1. Spend a small eternity in line at the salad place; buy a $15 salad.  2. Buy cheap fast food that makes you feel like crap.3. Eat yet another squished and soggy PB&J you cobbled together while dashing out the door. #SadDeskLunch. MORE: Watch This: Your Desk is the Hottest New Lunch Spot But we’re here with a compromise. Meet the drugstore lunch: A meal you can make at the office with ingredients purchased at your local pharmacy or convenience store. They’re fast, they’re cheap, and, if you play your cards right, they can also be impressively healthy. (Snack AND lose weight with this box of Eatclean-approved treats from Bestowed.) Here, six drugstore lunches you can make for less than $6. All you need is an office microwave and a few kitchen essentials brought from home (we keep a fork, spoon, paring knife, and a microwave-safe bowl and plate tucked away in a spare desk drawer). For extra credit: Bring a few seasonings. Mini sea salt and pepper grinders and a small shaker of cinnamon will go a long way in livening up midday meals. [block:bean=bestowed-ec-gethealthy] Spicy Rice and Beans Pre-cooked rice and canned beans join forces to deliver 17 grams of complete protein. This recipe actually yields two generous servings. Store the extra in a plastic container and you’ve got a lunch for tomorrow, too. Easy upgrade: Bring half an avocado from home and slice it up for a cool, creamy garnish. 1 can black beans: $0.99 1 package microwavable brown rice: $3.19 1 packet MSG-free taco seasoning: $1.67Total: $4.86 (for 2 servings!)
  2. Prepare rice according to package instructions. Transfer to a bowl.2. Drain black beans, reserving liquid. Add beans to rice.3. Add 3 small spoonfuls of taco seasoning and 3 small spoonfuls of reserved black bean liquid, stirring well to combine. Add additional bean liquid as needed to evenly distribute seasoning. NUTRITION (per serving) 420 cal, 17 g pro, 80 g carb, 12 g fiber, 6 g sugars, 3 g fat, 0 g sat fat, 395 mg sodium Sweet and Salty Chocolate Yogurt Tame the tartness of plain Greek yogurt with one of KIND’s addictively salty-sweet nut bars. Easy upgrade: Swirl in a half a teaspoon of creamy peanut butter or a few drops of vanilla extract. Or both. Go crazy! 1 container (6 oz) 2% plain Greek yogurt: $2.99 1 KIND Dark Chocolate Nuts & Sea Salt bar: $2.67Total: $5.66
  3. Using a paring knife (or your fingers), break KIND bar into small pieces.2. Sprinkle on top of yogurt and stir to combine. NUTRITION (per serving) 350 cal, 26 g pro, 24 g carb, 7 g fiber, 13 g sugars, 19 g fat, 7 g sat fat, 190 mg sodium MORE: 5 “Healthy” Yogurts with More Sugar Than a Doughnut Savory Tuna Salad Tuna is divisive, but if you love it, be proud (and maybe keep some mints in your desk for post-lunch discussions). Here, we bump up the fishy flavor with bright tomatoes and rich, salty olives. Easy upgrade: Splurge on canned salmon for more inflammation-fighting omega-3 fatty acids. 1 can (5 oz) chunk light tuna in water: $1.67 1 can (8 oz) tomato sauce: $1.49 1 can (2.25 oz) sliced black olives: $2.27Total: $5.43
  4. Drain tuna and transfer to bowl. Add olives and about a third of the tomato sauce, and stir to combine. NUTRITION (per serving) 220 cal, 22 g pro, 8 g carb, 1 g fiber, 2 g sugars, 10 g fat, 0 g sat fat, 1170 mg sodium PB Banana Pretzel Plate Call it sacrilege, but we think the humble combo of peanut butter and banana trumps PB&J any day. Layer them on crackers for an hors d’oeuvre-like lunchtime experience. Bonus: You get to keep an entire jar of peanut butter for future snacking and lunching. Easy upgrade: Shop around for cheap crackers made with 100% whole grains. 1 banana: $0.59 1 jar (15 oz) natural peanut butter: $3.79 1 bag (1.5 oz) Snack Factory Pretzel Crisps Original: $1.39Total: $5.77 Slice banana into thin rounds. Spread a thin layer of peanut butter on each Pretzel Thin (a total of 2 Tbsp) and top with banana slices. NUTRITION (per serving) 455 cal, 11 g pro, 68 g carb, 6 g fiber, 20 g sugars, 16 g fat, 4 g sat fat, 640 mg sodium MORE: No-Bake Dessert: Chocolate, Almond Butter, and Banana Bites Healthier Instant Ramen We know: Ramen noodles aren’t really “clean” (first ingredient: enriched wheat flour). But we’re convinced that slurping starchy noodles is good for our mental health—and they’re cheap as hell. Ditch the flavor packet for real broth, load it up with vegetables, and you’re in business. You’ll even be left with extra veggies to use for dinner. Easy upgrade: Sprinkle some Sriracha sauce on top. 1 package (12 oz) frozen broccoli, cauliflower, and carrots: $2.99 1 can (14.5 oz) low-sodium chicken broth: $1.99 1 package ramen noodles: $0.77Total $5.75
  5. Pour one half of the frozen veggies into a microwave-safe plate. Microwave until veggies are just defrosted, about 1 minute, stirring halfway through. Set aside.2. Pour broth into a large microwave-safe bowl. Microwave until steaming and hot enough to soften noodles, 2 to 3 minutes.3. Discard Ramen flavor packet and break noodle block in half. Add half the noodle block and defrosted vegetables to the hot broth. Cover with a plate and let sit until noodles soften, about 5 minutes. NUTRITION (per serving) 270 cal, 7 g pro, 38 g carb, 6 g fiber, 5 g sugars, 8 g fat, 4 g sat fat, 1310 mg sodium Apple Almond Oatmeal Oatmeal is perfect for those winter days when there’s a chill in the air…or those summer days when the AC is so cold you have to wear a parka at your desk. Buying oats in bulk (instead of those single-serve containers) means you’ll have plenty left over for future meals. For accurate measuring of oats and water, try using a mason jar (they’re marked with measurements on the side) or eyeballing it with your office’s paper coffee cups (they usually hold 8 ounces, or 1 cup). Easy upgrade: Add a generous dusting of cinnamon. 1 canister (18 oz) old fashioned oats: $3.79 1 apple: $0.99 1 package (1.5 oz) roasted almonds: $0.99Total: $5.77
  6. Add ½ c oats and 1 c water to a microwave-safe bowl. Cook 2 minutes, stir, then cook 30 seconds more. Let stand 1 minute before removing from microwave.2. Roughly chop the apple. Add apple and one half of the nuts to the oats. Stir well to combine. NUTRITION (per serving) 375 cal, 10 g pro, 56 g carb, 11 g fiber, 22 g sugars, 15 g fat, 3 g sat fat, 75 mg sodium