How to Turn One Dinner into Tomorrow’s Lunch

You do not need to cook from scratch every day. If you have a serving left from a mastro dinner, you can turn it into a fresh lunch in minutes. Use this simple formula and three quick ideas to make it easy.

The formula for better lunchboxes

The formula is simple: : base + boost + freshness + crunch + sauce

• Base: meat, grains, or pasta
• Boost: cheese, beans, eggs, or nuts
• Freshness: herbs, tomatoes, cucumber, or any seasonal veg
• Crunch: toasted breadcrumbs, seeds, or chopped nuts
• Sauce: yogurt dressing, tahini, mustard dressing, or olive oil with lemon

Idea 1. Roast chicken plus bulgur becomes a salad box

• What you have: roast chicken pieces, bulgur or couscous
• Add: fresh tomato, cucumber, herbs, a little lemon zest
• Crunch: toasted sunflower seeds
• Sauce: yogurt with lemon and garlic and salt
• How to do it: toss everything in a bowl, pack into a container, chill, and grab at lunch

Idea 2. Veggie pasta becomes an easy frittata

• What you have: pasta with vegetables or sauce
• Add: four eggs, a handful of cheese, spring onion
• Crunch: small toasted bread cubes on the side
• Sauce: lemony yogurt or a little ketchup with olive oil
• How to do it: beat eggs, mix with pasta, add cheese and onion, cook in a pan on medium heat until set, finish in the oven for a few minutes. Great cold for lunch.

Idea 3. Rice and roasted veg become a wrap or a new bowl

• What you have: cooked rice, roasted or stir fried vegetables, a bit of soy or teriyaki
• Add: salad greens, avocado or thin sliced radish
• Crunch: sesame seeds or grated carrot
• Sauce: tahini with lemon and a touch of honey
• How to do it: fill a flatbread and roll into a wrap, or layer into a bowl if you prefer

Quick storage and safety rules

• Let food cool, then refrigerate within one hour
• Eat meat dishes within three days
• Eat cooked rice within one or two days and reheat until steaming hot
• Keep sauces in a separate container so the meal stays crisp
• Label containers with the date so you can track freshness

A 10 minute lunch-prep plan

• Toast a small batch of seeds for the week
• Chop two kinds of fresh veg and keep them ready
• Shake up one simple yogurt or tahini sauce
• Pack two lunch boxes. One for you, one for a family member

Bonus ideas from mastro meals

• Mix leftover sauce with yogurt for a quick dip
• Roasted vegetables make a great sandwich filling
• Cooked potatoes are an easy add on for bowls

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When leftovers are planned, tomorrow feels calm. So in the morning rush you have fewer decisions to make, less food waste and healthier, tastier lunch options to fuel your busy day.

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Ready to save time this week? Get your mastro meal kit and let dinner take care of itself.