Five ways to take a bite out of the cost of your packed lunch

0
26
Closeup image of a beautiful woman holding and biting a piece of whole wheat sandwich ; Shutterstock ID 1585084504; purchase_order: -; job: -; client: -; other: -

WANT to take a bite out of the cost of your packed lunch?

It’s the start of British Sandwich Week and with the nation splashing out £8billion on them every year, I asked Eileen Donaghey, aka the Afternoon Tea Expert, for ways to slice the price . . . 

Brits spend £8billion on sandwiches every year but you don’t have to splash out

BUDGET FILLERS: Forget the fancy bread and posh fillings, supermarket own-brands will work just as well.

For sarnies that keep their flavour until lunchtime, use lower-cost ingredients such as eggs (for egg mayo), tuna and veg.

TIN IT TO WIN IT: Bulk out your sandwiches by using little extras. Tinned food or jars of ingredients are cheap to add and really help your filling go further.

For example, mix tinned sweetcorn in with your tuna mayonnaise, or pickled onions and gherkins to ham sandwiches.

NOTHING TO WASTE: Leftover chicken from a Sunday roast is the way to get more for your money.

Any meat left on the carcass is good for sandwiches and the bones will make chicken soup.

If you only have a little leftover chicken, add peppers or grated carrot to the filling.

For a coronation chicken sandwich, put in extra veg such as cauliflower to thicken it up and make more sandwiches. Once the sauce is added, you won’t even know it’s there.

CALL IN FLAVOURS: Look out for reduced-price ingredients and get creative with your lunchbox sarnie.

Think about flavours that go together. I see fish reduced a lot. It can be frozen until you need it, plus, a salmon and chilli sandwich is delicious.

SPREAD THE COSTS: My tip if you are feeding a group is to cut the sandwiches into smaller sections.

If someone eats two of them, they will often count it as two and feel full more quickly.

Also try making open sandwiches, where you leave the top layer of bread off, which means using half your loaf. Making afternoon tea?

Limit the choice to only one or two types of filling.

Cucumber is an obvious choice but you could also have beef and mustard, ham or roast vegetables.

Deal of the day

Save £10 on this karaoke system at Currys

SING loud and proud with the Easy Karaoke Bluetooth karaoke system (EKG88BBT).

It was £44.99 but is now down to £34.99 at Currys.

SAVE: £10

Cheap treat

Grab a treat for the kids at half price

HAVE some fun using the Out And About Bubble Blaster, usually £10 but now £5 at The Entertainer (thetoyshop.com).

SAVE: £5

What’s new?

KEEP your furry friends comfortable with the new Aldi pet-cooling range.

Pick up a portable dog shower, £22.99, cooling towel, £2.49 or cooling collar for £2.49.

Available to pre-order today at aldi.co.uk.

Top swap

This tank top costs £36…

CUT a dash in a SKIMS.com tank top, above, for £36.

Or head down to Pep&Co for a similar top, below, costing a fiver.

SAVE: £31

… this cheaper option costs just £5

Shop & save

Snap up this air freshener from Morrisons on the cheap

THIS Morrisons deal makes scents. The Febreze Lenor Exotic Bloom bathroom air freshener is usually £3 but get it for £1.99.

SAVE: £1.01


HOT RIGHT NOW: FRESHEN interiors with the Tesco homeware sale, with up to half-price offers.

It includes bedding, kitchenware and bathroom items.

  • All prices on page correct at time of going to press. Deals and offers subject to availability.