#cheap lunch

[housemousecooking]

Using Packaged foods to make cheaper lunches 2

Found this in my drafts over 2 years later. Updated the prices.

Mashed Potato Bowl 8 servings (420 Calories. $13.67 for 8 servings or $1.71 Per serving. With cheese 530 Calories. $15.91 for 8 servings, $1.99 per serving)

Instant mashed potatoes(2.53)

Corn ($.98)

Beef gravy($1.42)

Frozen popcorn chicken($6.46)

Cheese ($2.24)

BBQ Meatballs 10 servings (450 Calories. $18.66 for 10 servings or $1.80 Per serving.)

Frozen meatballs ($7.47)

Sweet Baby Ray's 18oz. ($2.28)

Green Giant Roasting vegetables, Cheddar seasoning ($8.91, 3 bags)

Butter Chicken with Rice and Hummans and peppers 7 Servings(450 calories. 20.18 per serving or 2.88 per serving.)

Tyson frozen grilled Chicken($8.47)

Butter Chicken Simmer sauce ($4.43)

Vigo Yellow Rice(You will have to make the rice it isn't premade). ($1.44. Technically only 5 servings, but 2/3 cups instead of 1 cup can make it 7.)

Hummus ($2.87) Yes I know hummus isn't Indian food, but I wanted more than Rice for a side

Sweet Snacking Peppers(Cut in half). ($2.97)

[wiionme]

[festfashions]

If you follow my Instagram I mentioned how I want to start mixing in some lifestyle posts in between my photo posts. I did a poll and more than 80% of you were interested in other content, so here we go!

Easy Work Lunch

I definitely got on the mason salad jar train. When I first started doing them I would make for the whole week on a Sunday. I would usually do it with one friend so that we could buy lots of ingredients to make different salads for each day and keep the costs down. We would also do some other meal prep together for meals for the rest of the week, and it was super fun and relaxing on a Sunday!

It is hard to keep up meal planning on Sundays though. I have weekend raves, brunches that leave my Sunday in a drunk haze, and plain old laziness. I’ve started to figure out ways I can make lunches before work that don’t take up too much time, and a good mason jar salad is one of them! This is a receipt for one of the easiest!

Step One: Prep

I always wash my lettuce then cut the whole head up. I have a salad spinner from Ikea (it’s only $4.99) and it quickly dries my lettuce and stores the rest of it perfectly. It locks in the moisture and truly keeps the lettuce for longer than if I had it in the drawer, which is great because often times I forget about it. Cutting all the lettuce at once also saves me time later when I need a quick salad!

This salad uses a lemon dressing that I find in the refrigerated section of Ralph’s. It’s super yummy and pairs really well with tuna.

Step 2: Start Packing

The rest of the prep is super easy, and honestly I find it kind of fun. It’s like making a lunch sand art! You always start with the items in your salad that won't get soggy during the day. Everyone thinks mason jar salads are just a trendy joke, but really they’re super functional! 

Add enough salad dressing, it took me a while to figure out exactly how much to include, so be patient with yourself if you don’t have enough the first time!

Next add tomatoes. I used heirloom tomatoes for this one and cut them up before adding them to the jar.

Next I added red onions. I LOVE red onions in my salad. They add that extra taste where sometimes I feel like veggies begin tasting all the same in a salad... I always include red tomatoes in my salad, sliced super thinly so they’re not over powering though!

Next cucumbers! They add a good texture to the salad. If you don’t use all your cucumber be sure to wrap the top so it keeps in the fridge!

Finally fill it up with lettuce! I squish everything down and really pack the lettuce in. If I keep it super loose I don’t end up with enough lettuce, especially since I really like to add a lot of the toppings I don’t leave much room in my jar so I squish it all down!

Step 3: Extras!

These tuna packs are my favorite to keep in my pantry. There’s a bunch of flavor options but this one is a good one for the lemon dressing. They usually cost between $1-$2, but I wait for them to go on sale for $1 and buy a bunch to hold onto. 

I also precut my avocado. If you’re only using half save the half with the seed in it in the fridge (that half will last longer) wrapped up. The half I take to work I sprinkle with lemon juice then put in the same container as the lemon. This keeps it from browning too much and then I use the lemon to squeeze on my salad too if I want it!

There you have it! A simple and super cheap lunch! If it’s not filling, pack a sandwich as well, I’ve done that some days when I needed more to eat, but usually that was when I didn’t have the tuna.

Stay tuned for more! Thanks for reading! 

[housemousecooking]

Cheap Lunch - Soup and _____

*** I am using prices from the Walmart in the college town my sister lives in. Your area may be different***

I’m going to put two recipes for the soup, one that includes fresh vegetables, one that is ONLY canned. Both recipes are vegan but can be made with meat products added. 

