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30 Frugal Lunch Ideas for Stay at Home Moms

Staying healthy and eating a nutritious lunch is essential for stay-at-home moms. But it’s also necessary to save money and be frugal. I’ve compiled this list of frugal lunch ideas for stay-at-home moms.

I remember the days when a meal for me consisted of whatever my boys didn’t finish. I only had lunch for myself when I had planned.

It can be tough to resist the temptation of unhealthy foods, but you can have a healthy, frugal lunch that will keep you energized and focused with some preparation.

Stay-at-home moms need all the energy they can get to care for their families, and eating a frugal lunch is one way to ensure you’re getting the most out of your day.

As my boys got older, I got a little creative and “adult” with my lunches, allowing some frugal self-love to happen with healthy and nutritious lunches.

Stay-At-Home Moms Need To Save Money

It’s nice to have a little extra money in your wallet, especially since something always needs to be paid for.

The cost of eating out can add up quickly, putting a dent in your budget.

Cooking at home is much more economical, but it can be hard to resist grabbing takeout or going out for lunch.

A simple way to save money and eat a healthy lunch is to prepare your meals in advance, ensuring you have enough food so you don’t go hungry.

This is an excellent option for busy stay-at-home moms since it allows you to prepare your meals the night before (or the weekend before) and eat them throughout the week without taking time to cook.

Stay At Home Moms Need Energy

Most stay-at-home moms are constantly on the go, caring for their families and managing the household. Finding time for yourself, let alone time to eat a healthy lunch, can be challenging.

But taking care of yourself is essential, especially if you want to have enough energy to take care of your family.

How do Stay At Home Moms Meal Plan?

1. Get a Little Bit Crazy with Meal Planning

There are so many great recipes available online these days, and the Internet is a wonderful resource for finding unique and tasty dishes to plan a menu.

You can always check out Pinterest or save some of your favorite recipes in an online recipe box like Yummly that will give you recipe recommendations based on your cooking preferences.


2. Get Your Freezer Ready

You can make big batches of these recipes and freeze them in individual servings, so they are ready for lunch or dinner whenever you need them!

This works incredibly well if you are cooking with non-perishable ingredients. Suppose you’re preparing a dish using frozen chicken breasts.

For example, you can freeze the individual portions to use later. Labeling all your meals with cooking instructions is also helpful before freezing them!

3. Mix Things Up (Literally)

A great thing about recipes is that they don’t always have to be followed precisely. Try switching up the flavors in your recipes by making slight changes like swapping out an ingredient or adding spice.

Even trying a new type of lettuce can change how you experience your meal!

Find combinations that work for you and experiment with different ingredients to get the exact flavor combination your taste buds are craving.

4. Spice Things Up

You can add as much (or as little) spice as possible when making your lunch.

You probably already know what flavors and spices complement the ingredients in the meals you make, but if not, there are many resources available to help you out!  

5. Don’t Be Afraid to Get Creative!

If you’re looking for new ideas or recipes, check out websites like Pinterest and Reddit, which have boards full of great recipe suggestions!

There are also an endless number of blogs that publish new recipes every day, which can help give you ideas. They usually have a “print recipe” button so you can save the recipe to your own recipes box or bookmarks.

Let’s expand our lunch menus to more than just cheese sandwiches and spoonfuls of peanut butter! Here are some great ideas.

Healthy Chicken Lettuce Wraps


These Healthy Chicken Lettuce Wraps are a low-carb, quick, and cheap lunch. They combine chicken (or another protein) with veggies, cashews, and a healthy homemade teriyaki sauce spooned over crisp lettuce leaves for a flavor-packed meal! Tossing this filling with rotini pasta would also make a great pasta salad.
https://ifoodreal.com/healthy-chicken-lettuce-wraps/

Protein Snack Pack


Protein Snack Packs filled with hard-boiled eggs, almonds, hummus, and crunchy veggies. An easy and delicious lunchtime meal-prep solution perfect for any protein lover, these fantastic little protein snack packs are perfect for stay-at-home moms.
https://theforkedspoon.com/protein-snack-pack-lunch-meal-prep/

Ground Turkey Quesadilla


If you’re on a budget and short on time, sheet-pan quesadillas are the way to go! This quesadilla recipe utilizes budget-friendly canned black beans and ground turkey. Making it on a sheet pan in the oven saves busy stay-at-home moms tons of prepping and cooking time!
https://sugarandsnappeas.com/ground-turkey-quesadilla-sheet-pan/

Easy Chicken Noodle Soup


If you have chicken broth, some veggies, pasta, and spices, you can make this delicious chicken noodle soup! Make a big batch and have it for lunch all week! Kids love it, too.
https://fantabulosity.com/best-chicken-noodle-soup-recipe-quick-easy/

