Same here, and then get really sad when I see the awful sign that says it’s going to be yet another warehouse.

I grow trees

My favorite thing to do is to make and freeze large batches of base proteins. I just made a bunch of pulled chicken in the crockpot on Sunday. It keeps for a long time even just frozen in a storage container or ziplock baggie as a single serving. Then when making dinner I just toss seasonings and toppings and have a wrap quickly ready to go. Add a side like a quick slaw or salad or even some chips and it’s good to go.

Today I had some frozen leftover Christmas ham with a bunch or jerk seasoning, pickles, peppers, and some cabbage with a slaw on the side. Think it took 5 minutes to do up and didn’t dirty anything I wasn’t already dirtying while making dinner.

Tonight I’ll probably do something with the chicken from the weekend. Could be flavored with taco seasoning, bbq, Cajun, Greek seasoning with hummus, Buffalo, teriyaki, any random Chinese sauce, some curry flavors, even left plain.

The other option is to make 2 to 3 times what you would for dinner and have leftovers for a couple of days. Not as ideal as you said you don’t like eating the same thing over and over but personally I’m fine with it as long as something changes. Like if making tacos for dinner have a taco salad, taco dip, or make a soup by adding broth.

Soups are a good option too. Either canned or preferably homemade. They freeze really well and as long as you put it in the fridge the night before, thaws and heats up quickly in a microwave.

Pies/turnovers/pasty/calzone/empanada/whatever you want to call them are an option that takes more effort but can be used to have a frozen stash that’s easy to grab after they are made and gives variety. One day of prep work can give lunches for a long time.

Good luck on your lunch adventures, it’s hard to find new ideas that are not just make a wrap or salad or sandwich. And yes I realize that’s basically what I wrote above.

The bread maker we got when my fiancee and I moved in together has been the best purchase ever. Haven’t bought bread except like twice over the last couple years. Store bought bread just sucks now. Add in the feature that lets us throw everything in and have it wait until it will finish right when we get home and I don’t know why people ever buy bread.

Similarly, the stand mixer probably did the question op asked better. Makes making so many things so much faster and easier. Can put a couple lights off banana bread together and in the oven so quick now. Great for when I want to make merengue. And not having to hand kneed dough just makes those special things I make on occasion more a every now and then and not just for big special occasions.