How often do you bring in a lunch to work?

[LivingAlmostLarge]

I typically eat what I make 4 days a week and eat out once. DH is the same although it can be 5 out of 5. Before when we had less money it was 5 out of 5. It's also 5 out of 5 when I am "dieting" or watching my weight. Eating out leads me to get fatter, trust me I measured once when I ate out a week ugh.

Besides the point of cost, we typically just eat left overs. My DH hates sandwiches. My kid doesn't care for sandwiches either. But I try to get her to eat stuff or I heat it and shove it in a thermos.

If you want to save money buy tv dinners, still cheaper than eating out.

[bUU]

If you're talking about cooking fancy meals from scratch, I could see your point, but what about bringing a frozen dinner to the office to microwave at lunch time.

Are you going to push that "all workplaces must provide microwaves" law through Congress?

Seriously: My point is that people should stop being disparaging toward those who are telling them that, for them, bringing lunch to work is not as easy. Until you lived someone else's life directly, it isn't right to assume you know what their affinities are. It's overtly and baselessly disrespectful. I've seen the same sort of comment over and over again through the years: Losing weight "takes virtually no thought or effort." Quitting smoking "really isn't ... complicated... I'd like to meet someone perplexed or overwhelmed with this." And so on.

[disneysteve]

Are you going to push that "all workplaces must provide microwaves" law through Congress?

Fair point. If your workplace doesn't have a microwave or doesn't have a refrigerator, packing lunch is more of a challenge if you want something other than what you can keep safely in a cooler.

I don't think Congress needs to get involved but I'd certainly be speaking to the higher ups and giving them all of the reasons why they should install one, focusing on things like worker productivity and satisfaction as well as better health. Employers care about all of that stuff (or at least they should) because it saves them money in the long run.

[Baby_nurse]

Doesn't take much thought or effort to slap some peanut butter between 2 slices of bread. If that's too complicated, you have to wonder what kind of jobs these people are qualified to do...

If you choose not to take a lunch, then own the decision. Who cares how you spend your money? If you think your time is better spent working/eating out or what ever and it's not adversely affecting your financial future, then go for it.

[scfr]

99% of the time.

While I'm sure that getting a meal put together can be challenging for some, I think that darn near everyone who is capable of holding down a job is capable of putting something together for their lunch. My brother is developmentally disabled and prepares his own lunch that he takes to work with him on his bicycle. He is too kind to roll his eyes at anyone, but I would do it for him if anyone told him that his lunches weren't up to snuff because his condiments weren't pureed that morning from locally sourced farmstand hydroponic organic veggies. PB&J is just fine, thank you very much.

[JoeP]

Doesn't take much thought or effort to slap some peanut butter between 2 slices of bread. If that's too complicated, you have to wonder what kind of jobs these people are qualified to do...

But what about people with gluten issues? Peanut allergies?

[scfr]

But what about people with gluten issues? Peanut allergies?

LOL! Glad to see someone is keeping a sense of humor about this.

[~bs]

I pack my lunch while I eat breakfast. At the conclusion of dinner, I'll often put some of t. It may not be food in smaller containers purposed for lunch, so all I have to do is grab one for lunch a couple days later.


This assumes earning this money is more important to you than doing other activities! Suppose option 1 is for me to work 3 more hours at $100/hr and pay someone $30 to mow my lawn while I'm gone. Option 2 would be me not working those 3 hours and instead mowing my own lawn which takes 1.5 hours. Assuming I have a regular job and we're ok financially, I'll take option 2. There is a certain amount of pride and satisfaction doing certain activities yourself, even if it means missing out on some money. Plus, who really wants to work (at work) that much?

You may have missed it, but I did mention that certain chores or work may simply be something you want to do. It may not be woth it from a strictly financial point of view, and yes personal pride in deyailing your own car or doing youryard work.

[Baby_nurse]

But what about people with gluten issues? Peanut allergies?

Gluten free bread and almond butter

[JoeP]

Gluten free bread and almond butter

But does it require a microwave?

[Baby_nurse]

But does it require a microwave?

Personally, I've never nuked by PB&J's...(or my AB and Udi's Glutten-free bread either). I like to warm mine the old fashioned way; I keep it in the hot car until lunch time.

[disneysteve]

It occurred to me that kids all over the country take their lunch to school every day. My daughter has been doing it for 11 years now. No refrigerator. No microwave.