Egg Salad Sandwich


If you are wondering what to do with those leftover Easter eggs, this Mexican Egg Salad Sandwich recipe is for you! This twist on the classic egg salad sandwich is flavorful and easy to make. This is going to be your new favorite lunch.
https://budgetdelicious.com/egg-salad-sandwich-recipe/

Grilled Cheese with Tomato and Onion


This grilled cheese with tomato and onion is so easy that it’s barely a recipe – but it’s so good that it’s like eating a gourmet grilled cheese. It’s a delicious twist on your favorite classic comfort food and the perfect leisurely lunch or dinner for adults and kids alike.
https://deliciousonadime.com/grilled-cheese-with-tomato-and-onion/

Healthy Mediterranean Dip


This Quick and healthy Mediterranean Dip recipe is so fresh and delicious, so light, that you won’t be able to get enough. It makes a perfect lunch if you love hummus, feta, and fresh, crunchy vegetables!
https://deliciousonadime.com/quick-healthy-mediterranean-dip-hummus/

Cajun Chicken Salad


Enjoy this Cajun chicken salad for lunch, dinner, or as a light appetizer at your next BBQ or potluck. Serve on a lettuce leaf, slice of toast, between a bun, or as is.
https://amandascookin.com/cajun-chicken-salad/

Tahini Pasta


This tahini pasta dish is perfect for craving easy, nutritious, comfort food. It’s also filling and budget-friendly!
https://www.asweetalternative.com/blog/tahini-pasta

Vegetable Lo Mein


This is a quick and easy 10-minute gluten-free vegetable lo mein recipe that’s better than Chinese takeout, vegan, and top-8 allergy-free! It’s perfect for using as healthy leftover lunches!
https://strengthandsunshine.com/10-minute-gluten-free-vegetable-lo-mein-vegan-allergy-free/

Pinwheel Sandwiches


Fresh veggies, deli meat, and cheese are tightly wrapped in a cream cheese and ranch-coated tortilla, perfect for an easy and cheap lunch!
https://amandascookin.com/pinwheel-sandwiches/

Broccoli Cheese Soup


Broccoli cheese soup has long been a comforting meal on a chilly day and is made with generous amounts of cheddar cheese, tender broccoli, onion, and carrots simmered in a thick and creamy base.
https://amandascookin.com/broccoli-cheese-soup/

Tuna Salad with Capers and Dill


This lightened-up tuna salad with capers and dill is a leisurely, make-ahead lunch at home or on the go. It is loaded with great flavor and less fat and calories than traditional tuna salad. Add tomatoes, avocados, and your favorite dark green leafy vegetables for extra flavor.
https://wholesomemadeeasy.com/tuna-salad-with-capers-and-dill/

5-Minute Buffalo Chicken Wrap


A delicious and easy Buffalo Chicken Wrap that uses leftover chicken tenders and only takes 5 minutes to make! Five minutes is about all our spare time, making this a terrific frugal lunch idea for stay-at-home moms.
https://www.everydayfamilycooking.com/buffalo-chicken-wrap/

Chick Fil A Kale Crunch Salad


This copycat Chick-fil-A Kale Crunch salad not only comes together in minutes but is packed with nutrients to keep you going all afternoon. Even better, this version is much cheaper than the restaurant edition.
https://practicallykidding.com/chick-fil-a-kale-salad/

Broiled Tomato Sandwiches


A broiled tomato sandwich has the tasty goodness of ripe, juicy tomatoes topped with broiled, melty cheese!
https://www.spendwithpennies.com/broiled-tomato-sandwiches/

Ham and Cheese Sliders


These delicious little ham and cheese sliders are easy to make and flavorful. They can be made beforehand, making them great for a quick hot lunch.
https://amandascookin.com/ham-cheese-sliders/

Easy Chicken Tostadas


Easy Chicken Tostadas are fun to make and even more fun to eat! Crispy corn tortillas are topped with black beans, chicken, tomatoes, lettuce, and cheese. It’s easy to scoop and eat while taking care of those littles—another one of the perfect frugal lunch ideas for stay-at-home moms.
https://quichemygrits.com/easy-chicken-tostadas/

Curry Chicken Salad with Grapes


This quick and easy curry chicken salad is perfect for lettuce wraps and sandwiches. This delicious cold salad made with grapes and pecans is ideal for lunch or a quick snack! It’s easy to make ahead and delicious all week! This salad might be one of my favorite frugal lunch ideas for stay-at-home moms.
https://saporitokitchen.com/curry-pecan-chicken-salad/

Asian Garlic Noodles


Asian Garlic Noodles is a quick and easy 20-minute noodle stir-fry made with your favorite noodles in a delicious garlic, butter, soy sauce, and parmesan cheese sauce. It’s perfect for anyone who loves garlic!
https://theforkedspoon.com/asian-garlic-noodles/

