Hi, long time vegan, but rather new to cycling. I used to be OMAD (please don't question the health/fitness, I'm just poor, not ideological), but due to cycling I need to eat 2 meals to have the strength to get back home (riding uphill). I tried eating breakfast, but by the time I get to work and get through the shift, I think anything from breakfast is gone and useless, because I struggle with going uphill. I don't struggle, however, if I eat lunch. But premade lunches are too expensive.
- I live completely alone.
- Buying entire lettuce and even just half a bread is too much for me and a part of it will go bad, making me feel awful (even environmental reasons aside, again, I'm poor, so it hurts more to spend money I don't have much of on things in the end going to waste). No, I don't want to seek ways to eat the exact same thing every single time, it's making me depressed.
- I'm not interested in long preparation time nor cooking for the week. I don't even own stuff I could pack food into, but I of course can buy one container suitable for whatever meal for work you may help me come up with.
- I enjoy the simplicity of putting cereals together via just putting them in a bowl and submerging them in m!lk, to give context for the simplicity I yearn for.
I will deeply appreciate no poor-shaming and being helpful over trying to impose a semblance of moral superiority over having different life ways than myself.
I'm from a poor family, so I don't have experience with breakfasts/lunches at all. I spent my life eating dinner only.
I was thinking of oatmeal with fruit, but I have no idea if it's a good idea...? I've never done oatmeal before. From what I've read, it's done in minutes. But I also fear it will spill. Do lunch containers keep in soup-like food like oatmeal well? What cheap fruit goes well with it? Berries are mad expensive, I was thinking of buying pears, maybe apples, and cinnamon.
Carrots keep better than leafy greens, buy carrots. Tortillas keep better than bread, and they take up less space, but I recognize you don't need that.
- Carrot and hummus wrap
- Carrots dipped in: hummus, other bean dip, or peanut butter.
- Carrots and rice with a sauce on it. (this might be the most involved)
Additionally, if you're able: carrots can be grown with little effort. But you need the space.
Oatmeal is good and cheap. I agree apples or pears would be good with it. Try to get just whatever fruit or nuts are on sale for that.
Annie's makes a good vegan Mac and cheese.
Carrots with hummus are delicious, put into a wrap sounds like a good idea. Thank you. :)
I keep my bread in the freezer to prevent it from going mouldy before I can finish it.
As others noted, lettuce is not that good bang for the buck, and bread keeps reasonably well in the fridge. Oatmeal is great and can be left overnight in the fridge and be ready for the morning. I do mine with a tablespoon of flax seeds, freshly ground, whatever nuts I have lying around or peanut butter, frozen berries (a lot cheaper than fresh ones, our Kaufland has the ones I like, Lidl tends to add cherries but YMMV in Germany) and plant milk of course. Any seasonal fruit goes well in oatmeal otherwise.
If you don't mind spending 20 minutes on a stove you can also make a salty version with some soy sauce, paprika, onions and a little bit of (rice) vinegar.
Not sure how much it costs in Germany but a small block of tofu, imported from Germany, in the Bulgarian Lidl costs 1€. There are multiple varieties. Basil tofu goes well in salads to add some extra protein.
Again it involves a bit of cooking but lentils are cheap fast cooking protein. Red lentils with bulgur Turkish style are love.
Turkish stores probably have Cig Köfte in the fridge. It's made of bulgur wheat, spiced, very nutritious, and relatively cheap. Goes well in wraps with hummus and tomatoes/cucumbers. Falafel is great too but it might cost more.
Explore the cuisine of other countries, especially Middle Eastern, Indian, and ones that are serious about Christian fasts (Ethiopia, Georgia, Armenia). They use ingredients that don't cost much, the meals are delicious, and oftentimes it's easy to prepare.
As for boxes, I use old brine cheese boxes (don't judge, leftover from my vegetarian years) in a plastic bag to prevent leakage. Otherwise make sure it makes a tight seal.
Shop smart, in the veganDE lemmy community there is a weekly post about vegan discounts in Germany. I would kill to have that here, might as well do it myself someday.
Not sure if I am of any help but best of luck. Cycling to work builds up muscle. Your endurance can only get better with time. I'm seriously considering cycling rather than walking too.