A recent report found that Americans have become less likely to go out for a workday lunch, and more likely to eat a brought-from-home lunch at their desks.
Do you go out for a lunch break? And if not, why not?
@rbreich I have packed lunches for years. It's partly to save money and partly for health. Lately it's also because I'm trying to avoid picking up random viruses.
@rbreich I go to work to bring money home. Losing an hour of pay for a half hour of a meal? A $20-$25 meal without my family? Or a low quality $16 meal? Plus gas?
@rbreich I bring lunch to work and always leave the building to go for a walk or run an errand. Boundaries are important, especially at work, and lunchtime is my time. It's healthy to get up and move throughout the day whenever possible.
@rbreich 1. Throughout my life, eating out for lunch was expensive and a rare indulgence.
Restaurant prices have increased.
In most of my jobs, I've been on corporate campuses, isolated from the larger community, where there's a single vendor running a cafeteria with food that costs more than a restaurant, and is of much lower quality. The food I bring from home is cheaper and better.
@rbreich Yes, but only because my job has me on the road and returning to the office to pick up a packed lunch from the fridge takes longer than going to the nearest Wawa
@rbreich
I eat a homemade lunch for several reasons:
I don't get paid for my lunch break. if I buy lunch then I'll need to make up that time by working longer. Instead, I multitask while eating my homemade meal.
I save money and eat healthier by bringing my own lunch. The cost of living crisis and corporate greed isn't being addressed, so I'm forced to be frugal.
If I purchase takeout then it usually involves single-use plastic. Dining in mitigates this but refer to 1.
@rbreich Going “out” for lunch has always been aspirational. Bosses get to do it but wage slaves, not so much, except for an occasional holiday or retirement party. Even in the federal government, the lunch “break” is theoretically only 30 minutes. Theoretically (again) all employees get two fifteen minute “smoke/bathroom” breaks which could be added to the 30 to bring you to an hour, but IF you don’t work in one of those big government buildings w/a cafeteria, you are SOL.
@rbreich Pre-pandemic I could get lunch for $10 but now it’s $15-20 everywhere. I still take a walk for lunch… after I eat a sandwich from home at my office desk.
@rbreich I very rarely eat workday lunch out, largely for economy reasons. I usually pack and when I do go out I might get a cheap slice of pizza or a sandwich.
Occasionally there's work lunches on the company dime that I enjoy, but that's only occasionally.
@rbreich like most of you, I bring a lunch to save money and time and for healthier options. It cuts down on plastic, since I use the same pyrex, thermos, bag, and silverware. I mean, who wants to eat off plastic?
Since I teach high school, I feel like I'm setting a good example. Have you seen teenagers eat? Beyond the cafeteria staples of pizza and fried food, it's a steady diet of monosodium glutamate and high fructose corn syrup. The best part is the conversations about food and life.
@rbreich Those days are gone. Just like TEAM-BUILDING exercises. The other days, they sent us to HR given class on opportunities in the firm and how to apply. Just like to know if they are writing on a wall? Oh, HELL! The firm took our white magic boards away during the pandemic.
@rbreich One reason people may be less likely to go out for lunch is the more and more pervasive bait-and-switch fees. Example: once when running a bit late, I got a $12 pre-packaged sandwich from the opera's concession. They charge me $15. I said the listed price was $12 and they said tax. Sales tax in SF is under 9%, I estimated an upper bound by taking 10% of 12, and subtracting 10% of that, which meant that tax was less than $1.08. Never bought anything from them again.
@rbreich I usually buy lunch. There’s a chipotle right by my work, and a chicken bowl with all the free toppings costs less than $9. I can save some time during the day and get a chance to stretch my legs and get some sun. It’s usually the only big meal I eat on work days.
@rbreich my employer serves lunch for us all. Costs a small amount, approx 40% of the cost - due to tax laws. Pretty normal here. Also free coffee and soda.