Bagged Lunch

In the past few weeks, I’ve missed easily 4 lunches. In those same past few weeks, the lunches I did have, were nearly exclusively fast food. I do on occasion make time to sit down at a Subway, but even then I usually get a food long, and sometimes ask for a toasted BMT (likely they worst sandwich on the menu).

Besides the fact that I’m eating extremely poorly (my late night math puts my average caloric intake for just lunch well over 1000), but I’m spending more money than I need to be. According to Mint.com (a subject I’ve been meaning to create a whole post on) in the month of June I spent $135 on fast food. Its hard to get a solid per day cost though since often I use cash, and occasionally it goes on the company card but some guestimating tells me I spend about $8 per day (during the work week) on fast food, or expanded out a little under two-thousand dollars per year. Yikes.

So today, on my way home from work (at 9pm) I decided to do something about it. I stopped in Raley’s, grabbed a basket and started gathering supplies. My goals were more along the lines of getting a filling, satisfying and physically robust meal than making a perfectly nutritious one. I figure the nutrition can come in more seriously when I get used to this new pattern, and I have more time to plan meals than skimming nutrition facts in the super market.

Over the past seven years I’ve been working, I’ve taken in maybe 10 bagged lunches. For a very long time I’ve had excuses, and "reasons" to not take a bagged lunch. However, no matter what I tried to convince myself of, I can easily put together a lunch that can sit in the car all day without being destroyed and if I make the lunches ahead of time (like, when I get home from the store) then it doesn’t take up any more of my mornings.

All that said, what did I end up with in my bagged lunch? A single serving of Oberto Beef Jerky Strips; "Chicken of the Sea" Tuna Snax (tuna dip with crackers); A bag of Sun Chips; A bottle of water and a few pieces of hard Caramels for desert. Which puts this meal at a much healthier 390 calories (overall nutrition information is posted to the right)

I also took the opportunity to look at more than just my lunch eating and spending habits. Its no secret that I like Starbucks (mmm, venti, soy, no-water, Chai Tea Latte). But, the amount of money I spend on Starbucks each month could probably feed a third world village. Not to mention that a twenty ounce cup of steamed milk (albeit soy milk) satisfies none of my morning nutritional needs. So I also picked up some instant coffee (for my caffeine fix) and a variety pack of instant oatmeal.

Its not a complete plan, and has some gaps (like dinner) but its a change for the good, and one that I hope will inspire others to do the same. Save yourself some cash, and make those miles on the treadmill count for something: brown bag your lunches this week! I’d also like to hear from people with the things you put in your bag.