Rainbow Hummus Veggie Wrap


This quick, easy, no-cook, and healthy Rainbow Vegetable Tortilla Wrap is packed with colorful veggies.
https://recipesfromapantry.com/rainbow-wrap/

Greek Salad


Horiatiki salad is a traditional Greek salad recipe everyone will love! Make Greek salad in 10 minutes, with five simple ingredients and easy dressing.
https://www.wholesomeyum.com/greek-salad-recipe/

Chicken Pot Hand Pies


Chicken Pot Hand Pies are puff pastry pockets filled with rotisserie chicken, mixed vegetables, and a creamy filling wrapped in a flaky crust.
https://quichemygrits.com/chicken-pot-hand-pies/

Potato Leek Soup


Make the best dairy-free potato leek soup! It’s super creamy and silky smooth, yet it’s healthy and easy to make!
https://www.sunglowkitchen.com/dairy-free-potato-leek-soup/

Homemade Guacamole


Homemade Guacamole with a side of hard-boiled eggs will provide you with the fuel you need on busy days. You can take this snack on the go or eat it at home – easy to eat.
https://www.inspiringsavings.com/delicious-organic-guacamole-with-hard-boiled-eggs/

Leftover Rice Casserole


This leftover rice casserole is perfect for repurposing cooked rice left from dinner. It’s creamy, cheesy, full of vegetables, and so delicious!
https://simplelivingrecipes.com/leftover-rice-casserole/

Pasta with White Beans and Kale


This Pasta with White Beans and garlicky kale is a classic combination of beans and greens the whole family will love! Just a handful of ingredients and the time it takes to boil the noodles is all you need to get this dish on the table. It’s a budget-friendly, fast, and flavorful meatless meal.
https://www.veggieinspired.com/pasta-with-white-beans-and-kale/

Baked Canned Sardines


This roasted canned sardine bake is an inexpensive way to eat seafood and might become a mainstay recipe in your household with staple pantry ingredients!
https://summeryule.com/pantry-staple-meal-one-pan-sardine-bake/

Zucchini Toast


Zucchini toast is a simple, savory snack for lunch or brunch! Sourdough bread is topped with ricotta cheese and broiled zucchini for the perfect bite.
https://www.spendwithpennies.com/zucchini-toast/

Spinach Feta Wrap With Garlic


These spinach feta wraps with garlic are refreshing, yummy, and healthy. A perfect low-calorie vegetarian meal for lunch you can quickly assemble.
https://allnutritious.com/spinach-feta-wrap/ 

How Can A Busy Mom Eat Healthily?

It can be tough to eat healthy when you’re a busy full-time mom. Between caring for your kids and doing house management tasks, there’s never enough time to cook a nutritious meal.

But if you want to be at your best mentally and physically, you must make time for healthy food. Even the most frazzled mamas can eat nutritious meals during the busiest days.

Create a menu.

If you seem too busy to make healthy food, start by creating a menu and sticking to it. This will help ensure that everyone in your family is eating the same meal at the same time each day.

Having a set meal schedule can also save you money on groceries, as you won’t be tempted to buy more than you need.

Watch the grocery ads and plan your meals around what’s on sale that week!

A great way to save money is using coupons and deals without getting overwhelmed or buying too much.

Check out your local sales flyers for deals on groceries, and create a menu based on what’s on sale.

Cut out unnecessary spending.

One of the most important ways to ensure you have time to eat healthily is to cut back on other expenses, like eating out or buying prepared food at the store.

Eating out is overpriced and doesn’t offer much nutrition compared to home-cooked meals.

When you make your food, you can control what goes into it and ensure it is as healthy as possible!


How Can A Stay At Home Mom Eat Healthy With Small Children?

One big tip is to meal-prep. It can be as simple as hard-boiled eggs or mason jar salads.

But when you have littles, making a big meal like Buffalo Chicken Stir Fry and putting it in separate containers is a lifesaver.

This way, you take it out of the refrigerator and warm it for a minute, and you can eat a healthy, frugal meal while your littles eat their lunch.

It might be challenging if you don’t have the time or energy to prepare meals. When my boys were little, I would get up at 5 AM to make my husband’s lunch before leaving for work, and if I could, I would prepare meals while those babies were still asleep.

Final Thoughts On 30 Frugal Lunch Ideas for Stay-at-Home Moms

Moms, don’t feel bad if you can’t always eat the most lunch. This season of life is a crazy, busy one, and we are all doing our best.

There are plenty of ideas to make those healthy and frugal lunch ideas for stay-at-home moms that will energize you all day.

Just take a little bit of time to plan, and you’ll be good to go. Make a big batch to eat all week, or mix and match your favorites.

The most important thing to remember is that you don’t have to spend much money on lunch. You can make it at home and save some money, too!