Remember back in the good old days when you were at school? If you were like me most days you brought your lunch and were expected to prepare it. Yes it may have been a simple sandwich and muesli bar from the cupboard but I knew if I didn't pack my lunch there would be no lunch that day.
As you have gotten older and can afford to eat out or buy lunch on the go, initially this may have seemed like a good thing. The negative to this situation is that you are limiting your choices to what the cafes and restaurants decide to serve. On top of this you do not get to choose the ingredients to make the meal or snack and rarely the serving size.
Over time eating out can cost you not only a stack of money but also the size of your waistline. Here are four strategies to save you money, improve the variety of the foods you eat and increase the enjoyment of bringing your lunch and snacks to work:
- Take Your Supermarket on A Date
There are new products being brought out all the time in supermarkets. Set yourself time once every month or so to explore what is available, you may surprise yourself with what you can find.
- Understand Balanced Meals and Snacks
I recommend checking out the Australian Guide to Healthy Eating and/or seeing a Dietitian to help you create balanced meal choices based on your individual needs and likes and dislikes.
- Set Your Shopping Days
Set one or two days in your week to prepare a list of foods you need to buy for your lunches and snacks. Ideas can be found by exploring the internet or magazines for ideas, there is so much out there. When you head to the shops stick to this list to prevent food waste and buying a stack of sometimes foods and beverages.
- Meal Prep
Try making a few lunch options for the week and freezing them in ready to go packages. Examples could be lentil soup or chicken stir fry or taco bean mix. Then simply add the wholegrain bread and/or salad mix as part of your lunchbox. Yes it can seem tedious but you will save yourself time by not having to prepare the entire meal each day. Prepare yourself to succeed! Over time it will become part of your lifestyle and habits.
Take home message: By taking on these 4 strategies you can improve your health long term. Taking the time to plan and create your meals can increase the enjoyment you have for food, improve your health and save you money.