This should be eaten with another food. Simple salad, a basic pasta, or a sandwich. 

Basic Minestrone -Makes 7 servings

2 tsp Olive oil - 3.94 Whole bottle

1 onion diced - $.85

2 Celery stalks sliced - $1.87 Whole bundle

3 medium carrots peeled and sliced - $.98 pound

3 tsp minced Garlic -$2.83 jar (45 servings)

1 (28 fluid ounce) can crushed tomatoes - $.98

4 cups Vegetable Broth - $1.94 for a carton of broth OR 1 Jar Better than Bullion $3.97(makes 3 cartons worth of vegetable stock for $1.33 each)

1 Small Zucchini halved then sliced - $.81

1/2 pound fresh green beans - $.86

1 Can red Kidney Beans - $.72

1 Can Canellini Beans - $.72

1 Tbsp Italian seasoning - $.98 whole container

1 Cup small shells -$.92 whole box

$17.79 for the recipe the first time making it. $10.21 in the weeks using the leftovers from the first week.  Or $2.50 a meal week 1 and $1.46 a meal weeks you use leftovers

Can Vegetable Soup 14 servings

1 28 ounce can of Crushed Tomatoes -$.98

1 6 ounce can of Tomato Paste - $.62

1 15 ounce can of sliced Carrots - drained -$.58

1 15 ounce can of Green Beans - drained - $.54

1 15 ounce can of Peas - drained -$.54

1 15 ounce can of Corn - drained -$.54 Regular $1.82 Fire roasted for more flavor

2 15 ounce can of Potatoes - drained -$1.56

2 32 ounce cartons of Garden Vegetable Broth - $1.94 each

2 Tbsp of Italian Seasoning - $.98

2 tsp Minced Garlic -$2.83

$13.59 for the recipe the first time making it. $9.78 in the weeks using the leftovers from the first week.  Or $.98 a meal week 1 and $.70 a meal weeks you use leftovers(recommended to freeze half and thaw it out the second week. 

[housemousecooking]

Cheap Pasta Dishes - Alfredo

*** I am using prices from the Walmart in the college town my sister lives in. Your area may be different***

These pasta dishes go great with a soup lunch. They can also be halved and eaten with the soup and a salad.

Cheap Pasta 1 - 7 servings

1 box Orzo - $1.63

Peas- Frozen 2 bags $1.68, canned 2 cans $1.08

Alfredo Sauce - $1.50

Cost for 7 servings $4.81. Cost per serving $.69

Optional add ins

Tuna - $.78 for 2 servings

Bacon bits - $1.33

Cheap Pasta 2 - 7 servings

1 box Garden rotini - $.98

Broccoli - Frozen 2 bags $1.96 Fresh $1.87/lb

Alfredo Sauce - $1.50

Cost for 7 servings $4.44 .Cost per serving $.64

Cheap Pasta 3 - 7 servings

1 box Fettuccine - $.92

1 small zucchini - fresh $.81 frozen(mix includes yellow squash $1.74)

1 small summer squash - fresh $.89

1 cups corn - Frozen $.84 canned $.54

Alfredo Sauce $1.50

Cost for 7 servings $4.96 .Cost per serving $.71

[housemousecooking]

Cheap Pasta Dishes - Marinara

*** I am using prices from the Walmart in the college town my sister lives in. Your area may be different***

Cheap Pasta 1 - 7 servings

Spinach - Frozen $1.48 Fresh $2.18

Mushroom - Fresh $2.08 Frozen $1.98 Canned $1.24

Marinara Sauce -$1.40

Rigatoni - $.92

$5.88 for the whole recipe. $.84 a serving

Cheap Pasta 2 - 7 Servings

1 small zucchini - fresh $.81 frozen(mix includes yellow squash) $1.74

1 small summer squash - fresh $.89

1 cup corn - Frozen $.84 canned $.54

Marinara - $1.40

Penne - $.92

$4.86 for the whole recipe. $.70 a serving

Roasted Vegetable Gnocchi 3 - 7 Servings

Gnocchi - 2 16oz containers $5.64

6 Cups broccoli - Frozen $2.24

Butternut Squash - Frozen $1.74

Marinara Sauce -$1.40

This is a roasted dish. Toss the gnocchi and vegetables in 1tbsp oil and roast in the oven at 425 for 20 minutes. Toss in the Marinara after. 

$11.02 for the whole recipe. $1.58 a Serving. 

[boitedeconcert]

Cheap Lunch

Cumberland Arms, Newcastle, England. 14/05/26.

[boitedeconcert]

Cheap Lunch

Cumberland Arms, Newcastle, England. 27/01/25.