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pnewton
Guest
I pack my own, but only in the sense that I keep plenty of food option around at word and then supplement it by bringing up stuff weekly. I do it primarily to control the food I eat, both for health and flavor.
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CB_Catholic
Guest
When I worked I did not usually pack a lunch because the hospital cafeteria had excellent and cheap lunch foods, including soups, made to order sandwiches,a salad bar, a grill, and a hot meal line with different choices.
If I packed, it usually was the same old sandwich, canned soup, some fruit. Boring. Our leftovers are usually eaten for supper, not lunch. I rarely spent more than $3-4 for lunch, which may seem high to some, but I got a delicious wide variety of fresh food, made to order, and not all of the food was from a supplier. They had a variety of breads, meats, cheeses, and condiments, and would make 1/2 sandwiches. Sometimes they used their own recipes and cooked from scratch. If I worked afternoon shift I got a full meal cheap. Breakfast was always from scratch. I took $8 a day for food (2 meals) and pocketed part of that and saved it for extra spending money.
So no, I did not often pack, but my husband did pack a sandwich and chips, because he didn’t like eating in restaurants or bars very much. I do miss those made to order sandwiches and that soup, though.
If I packed, it usually was the same old sandwich, canned soup, some fruit. Boring. Our leftovers are usually eaten for supper, not lunch. I rarely spent more than $3-4 for lunch, which may seem high to some, but I got a delicious wide variety of fresh food, made to order, and not all of the food was from a supplier. They had a variety of breads, meats, cheeses, and condiments, and would make 1/2 sandwiches. Sometimes they used their own recipes and cooked from scratch. If I worked afternoon shift I got a full meal cheap. Breakfast was always from scratch. I took $8 a day for food (2 meals) and pocketed part of that and saved it for extra spending money.
So no, I did not often pack, but my husband did pack a sandwich and chips, because he didn’t like eating in restaurants or bars very much. I do miss those made to order sandwiches and that soup, though.
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pianistclare
Guest
I pack Joe’s lunch. He only gets 30 mins. for lunch …we carpool, so he has no car nor any time to run to a fast food joint. Being a warehouse n the South…it’s sweltering.
he prefers a big thermos packed with ice cubes, a yogurt and a cold crisp apple.
Anything more comes right back up,. Occasionally I made an egg salad sandwich…something also chilled. Or diced fruit cups.
he prefers a big thermos packed with ice cubes, a yogurt and a cold crisp apple.
Anything more comes right back up,. Occasionally I made an egg salad sandwich…something also chilled. Or diced fruit cups.
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Potter
Guest
Most of the time I bring my own lunch to work, usually leftovers.I do go out to eat for lunch at least once a week, though, sometimes just to get away from the firing line. There are several places within walking distance.
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MJJean
Guest
I am a SAHM, so I eat lunch at home. I pack my DH a lunch and a large cooler of ice water because it’s cheaper, healthier, and because he is a truck driver. It’s hard to find a place where he can park the truck and get a decent meal. Not to mention that time is also hard to find. If he didn’t bring a lunch we’d have a hangry trucker on the road and no one wants that!
Hopefully, I’ll have a job soon and once I am working I’ll be bringing a home lunch, too.
Hopefully, I’ll have a job soon and once I am working I’ll be bringing a home lunch, too.
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EasterJoy
Guest
This is a good idea. Thank you!
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Millie123
Guest
I pack my lunch for work. The reason why is because I just find it to be a lot more economical. At work they charge $2.00 for some cut up watermelon…at the grocery store I can buy a whole watermelon for 3.50. They charge $1.50 for a cup of strawberries…at the grocery store I can buy a whole container of strawberries for 2.50. They charge over a dollar for yogurt…but I buy my yogurt at the store for .60 cents. Soup will cost about $3.00 for a bowl. But i can just buy some campbells or progresso soup for $1.00-1.50. For my work I just find the cafeteria food to be too expensive
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Ms_Manners
Guest
I don’t pack his lunch.
He never knows what he wants to eat that day, he leaves very early (starts at 7), but he’s also home early (3 pm), so I rather have lunch warm when he comes home, and he sometimes gets a snack at work, but more often he doesn’t eat at work. I did pack his lunch for a while, but he even brought it home.
Before we were married, he worked very close to my home, sometimes I’d take it to him if I had time or he’d come over for lunch after work.
