Favorite Lunches to Take to Work

So I've decided that I absolutely have to cut down on the amount of money that I'm spending eating out for lunch just about every day.

As a result, My wallet is getting thinner and my waistline is getting thicker thanks to all the time I'm spending in restaurants during the week.

I'm probably not going to be able to go "cold turkey". I'm sure I'll still visit one of my favorite restaurants once or twice a week, but I'm definitely resolved to cut down on my lunch time dining out habit.

With that said, I need to find some easy, on-the-go lunches to take to work.

I'm listing some of my favorites here, and am hoping that you'll chime in with a few great ideas in the comments section below!

The key to finding great ideas for lunches to take to work is coming up with easy, make-ahead recipes that transport well and can either be served cold or heated in the microwave.

Tacos, Burritos, Taco Salads - It's easy to make taco meat in bulk over the weekend. It keeps several days in the refrigerator and also freezes well. It's easy to transport taco meat to work in a plastic storage container, along with flour tortillas, taco shells, or tortilla chips. Toss in a pack of shredded cheese, some lettuce, and any other toppings you enjoy and you'll have the makings of a delicious Mexican meal in your office break room.

Green Salad - It's not difficult to keep the makings for delicious green salads in your office refrigerator. With all the bagged salad greens available in the supermarket, you can easily whip up a gourmet salad for pennies, just like one you'd end up spending $10 on in a casual dining restaurant. Purchase a bag of your favorite salad greens, cut up a few additional veggies, toss on whatever leftover meat you have at home, and you'll have a gourmet salad waiting for you when it's time to take a lunch break.

Casserole Leftovers - One of the great things about preparing casseroles for dinner is the fact that most of them reheat quite well in the microwave. The next time you prepare your favorite casserole recipe, think about planning for leftovers. You may want to make enough to freeze, or just a few extra portions so you can enjoy quick and easy homemade lunches for a few days that week.

Any ideas?

What are your favorite office lunch recipes? Feel free to post your suggestions in the comments section below.