2 cups finely chopped cooked ham
1 teaspoon prepared mustard
1/3 cup mayonnaise
1/2 cup finely diced celery
1 teaspoon grated onion
Makes 6 sandwiches
2 cups finely chopped cooked ham
1 teaspoon prepared mustard
1/3 cup mayonnaise
1/2 cup finely diced celery
1 teaspoon grated onion
Makes 6 sandwiches
Peanut Butter Add-ins
Add any of the following items to a peanut butter sandwich:Raisins
Sunflower seeds
Honey
Sliced banana
Sliced apple (sprinkle with cinnamon!)
Tilia FoodSaver
Keep your sandwiches fresh in the freezer
I make sandwiches two and three weeks ahead. I freeze them on a tray until they're hard, place them each in a sandwich bag, then the Foodsaver bag, and seal them. I freeze them first so that the Foodsaver won't crush them. At the beginning of each week, when I open the Foodsaver bag to take out the sandwiches for that day, I don't reseal it. The sandwiches will be fine for 4 days in the sandwich bags and it saves me time and trouble each morning.
Tilia Foofsaver Containers
Recipe: Raid the Kitchen Salad
for a healthy, inexpensive lunch
Leftover chicken, turkey, tuna or egg saladLettuce
Frozen spinach (will thaw before lunch)
Frozen vegetables such as green beans or squash (will thaw before lunch)
Raisins
Sunflower seeds
Croutons (I make these the night before by cutting up any bread or roll, sprinkling it with garlic powder, and toasting it in the oven.)
Use you imagination! You'll save money by not wasting leftovers, and your family will have a healthy lunch!
Freezer Cole Slaw
1 cup sugar
1 cup vinegar
1 cup water
1/2 tsp. celery seed
5 1/3 cup shredded cabbage
1 lg. carrot, shredded
1 tsp. salt
1. In 2 quart saucepan over high heat bring first 4 ingredients to boil, stirring occasionally. Boil 1 minute. Allow to cool to room temperature.
2. In large bowl, toss together cabbage and remaining ingredients.
3. Drain cabbage mixture. Stir cooled vinegar mixture into cabbage mixture.
4. Pack into 3 pint freezer containers leaving 1/2 inch head space. Store in freezer up to 6 months.
1 cup vinegar
1 cup water
1/2 tsp. celery seed
5 1/3 cup shredded cabbage
1 lg. carrot, shredded
1 tsp. salt
1. In 2 quart saucepan over high heat bring first 4 ingredients to boil, stirring occasionally. Boil 1 minute. Allow to cool to room temperature.
2. In large bowl, toss together cabbage and remaining ingredients.
3. Drain cabbage mixture. Stir cooled vinegar mixture into cabbage mixture.
4. Pack into 3 pint freezer containers leaving 1/2 inch head space. Store in freezer up to 6 months.
What does your family like best for lunch?
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How do you save money on lunches?
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- baruchz baruchz Mar 31, 2009 @ 1:56 pm
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