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Alternative to sandwiches

(31 Posts)
Allsorts Sun 15-Jun-25 08:07:04

Has anyone made pasta lunch pots or rice pots as an alternative to sandwiches, if so have you the recipe please.

teabagwoman Sun 15-Jun-25 08:37:54

I don’t use a recipe, just mix whatever I have with some cooked pasta shells and add whatever dressing seems suitable. I don’t use rice as there can be problems if it’s not kept cold enough.

grandMattie Sun 15-Jun-25 08:45:04

I like a salad with a dry biscuit.

NotSpaghetti Sun 15-Jun-25 08:53:37

I like roasted vegetables with pasta.
Or couscous for a change.

I do what teabagwoman does I'm afraid though so I don't have a recipe.

I don't tend to do a pot all the same though - and often use up yesterdays dinner.

I may put (say) the pasta mix in half a tub and two large dollops of some other salad thing in the other part.

I like chopped beetroot, coleslaw, cottage cheese, chopped celery with cucumber and green peppers, tomato pieces with basil in balsamic dressing in the salad area. I also use quite a few herbs or put in a chunk of lemon to zing it up a bit.

ViceVersa Sun 15-Jun-25 09:11:09

Pasta salads - I like a tuna nicoise version if I happen to have all the ingredients to hand, otherwise I just chuck in whatever happens to be around. Same with roasted veg and couscous, I just wing it with whatever I have.

NotSpaghetti Sun 15-Jun-25 09:11:23

Just remembered this article!

www.theguardian.com/food/2018/sep/26/observer-food-best-lunches-recipe-ottolenghi-salad-sandwich-lunchbox-bento-vegetarian-ofm

keepingquiet Sun 15-Jun-25 09:12:41

I don't know the reason for substituting bread with pasta?

Couscous is just another form of pasta.

There is nothing wrong with good quality bread- it is the amount of it you eat that matters.

NotSpaghetti Sun 15-Jun-25 09:16:53

There are 3 parts to the article- the 2nd one has filo pastry - I like left over filo pies in a lunch box and also gingery noodles.

NotSpaghetti Sun 15-Jun-25 09:18:41

keepingquiet - I didn't think this was an anti-bread issue, I assumed it was a "ring the changes" issue.

ViceVersa Sun 15-Jun-25 09:26:47

keepingquiet

I don't know the reason for substituting bread with pasta?

Couscous is just another form of pasta.

There is nothing wrong with good quality bread- it is the amount of it you eat that matters.

Sometimes you just fancy a change from sandwiches!

welbeck Sun 15-Jun-25 10:28:18

I just buy them.
They are available in most shops even small ones in filling stations and corner shops.
Supermarkets have a wider range.

JamesandJon33 Sun 15-Jun-25 10:49:30

We don’t eat much bread,so a sandwich is a treat. Lunches … home made veggie soup. Greens, broccoli, courgettes with fried halloumi and nuts and seeds is a favourite. Plus courgetti with different sauces.

keepingquiet Sun 15-Jun-25 12:48:38

I love sandwiches! They are so easy and practical, as well as healthy depending on the ingredients, including lots of healthy salad. I'm just not getting why you'd go to the trouble of cooking pasta or rice instead?
Maybe it's just me?

silverlining48 Sun 15-Jun-25 13:23:36

I think most diets agree that bread should be cut to a minimum. You can get 400 g loaves which are half the size of a normal loaf, it helps.
I like sandwiches but try to avoid if I can.

ViceVersa Sun 15-Jun-25 13:28:43

keepingquiet

I love sandwiches! They are so easy and practical, as well as healthy depending on the ingredients, including lots of healthy salad. I'm just not getting why you'd go to the trouble of cooking pasta or rice instead?
Maybe it's just me?

Like I say, sometimes you might just feel like a change - when I make pasta salad, it's usually if we've had pasta anyway, and I cook a bit extra so I have some left over to make salad with, so there's no additional cooking involved. Same with roasted veg, I make more than we need then use the leftovers to have along with couscous.

Witzend Sun 15-Jun-25 13:33:45

In colder weather I’d make some really substantial vegetable soup instead.
TBH I find any cold rice or pasta a bit of an abomination.

Cambia Mon 16-Jun-25 13:57:31

Frequently have dustbin lunch especially when clearing the fridge for a holiday! Chop up lots of vegs, mushrooms, peppers, whatever is available, sauté, add a tin of tomatoes, squirt of tomato purée, pouch of lentils ( saucy ones are nice). Put into one portion pots and freeze. Easy to defrost and heat in the microwave for lunch and very healthy.

Robin202 Mon 16-Jun-25 15:24:29

Another alternative to sandwiches, is a wrap. Fill and fold with any filling you fancy. Lighter than bread.

keepingquiet Mon 16-Jun-25 15:29:04

Yes, wraps are great warmed up in hot pan and then fold the filling over. Pitta breads too, just warm in a toaster for a few seconds and pop lovely things in!

Nicolenet Mon 16-Jun-25 16:01:50

Good old ryvita, some cream cheese and salmon slices make a slimming change.

Roddi3363 Mon 16-Jun-25 16:51:07

Oat cakes with hummus,baba ganousch are nice plus tiny tomatoes, cucumber or similar.

Astitchintime Mon 16-Jun-25 18:05:52

🤢 Yuk! The thought of cold pasta turns my stomach. I replace sandwiches with a box of salad including some chickpeas or mixed beans

Floradora9 Mon 16-Jun-25 21:48:23

Astitchintime

🤢 Yuk! The thought of cold pasta turns my stomach. I replace sandwiches with a box of salad including some chickpeas or mixed beans

Cold pasta is better for those watching the glycemic value of foods it is a lot less cold ( even reheated) than eaten hot . I love a pasta salad with prawns and mayonaise.

FranP Mon 16-Jun-25 22:50:16

Singapore noodles with spring onions, peppers - if you have some way to keep it cool, chopped ham or tuna (I tried salmon, but not my favourite taste)
Beetroot (no vinegar), chopped celery and a little salad cream
Slices of ham and cheese rolled together (protein bomb to make you feel full)
Hummus dip with carrots, celery, bread sticks, chicken skewers ( basically anything to hand to dip in)
Strawberries and melon cubes
Banana pancakes

Madgran77 Tue 17-Jun-25 06:01:33

I use the microwave grains packs as a base. Make up a salad with chopped or roasted vegs etc plus a bit of feta/goatscheese and some sort of light dressing. Really easy. Grains packs come plain or some are already spiced