Ladies Who Lunch

At school my mum would make a pack lunch for me everyday. And everyday it would consist of a cheese sandwich, bag of ready salted walkers crisps, a yogurt, piece of fruit and a kitkat. I loved it.

Recently though I've been test-running a few ideas to keep my lunch interesting when I have 9-5 days in university. Now obviously these need to be on a budget, hence why I don't buy lunch out. So these are a few lunches I've come up with to try and save me money and time, whilst keeping things interesting!

1. Cous Cous/Rice Salad
Bags of cous cous and rice are so cheap, but I only ever think of eating them cold in the summer with a BBQ. So recently I've been introducing cold cous cous with chopped tomatoes, peppers and onions to give a Mediterranean feel but with a bit more sustenance than a traditional leafy salad. I also find this is good with quinoa if you're looking for a bit more protein.

2. Burritos
Similar to above, I cook rice and  throw in beans. Once cooled I add onions, peppers, grated cheese (whatever you like in a burrito), and wrap them up in foil. Then I'll take in a small pot of salsa/guacamole/crème fraîche, or all three if I'm feeling spendy. This is a great and filling lunch! Bound to keep you full all day, and if you have access to a microwave, swap the foil for a lightly moist kitchen towel (I would have previously cooked the onions and peppers) and heat for 3 minutes. Delicious!

3. Quinoa and Broccoli Bites
This one takes a little bit longer to prep but is well worth it! Cook your quinoa and broccoli and allow to cool slightly. Then combine with chopped spring onions, bread crumbs, grated cheese, egg and any seasoning of your choice! My personal favourites are paprika or oregano. These go great with rocket and some fresh cherry tomatoes.

The best thing about all three of these options is how customisable they are. Hope this has inspired you to change up your lunch a bit. Let me know if you have any suggestions for me!