Bringing your own lunch from home used to be what everyone did. There are industries and careers that still require workers to bring a lunch, not because it’s company policy but because there’s not a fast food place down the street to get lunch or not enough time to do it. For the rest of us, there are endless choices at lunch time because every type of food from any restaurant is available via UberEATS, Grub Hub, and other services.
Meal prepping isn’t just for bodybuilders getting ready for a competition or athletes trying to put on muscle. Pack a lunch the night before or pack for the week on Sunday night, but you should be meal prepping for the workplace for these five reasons.
Save Your Money
The biggest change you’ll see is in your bank account. It can’t be understated how much money you’ll save by going to the store, buying food, preparing it, and then taking it to work every day. Delivery services add extra fees and taxes on top of already expensive food. Take the extra money you’ll save to go on a trip, because it will add up fast.
Save Some Time
Preparing lunches can take as little, or as much, time as you want it to. Putting the night’s leftovers in a container takes no time at all, so cook a little extra and you have lunch. If you choose to prep on Sunday night for the week, that requires some more time then, but it will save you time in the morning when get ready. Just grab it out of the fridge and off you go. Both ways save time at work because you won’t waste a chunk of your lunch figuring out what to eat—it’s already done.
Eat Healthy
Making bad choices at lunch is easy when you have every kind of food available at your fingertips. A double cheese burger and fries always sounds better than a garden salad with dressing on the side. Prepare lunch at home to make good food choices and opt for a homemade grilled chicken Caesar salad. Eating healthy is also cheaper; fresh produce costs less per pound than ground beef and sliced cheese.
Get Away from Your Desk
Bringing a lunch will ensure that you eat a lunch. It’s easy to just skip it all together and catch up on work when you don’t have anything prepared. Lunch time is your time, so get away from your desk for 30 minutes and eat the healthy meal you worked so hard on.
Dial Down the Stress
There are enough stressors at work already. Deciding what to eat for lunch doesn’t need to be another self-induced one. You already know what to eat for lunch because you brought it, so you can relax and enjoy your meal.