National Pack Your Lunch Day is March 10th, the perfect opportunity to take a look at our eating and spending habits. When you think about a packed lunch, the thought of school kids and lunchboxes often comes to mind.
However, adults can truly benefit from thoughts of how to mix up the lunch process, too.
A Visa survey found that Americans spend an average of $2,746 on lunch every year. That comes out to $53 a week. But some Americans, who eat out frequently, spend an average of $9,000 a year or more just for lunch.
Data collected from Numbeo, a financial information website run by a former Google software engineer, showed that the average meal at a higher-end restaurant can cost $59 or more for one person; the average inexpensive restaurant costs $15 per person; the average meal at a fast-food chain can cost $8; and the average at-home grocery meal costs $4 per person.
We get it. Life is hectic, and eating out can be one way to calm some of the stress and daily grind. But there are ways to make quick, easy lunches you will enjoy and your budget will love.
Mini Charcuterie Boards
One fun meal to make an easy packed lunch is a mini charcuterie board! We all love the memories of a box full of our favorite meats and cheeses in mini portions. You can take that idea and turn it into a smorgasboard of all your favorites.
Find a good container and begin with your preferred crackers (Crav'n Flavor has some great affordable options); add the sliced or shredded meat of your choice (Brookshire Brothers has some delicious shaved deli meat options); pick out your favorite sliced, shredded or soft cheese; and include any additional snacking treats you like — fruit, nuts, dessert, drinks.
Ultimately, choose your favorites and enjoy! You won't want a mix of things you will enjoy "well enough" for your packed lunch. Choose items you really like to make it more enjoyable!
Easy Salad Kits
One of our favorite easy meals is a combination of Fresh Express Salad Kits and our shredded Rotisserie Chicken. A salad may not sound like the most delicious of meals, but when you find that perfect mix and add our flavor-blasted chicken, you make a wonderful lunch.
Start with your favorite mix like Bacon Caesar, Italian Balsamic or Salsa Ensalada, and add a healthy portion of our Rotisserie Chicken, shredded. The kits come with toppings and dressing, so you will be prepared to eat well!
Homemade Parfaits
There are few things in this world that hit the spot quite like a delicious parfait. The benefit of making them at home comes from the freshness, the choice of ingredients and the ease of budget.
Start with the Greek yogurt of your choice (there are flavored options, low-fat options and regular options for every diet); add your preferred fruit (most parfait options have strawberries, blueberries, blackberries and/or raspberries); and your favorite toppings (choose items high in protein and antioxidants like walnuts and honey).
Easy Portioned Meals
When it comes to packing your lunch, the secret is meal prepping! Make your recipe or recipes on Sunday and spread the portions across the week. One great place to start is pasta. Pasta dishes are easily portioned, can be very different from one another and can be substituted with gluten free and low calorie options for those with allergies or specific diets.
Some of our recommended pasta dishes include: Italian Pasta Salad, Skillet Sausage Pasta, Cheesy Pesto Pasta Bake, One-Pot Chicken Fajita Pasta.
Here are some other easy meals perfect for portioning: Pepperoni Pizza Pinwheels, Chicken Caesar Wraps, Instant Pot Honey-Garlic Spareribs, Chicken Chili Recipe, BBQ Chicken Quesadillas.