It was different when we were kids and the decision wasn’t ours. So why aren’t we talking more about adult lunch struggles?
For awhile there, I was firmly part of the 11:30 lunch club. It’s not really a club though. More like a group of people who can’t seem to get past that time before eating. And as part of that, I was also part of the buying lunch too many days club.
When your work cafeteria is award-winning, it’s hard to say no. It’s not even that pricey (though it does add up when you eat there frequently).
But eating that early — and buying lunch frequently — really isn’t sustainable. In fact, as I approach empty nester status, it’s something I need to change. My wallet requires it.
Besides, I love packing lunches. From meal prep Souvlaki Chicken and Orzo with Asparagus to autumn soups to salad in a jar, a well-crafted lunch brought from home can be a delight. Leftovers like creative pastas and roast chicken can be fun too. And lest we forget, sandwiches are the classic. We haven’t even gotten into the wonderful world of snacks either.
So I love lunch. I love packing lunch. And I love eating lunch. I even love shopping for the ingredients for lunch.
And yet, adult lunch struggles persist. It’s easy for me to sit here at the computer, writing about how much I love it all. It’s way less easy to actually do it. Running late, being distracted, not having the lunch perfectly ready to grab and go, not feeling like taking what’s prepped — the list goes on and on. It’s so easy to be derailed from good intentions, isn’t it?
Maybe it comes down to commitment. I need to find the thing that makes me commit to bringing lunch. Saving money, eating well and being responsible all seem like good reasons. But what about the food? One coworker eats the same packed lunch every day. She likes the certainty of it. Another leaves everyday at lunch, sometimes returning with a bag of grapes or a big bottle of seltzer. I’m not sure what he calls lunch. Either way, those strategies aren’t ones that will work for me.
I thrive on variety. I don’t really want to eat the same thing two days in a row. So perhaps, my strategy needs to make that work on a small scale — buy less, create more variety — coupled with smart leftover preservation for later lunches. That does feel like something that could work.
So, here we go. The year 2025 will be the time of more lunches for me. And what a blessing to have this site to record all the wins and losses, strategies that work and those that don’t, and the recipes along the way. Won’t you follow along?
