Chef Monsta: I cook, therefore I blog

Most people in NYC have never used their kitchens, and with endless restaurant take out options, most of us (well, not me, obv) don’t even go grocery shopping. If you do go grocery shopping- most of your produce will probably go rotten before usage.

That said- we spend SO much on our lunch takeout while we are at work. With food costs expected to increase ANOTHER 6% in 2009, a great way to spend money and eat healthier is to buy and make (!) your own sack lunch, just like when you were a kid.

I am not a nutritionist or dietitian but I know what tastes good, is filling, and somewhat healthy. I’ve compiled a week’s worth of ingredients which can create five breakfasts and lunches- a week’s worth of food.

Assuming that your breakfast costs an average of $5 (latte/bagel/croissant/yogurt/etc) and lunch at about $10 a day (not including sit down business meals), that means we spend, on average $75 a week on our meals. Here is a list of ingredients for your week’s menu, totalling about $40 on Freshdirect.

Please click on this image to enlarge it and view details.

Day 1:
Breakfast: Greek yogurt with chopped banana
Lunch: Can of tuna on a bed of spinach with olives, tomatoes, and black beans, add cheese if desired.

Day 2:
Breakfast: Grapefruit
Lunch: Tortilla with cheese, black beans and yogurt (similar to sour cream), stick in microwave and voila- instant quesedilla!

Day 3:
Breakfast: Kashi in milk (cereal)
Lunch: Tuna salad and tomato wrap

Day 4:
Breakfast: Papaya – a superfood!
Lunch: Salad of spinach, olives, black beans, tomatoes and chopped up turkey (similar to Day 1), add hummus if desired.

Day 5:
Breakfast: Mix Kashi into your Greek yogurt, sprinkle sugar if desired.
Lunch: Turkey wrap with hummus and olives

P.S. I would spend that saved $30 you saved on going to the movies and a manicure!