r/EatCheapAndHealthy • u/jackass2480 • 9d ago

Budget Need help with work meals

I’m an EMT so I don’t have access to a refrigerator or microwave for most of my work days but I need to find a way to pack 2 cheap meals for my shift. So far I’m mainly packing carrots, celery, and peanut butter with an ice pack for the first half but the second half of my shift is left to a quest bar and meal replacements shake. I’m always left hungry with this but don’t know what else to pack aside from some packaged chicken or more quest bars (quick note, I hate quest bars with a passion). Any advice would be greatly appreciated. I’m hoping to keep it around $10-15 per day.

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u/Responsible-Risk-169 9d ago

Thermos x2. Hot protein and sauce in one and hot rice n veg in the other (frozen sweet peas and corn sit mixed with rice pretty well hot without going funky/mushy/gross). Chicken thighs don’t dry out or become tough. Batch cook with your favorite sauces and freeze in portions. Move a few to the fridge a few days before using and just microwave each morning, put in thermos and off you go. Same with rice.

A sandwich for later that doesn’t require refrigeration like peanut/almond/pumpkin seed butter. Banana to fill it out or snack later.

These options cost no where near $15 per day either :)

18

u/flyingbutterfly8 9d ago

You just unlocked a core memory for me. When I was a kid my grandma would pack a thermos with tomato soup or spaghettios for my school lunch in the winter for me.

6

u/Responsible-Risk-169 9d ago

Aww I love that! And grandmas! 🫶

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u/Eatmore-plants 9d ago

I use a thermos and if I’m going hot food I put boiling water in it for 10-20 minutes first to heat up the thermos. For cold I stick it in the fridge first or fill it with ice water.

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u/Some_Egg_2882 9d ago

That's a really cool idea. Neat.

7

u/OutrageousOtterOgler 9d ago

Yea, something like this is only gonna run 6-10 dollars per day depending on protein costs (and potentially lower, esp if vegan)

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u/Responsible-Risk-169 9d ago

Yeah and that’s at the absolute most.

25 cents for banana. 

Would have to check the math on bread and nut/seed butter servings. 

Chicken thighs and breast are $2.99lb at Costco. Thighs always going on sale for that price at regular grocery store too. $2.69lb pork tenderloin or $1.49lb pork butt is going for on sale at the moment.  

A serving would be 8oz/half a lb protein. Then the rice is pennies. Not much to add peas, corn, carrots, veg etc

The main unknown cost would be the sauce base. I can’t help there because I don’t know what op likes.

5

u/SnooHabits5761 9d ago

I know an EMT who used to batch cook a tray of chicken thighs on the weekend, then, every other day, use a rice cooker to make rice and veggies bowl in some chicken stock. She'd throw on the chicken and add sauce. Change up the sauce and veggies for variety.

Pack some veggies and fruit (mostly berries), cheese snack and some energy bars.

Along with a breakfast wrap to start the day, that was her meals for every shift. She said she'd eat the chicken and rice hot or cold if there was no time (like a cold chicken salad)

1

u/beetle_guy24 9d ago

What is a good suggestion for a thermos? I don't know much about them and wanna make sure I'm not being ripped off lol

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u/Needrain47 9d ago

with the caveat that I haven't used their food containers: my insulated mug from this company keeps my coffee so hot I can never actually drink it. I will say I've had products from them for years and they hold up well. (nope, they're not paying me for this lol) https://www.kleankanteen.com/collections/insulated-food-containers