Let's talk about budgeting.
It sorta sucks. And the one expense that always sneaks up on me is eating out. So I started making my work lunch all week instead of buying it. And guess what? It seriously helped me save money.
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Ready to try it out? This easy plan will show you how to grocery shop once and make lunch all work week for just $20.
A few things to know about the meal plan:
• As written, these recipes feed multiple people, but the grocery list below is written with single-serving meals in mind.
• To keep prices down, all of these lunches are meatless. (But you can easily add your favorite proteins.)
• To save time, parts of all of these meals can be prepared in advance — whether it’s cooking rice, slicing veggies, or assembling a salad. So besides the finishing touches, lunch will be ready to grab and go in the morning, when you need it.
* The prices above were calculated using FreshDirect, so they’ll vary by your location.
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Monday: Grilled Chimichurri Portobello Lettuce Wraps
What you'll need:
• 4 ounces baby bella mushrooms
• 3 bib lettuce wraps
• ¼ cup radishes
• 1 plum tomato
The recipe calls for a marinade of red wine vinegar, olive oil, red pepper flakes, garlic, parsley, and oregano, but you can really use any easy mixture of oil and vinegar. In addition to portobello and radish, you can add whatever veggies you have on hand such as grilled zucchini, tomato, or onion. Get the recipe.
Tuesday: Spring Orzo Pasta Salad
What you'll need:
• ¼ cup uncooked orzo
• ¼ cup corn
• ½ bell pepper
• ½ zucchini
• ½ lemon
Combine the roasted veggies and the cooked orzo in a bowl and dress it in lemon juice, olive oil, salt and pepper. If you have mozzarella or feta in the fridge, a little cheese is never a bad idea. Get the recipe.
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Wednesday: Mushroom Fried Rice
What you'll need:
• ¾ cups cooked brown rice
• 8 ounces sliced baby bellas
• 1 egg
• 2 green onions
If you happen to have ginger or sesame oil that's great, but this easy fried rice tastes just as delicious with a drizzle of olive oil and soy sauce. You can also bulk up this meal by adding shrimp, chicken, or any veggies you have lying around.
Thursday: Cold Lemon Zucchini Noodles
What you'll need:
• 1 zucchini
• ½ lemon
• Sliced radish (to taste)
There's no cooking required to make this refreshing spring lunch. And all you need is lemon juice a few pantry staples like Dijon mustard, salt, pepper, and olive oil to make the zesty dressing. Get the recipe.
Friday: Veggie Pitas
What you'll need:
• 1 pita pocket
• ½ zucchini
• ½ bell pepper
• ½ cup baby bella mushrooms
• Handful lettuce
Stuff a pita pocket with roasted mushrooms and your favorite vegetables. Get creative with a sprinkle of feta cheese, some Kalamata olives, banana peppers, or a schmear of hummus. Get the recipe.
