What leftovers from the past few dinners are living in your fridge right now? Turn them into lunches for the next day. Before you know it, you’ll be cooking extra at dinner time to make sure everyone in the family gets to take a leftover lunch with them the next day. Here are some ideas.
- Meatloaf – Slice up any leftovers and use it to make meatloaf sandwiches, or place one slice on top of a serving of spaghetti and cover with tomato sauce. When ready to eat, simply pop it in the microwave for a yummy lunch.
- Chicken – When you bake or grill a chicken, use the leftovers to make chicken sandwiches, salad or a wrap the next day. You can also prepare a regular green salad with your favorite toppings like cucumbers, tomatoes and sprouts and top with bite sized chunks of chicken for a grilled chicken salad. Just store the dressing on the side and pour it over the salad when you’re ready to eat.
- Pot-Roast – Pot Roast is one of those dishes that gets better each time you heat it up. Pair it with some leftover rice or make a sandwich out of it. Slice up a sub-style roll and fill it with pot roast and slices of tomato for a filling lunch sandwich.
- Pork Chops and Steaks – Slice up leftover pork or steak and turn it into yummy sandwiches or wraps. You can also make a filling salad by topping your favorite mixed greens with the meat cut into bite sized chunks.
- Soup and Stew – Just about any type of soup or stew makes for a great leftover lunch. You can heat the soup in the microwave at the office or in school, or if that’s not an option, invest in a small big-mouthed thermos. Fill it with hot soup or stew in the morning and it will still be plenty warm when lunch time rolls around. Be sure to pack a big piece of French bread for dipping.
- Pasta Dishes – Most pasta dishes can be stored in small microwave containers and reheated at lunch time. Just be sure to add a little extra sauce to keep the pasta dish from getting too dry. Simply top your leftover spaghetti with a little cheese, leftover meat, or fresh veggies to make it different from last night’s dinner.
- Rice – Rice makes perfect filler for quite a few dishes. Add rice to wraps and burritos or soups and stews. You can also make up a batch of rice pudding and put it into small containers as a great after lunch snack.
Get creative when it comes to incorporating leftovers into lunches such as sandwiches, wraps, salads and more. Don’t forget to invest in a few plastic containers with tight fitting lids that can also be reheated in the microwave. Turn your leftovers into tomorrow’s lunch as you clean up the kitchen and store them in the fridge.