[ESMonitor]

I see a wide variety of feedback about this, indeed there are multiple variables involved for all of us, I think.

I wish I could implement some of the feedback I have seen on here myself.

I'll admit, I spend about $125 - $140 per month on lunch while at work. I believe I budget for $125 for lunches during workweek.

My problem is that I am a big & tall guy, aka a meathead, go to gym regularly for cardio and weights so appetite is always up there. Always. So for me protein is a necessity. I can't wing it on a sandwich it would have to be a loaded sandwich and with a protein bar for later at COB. Typically, I have to have something on side with a packed tuna sandwich such as soup, spaghettios with meatballs. And then add a Yopliat yogurt and a bannana. Not a big fan of Campbells soup, full of sodium and often irritates my stomach...usually go with their chicken gumbo.

I managed to give up chips

Typical routes -

Lenny's subs (club sandwich) with cookie $8.16 The best!!

Scholtskys deli - Chicken fietsa with a side $9.04 (they have really good tea)

Subway - meh $5.98

Taco Bell - I have a love and hate relationship with this establishment (around $7.60)

Hog Heaven BBQ - Pulled pork sandwich with baked beans and slaw $7.00

Canes - Chicken tender box, I think around $7.50 only go here twice a month

Wendys - Often on the days when an errand is involved with lunch $7.75

Logan Farms - Only been once but about to go more often and call it in ($8.50) grandma food.

What happens is when I think about preparing a lunch for work then I convince myself to drag myself into Subway the next day instead for $6, there is a Subway only a mile away from office.

I think there is a Subway a mile away from every office. They are everywhere, but I just tolerate them.

I also feel a sense of freedom when getting out of office (kind of like recess when i was a kid at school) even if it is only for 20 or 30 minutes to go pick something up. I get to listen to talk radio...Dave Ramsey...Colin Cowherd...Lino Rulli...or jam to a good song.

Would love to know what restaurants you guys go to pick stuff up for lunch and what you order there for more ideas.

[HappySaver]

This thread is hilarious, mainly because of all of the "difficulties" people see in bringing lunch. I'm celiac (gluten free) and don't use the refrigerator or microwave at work (too many food allergies to go near the kitchen). It's really not that hard!

Every day, I take my lunch in an insulated bag with an ice pack in it and keep it at my desk- that keeps my food cold until lunch. I bought a compact microwave ($70ish) to keep in a corner of my desk to heat up my food. For those "not of the microwave" culture, I only use it occasionally, so it's not really a necessity, just a nice to have.

For lunch I bring
- Leftovers (chicken, turkey, stews, gf pasta, rice, soups). I make large enough batches for dinner to always have extras for the next day or two. I rarely freeze, by the way, because I don't quite make enough for that. A lot of these foods taste better as leftovers after the flavors have settled. And the food is not too salty if you've cooked it yourself, plus there are frozen options that more healthy/less salty. Dinners don't need to take that long to cook either, but that's another thread.
- Salads!! Salads!! Salads!! I add a protein such as canned salmon or tuna, chickpeas, or hard boiled egg. Fresh tasting - you can keep the dressing in a separate container, and taste is way better than the salads I see people around me buying. I use baby spinach instead of lettuce. That's a matter of taste; point is, think outside the box and use things you like (corn? sweet peppers? cheese?)
- On days when I have nothing prepared, I will often just throw a sweet potato in the microwave and have canned salmon/sardines, or a gf sandwich with it.

Point is, there are plenty of options so you can have lots of variety, and it really is just a matter of getting used to it. I was forced into it for health reasons but now that I'm used to it, I don't find it difficult anymore. And this coming from a chronic procrastinator and NON morning person.

[bennkar]

I take my lunch every single work day. The effort involved is minimal. I put together a batch meal on the weekend while I hand wash dishes, when done put it together into microwavable dishes that have sealing lids (corning grab-its) and just pull one out each work day. Total effort for a week's worth of lunches is maybe 30 minutes max.

Lately I have been making brown rice with chicken, carrots & peas. Yes, I have a microwave at work. I have teriyaki sauce in the fridge there. I also take a small fruit (currently a pre-peeled orange in a micro-cooler), a drink (currently a vegetable juice drink), and a protein drink for my muscles (I work out at lunch time and need the protein). I figure the total cost per day for everything is less than $2, possibly close to $1, and certainly much better than food I can get in the cafeteria. Why would I want to do anything else