Having the time for a hotlunchis a luxury that most of us don’t get.

But, don’t let eating in dissuade you from having something healthy and delicious.

In fact, take a cue from the past and try these easy-to-prepare old-fashioned lunch recipes.

egg salad sandwich

Courtesy of The Seasoned Mom

Our parents and grandparents ate these foods for good reasons.

Most are filling and quick to prepare, or they can be made ahead and reheated or enjoyed cold.

Another bonus is most of these are highly affordable.

egg salad sandwich

Courtesy of The Seasoned Mom

So dive into the old-school lunch and stash your money for a well-earned happy hour cocktail.

Plus, don’t miss15 Old-Fashioned Cooking Tips You Should Never Use, Say Experts.

Egg salad is super easyand cheapto make, and most people have the ingredients on hand.

tes sandwiches

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Try substituting some Greek yogurt for some of the mayo to cut the fat and boost the protein.

it’s possible for you to even toss over a salad if you want to forgo the bread.

Get The Seasoned Mom’s recipe forEgg Salad.

ham salad sandwiches

Courtesy Spend with Pennies

As always choose whole wheat bread to add some fiber.

Get Insanely Good Recipes'25 Best Tea Sandwiches.

Get Spend With Pennies' recipe forHam Salad.

Article image

Courtesy Dinner At the Zoo

The salad kept longer because it didn’t include mayo so it was perfect for picnics.

Feel free to break the mold and experiment with different beans to make your own mixture.

Get Dinner at the Zoo’s recipe forThree-Bean Salad.

Low-calorie spinach and ham quiche

Mitch Mandel and Thomas MacDonald

Quiche

Quiche is essentially a baked egg pie.

The scrambled egg mixture and veggies and/or cheese are baked inside an edible crust.

Most sources say that whilequiche originated in Germany, it became popular with the French classic Quiche Lorraine.

waldorf salad recipe

Courtesy Lil' Luna

Wherever it comes from, it’s delicious for lunch, hot or cold, with a green salad.

you could always make a crustless quiche if you want to cut down on some carbs.

Get our recipe forEasy Spinach and Ham Quiche.

tuna noodle casserole

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Or try a deconstructed Waldorf salad like the one below.

Get Lil' Luna’s recipe forWaldorf Salad.

However, a fish and cream sauce combination had been enjoyed since the 1800s.

welsh rarebit recipe

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Bring this casserole into the 21st century by skipping the condensed soup and making an easy bechamel sauce.

you’ve got the option to also use zucchini noodles for a low-carb approach.

It’s simple and fillingjust add a veggie to balance it out.

pinwheel sandwiches

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It dates way back to 1785 Britain, so this is truly a throwback dish.

Warm and satisfying, this is a must-try!

Get Hungry, Happy, Healthy’s recipe forWelsh Rarebit.

vegan stew

Courtesy Our Happy Mess

Pinwheels

Who doesn’t love adorable little wrap-like rollups?

The beauty of these sandwiches is that the filling is rolled through each bite.

Prep a few different ones over the weekend and then toss a variety into your lunch bag.

Healthy turkey sloppy joes

Mitch Mandel and Thomas MacDonald

Get Bake It With Love’s recipe forPinwheel Sandwiches.

And if you’re prone to getting hangry, that’s very important.

Get Our Happy Mess' recipe forVegan Stew.

beans on toast

Courtesy Chelsea’s Messy Apron

Sloppy Joes

Why have we relegated this dish to the cafeteria?

Get our recipe forHealthy Turkey Sloppy Joes.

Experiment with different beans to see which you love the most.

homemade fish sticks

Courtesy How Sweet Eats

Get Chelsea’s Messy Apron recipe forBeans on Toast.

Apparently, they were the result of an overabundance of fish and new freezing techniques.

Now, bloggers have made this convenience food healthier and tastier.

Stuffed tomatoes

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Get How Sweet Eats' recipe forHomemade Fish Sticks.

During the low-carb craze, we figured out how to make everything into low-carb edible bowls.

Get 2 Sisters' Recipes' recipe forWhite Bean Salad Stuffed Tomatoes.

Paleo oven fried chicken

Mitch Mandel and Thomas MacDonald

The skin is then separated slightly from the crispy crust, keeping it crisp.

They also suggest turning the chicken into chicken salad.

Either way, it’s great for lunch.

cheese sandwich

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And if you have any leftover fast-food chicken, don’t shy away from that either!

Get our recipe forCrispy, Oven-Fried Chicken.

Cheese Sandwich

Nope, not grilled cheese, just cheese.

Obviously, stay away from soft cheeses and always follow food safety precautions for your particular cheese.

Get Hungry, Happy, Healthy’s recipe for anEpic Cheese Sandwich.

Try these easy and easy-to-modify recipes to make your own meal with what you have on hand.

You never knowsomething old might turn out to be your new weekday favorite.