Good Food Blog
Lunch bunch
Posted at 5:25PM, 24 February 2011 by Roxanne Fisher - Writer/Sub-editor, bbcgoodfood.comEvery month, just before pay day, I am left wondering where my money has gone. I don't have kids, a car or a mortgage and I keep my splurging modest. In an attempt to work out where all my cash was going I got out the highlighter and went through my latest bank statement.
My discovery was shocking. I had eaten almost half my wages. Not notes-on-toast obviously but nearly half my earnings had been spent on breakfasts , lunches, dinners, snacks and the occasional meal out.
Impulse purchases, poorly used leftovers and silly snacking could all be curbed to reduce my pricey feasting
I started to drill down further and found impulse purchases, poorly used leftovers and silly snacking could all be curbed to reduce my pricey feasting. However, there was one bulky outgoing that was making an insulting difference. Lunch. Not even lunch every day but midweek work lunches that were generally purchased from overpriced chains, lacking any real nutritional value.
I vowed to change my ways. I started packing up my stir-fry leftovers the very next day and quickly got in the habit of making pasta salad and wraps the night before.
Soon though, I became bored with my speedy, convenient lunches and decided I would try to experiment more. For a couple of weeks my lunchbox was the envy of all as I pulled out delights such as Wholemeal spinach & potato pies , Cornbread muffins and Smoky beef stew.
Alas, my valiant efforts began to fall by the wayside as I struggled to stay organised enough to make ahead such varied and healthy cuisine. I didn't want to resort back to my wild, careless spending pattern but I was starting to resent how long it was taking to plan and prepare interesting eats.
And then, in a moment of moaning, I discovered the solution. I had regularly heard colleagues complain they'd either not had time to make anything, or even their forgotten efforts were still at home in the fridge. One such co-worker and I were busy airing our discontent when a thought struck. Why not cook for each other and share the burden? Preparing two lunches is often more practical and cost-effective than one and this way we'd both only have to cook twice a week - allowing a treat day along the way.
Well we haven't looked back. And the trend seems to be catching. Not only is it high on the convenience factor, it's also a great way to vary your diet, try new things, save money - and it's a lot harder to forget your lunch when someone else will be going hungry too!
So, why not give it a go? Buddy up, share the strain and let us know how you get on!
Comments
Your binder
Sign up or sign in to receive a £60 wine voucher, and to save, rate and comment on recipes. Plus, get our newsletter.
Your binder
Here are three other great reasons to sign up:
- You get an online binder, where you can store all your favourite recipes and create menus.
Search Good Food
Recent Posts
Flag as inappropriate
Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.
Flag as inappropriate
Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.