Instant Food. Breakfast and Lunch at Work with Aqua Libra Co

When your office has boiling, chilled, and sparkling water on tap, some wonderful breakfast and lunch opportunities present themselves.

Breakfast

What to have for breakfast at work …

Instant porridge

At Aqua Libra Co, we believe there’s no better way to kick off the day than with a pot of instant porridge oats, topped with fruit and nuts.

Leave the oats in the pot – no need to create unnecessary washing up – and just add boiling water. After a few minutes, give the porridge a stir and it will be ready to eat. Now to liven up your porridge with some nutritious nuts and fruit …

You could pop in some blueberries and shelled walnuts. Walnuts are rich in iron, calcium, vitamin C, and vitamin A. Blueberries are full of vitamins K and C, and also manganese – a mineral that’s good for bone health and the regulation of blood sugar.

Alternatively, add a chopped banana or granola, a sachet of sugar, chopped hazelnuts, or dates. However you enjoy your oats (ooh-er missus!), a pot of instant porridge with walnuts and blueberries, banana, dates, granola, hazelnuts, or sugar – or just on its own – will keep you full up and on top form until lunch time!

Fizzy jelly

(This little treat is not for a Monday.)

In preparation for the next morning, dissolve your jelly cubes in a minimal amount of boiling water. Now add chilled sparkling water to bring the mixture to full volume. Put lots of sliced banana and strawberries into a bowl or Tupperware box, pour your fizzy jelly over the fruit, and get it into the fridge as quickly as possible; you need to lock in the fizz!

Made with gelatine, which is full of amino acids, jelly is tremendously good for your immune system. This sweet, fizzy, refreshing breakfast might seem like sheer indulgence; but, loaded with fruit and water, and rich in amino acids, it’s actually incredibly healthy.

Lunch

“Destiny may ride with us today, but there is no reason for it to interfere with lunch.”

Peter the Great (1672-1725) Russian Emperor

Instant noodles

Now, a pot of instant noodles may not be the most nutritious or healthy snack; it’s not even very filling. But instant noodles make a fantastic base for something a little more substantial. Add boiling water to your noodles, according to the instructions, and when they’re done, add some cooked chicken or sausage.

Instant soup

A mug of instant soup is a great lunchtime favourite. Add boiling water to the dehydrated powder mix, and your hot, nourishing soup is ready to be enjoyed on its own or with a bread roll. A single serving of instant soup is usually around 100 calories.

Drinks

Fancy something a little different to drink with your meal?

Bovril

How about a cup of Bovril at breakfast time? Just add boiling water to a teaspoonful of Bovril paste.

Bovril was invented by a Scottish butcher called John Lawson Johnston (1839-1900). Having emigrated to Canada in 1871, Johnston was contracted to supply the French army with preserved beef products during the Franco-Prussian War. For his services to France, Johnston was awarded the Order of the French Red Cross.

Bovril was supplied to the British Armed Forces in WWI and WWII, and the drink is traditionally enjoyed by football fans as they try to keep warm during winter matches.

Herbal teas

Do you enjoy the clean, fresh taste of peppermint? How about the sweet, spicy bite of ginger?

Peppermint and ginger are extremely beneficial for the digestion, so if these flavours are your cup of tea (thank you), why not make yourself a hot ginger or peppermint infusion with pure boiling water, and enjoy it as part of your lunch at work.