He never knows what he wants to eat that day, he leaves very early (starts at 7), but he’s also home early (3 pm), so I rather have lunch warm when he comes home, and he sometimes gets a snack at work, but more often he doesn’t eat at work. I did pack his lunch for a while, but he even brought it home.
Before we were married, he worked very close to my home, sometimes I’d take it to him if I had time or he’d come over for lunch after work.
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midori
Guest
For the last nine years, DH never packed a lunch. His boss would usually take people out to lunch. He switched jobs last fall. No more free lunch. 
In the spring, he decided to start doing Wheat Belly to cut back on carbs and got a FitBit to track his walking. He had great results! I think he lost at least ten pounds a month and got to his goal weight in three months.
So, I pack his lunch to (a) save money, but also (b) let him eat healthier. It’s hard to find low-carb options, and we have better places to spend money than on a $10 salad.
In the spring, he decided to start doing Wheat Belly to cut back on carbs and got a FitBit to track his walking. He had great results! I think he lost at least ten pounds a month and got to his goal weight in three months.
So, I pack his lunch to (a) save money, but also (b) let him eat healthier. It’s hard to find low-carb options, and we have better places to spend money than on a $10 salad.
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E_7
Guest
Great! And some good ideas! I just wanted to confirm that packing your own lunch for the working person really saves you money. Sometimes DH comes home for lunch, sometimes he eats out, and sometimes he works from home and eats home. I guess soon we will decide to eat home-made meals just for the sake of saving money and eat healthier.
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Sarcelle
Guest
I used to be really good about packing healthy lunches but now I’ve slacked off. I now eat lunch out. I need to get out of my work place anyway. Take a break in the middle of the day.
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EasterJoy
Guest
Our family generally packs a lunch unless we’re going to be at home or there is a social or practical reason not to. A practical reason would include no place to store a packed lunch so that it is convenient to get to it during the lunch period.
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pensmama87
Guest
When I worked outside of the home I made sure I took a lunch break and physically went somewhere else, even a bench outside or a break room if the weather was bad. DH eats at his desk most days and I don’t understand it. I need the mental disconnect from that space for a few minutes!!
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punisherthunder
Guest
I pack my own lunch for work every day. Reasons:
- It saves money. Because everyone in my office orders food in every day and at the end of the week, individually they have spent $40-60 on food just for lunch.
- It’s healthier to pack my own stuff. Everyone in the office orders in cheeseburgers and pizzas or greasy Chinese food. I normally eat tuna, salads, and fruits. Plus I drink water and avoid the $6 Starbucks they order out for sometimes too.
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MissManda
Guest
I think an example would be dietary or allergy reasons. Like if you can’t have gluten, and the places closest to work/school all have gluten ingredients in them its easier/safer to pack a lunch.
Living on campus as a full time student, I’m gone all day with classes at weird hours. I don’t have time to head back to my apartment to fix something, and grabbing something from the cafes/vending machines adds up quickly both on the scale and the wallet. My coffee habit is bad enough, at least now I know where to get free hot water for tea! I’ll usually pack lunches the night before, usually leftovers of dinner, by putting the meal in a container and making sure my ice packs are in the freezer. I’ll then put the non-refridgerated items (fruit, cracker, tea bags) in my lunch bag so its ready for morning.
I find getting it ready the night before is much easier than waiting until morning. Its hard enough to get coffee and some breakfast in me at that functioning level.
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Sen
Guest
I pack lunches for DH and myself. It’s usually just leftovers from supper the night before and fresh fruit/veggies that I cut up that morning. If I left DH’s lunches up to him he’d either buy Chinese food every day or he’d simply shred some cheese, roll it up in a tortilla, and cover it in taco sauce. Lots and lots of taco sauce. He’ll eat the healthier meals and veggies if I pack it for him and he’ll even enjoy it but he won’t pack it for himself. 
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CatholicSheila
Guest
I pack both lunch and breakfast. I am not an early bird so I never have time for breakfast before I leave.
If I didn’t I’d end up spending $20 a day on food - plus I’d probably buy at least 1 coffee on top of that. Another $5.
A packed lunch is cheaper and healthier. It also means that I can take nibble food and slowly eat my lunch all day which is my preference.
If I didn’t I’d end up spending $20 a day on food - plus I’d probably buy at least 1 coffee on top of that. Another $5.
A packed lunch is cheaper and healthier. It also means that I can take nibble food and slowly eat my lunch all day which is my preference.
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