Let’s face it, workday lunches probably aren’t the culinary highlight of your week. Most of us eat simple packed sandwiches, or pop to a local sandwich shop on our break and eat at our desks while we scroll through social media on our phones. But you probably eat at work more than you eat anywhere else, other than at home, so why waste these meals on boring food that you don’t particularly enjoy? Here are some great tips to help you to upgrade your workday lunch experience.
Spend Time on Meal Prep
Instead of throwing a quick sandwich and some individually packaged snacks in your bag on your way out of the door in the morning, commit some time to meal preparation. Spend a little time at the weekend thinking about what you’d like for lunch in the week ahead. Where possible, prepare meals and store them ready to go. Things like pasta salads are ideal on the go, but if you have facilities to reheat food, save dinner leftovers for warming lunches.
Get Away from Your Desk
One of the best ways to upgrade your lunch is to move away from your desk. On nice days, try to head outdoors to enjoy your lunch in the fresh air and take a short walk to stretch out. A Modern Picnic tote is ideal if you want to take lunch out but also need to pack things like your laptop and stationery. Modern Picnic offers a wide range of stylish options for a sophisticated lunch on the go.
In poor weather, head to the break room, or even just to a friend’s desk for lunch, so that you can stretch and aren’t tempted to keep working while you eat.
Use Real Plates and Cutlery
If you are eating in the office, or another indoor location, putting your lunch on a plate and using cutlery instead of eating directly from its storage box is a great way to make it feel more like a meal to be savored, instead of quick food just to refuel.
Invest in the Right Containers
Good storage containers can keep your lunch safe and well-protected on the go. Make sure you’ve got a few options for different meals.
Start Building a Desk Pantry
One of the best ways to upgrade any meal is with condiments and extras. But who wants to carry things like salt and pepper and salad dressing to work every day? A desk drawer or space in your breakroom filled with pantry essentials is an ideal way to upgrade every lunch, without having to carry everything to and from work.
Group Together with Work Mates
If you want to build a comprehensive work pantry, include other people. Take turns shopping to replenish supplies or give everyone their own responsibilities to make sure you’ve all got what you need. Eating with workmates is also a great way to turn lunch into a social activity.
Upgrading your workplace lunch can improve your diet and help you to get more nutrition. But it can also improve your mood and help you to enjoy your days at work much more.
Since I no longer work I do not have to do this, but I wish I had thought of these ideas when I was working. They would have made lunch a much more pleasant meal to be enjoyed.
Having the right containers for the food you like to bring makes a difference. You are so right that it is good to think ahead and spend some time on meal prep.
I no longer work so I don’t have to do this. BUT you are so right on all of this. If I would bring lunch and eat at my desk I would usually end of have to answer the phone or questions or what ever. So most of the time I just left and picked up lunch and ate in my car., It was peaceful and quiet and I got to relax and recharge