I’ve been stuck in the office all week and not fishing. To make the best of it, I’m following a plan in the works since buying a normal lunch here in Manhattan started costing me $10-15 a day. (Damn you, ethanol.) My goal is to find as many places as possible where I can buy lunch for under five bucks. Here are the results to date:

Monday: Fresco Tortillas, a cheap Mexican place owned and operated by Asians. Black beans and rice and a can of coke. Price: $4.87 (or something, I dropped some of the change.)

Tuesday: Famous Rays or Rays or Rays Original or Crazy Rays or Whatever. Pizza. Single Slice of cheese pizza and a 16 oz soda. Price: $4.27

Wed: Fresco Tortillas, redux. Chicken and cheese quesadilla and a can of soda. Price: $4.75

Thursday: McDonald’s. Two grilled chipotle snack wraps and a sweet tea (which actually is pretty close to traditional sweet tea). Price: $4.09

So far, not too creative. Tomorrow I’m going to range a little further to see what’s what. Healthwise, though, I’ve actually lost a pound.