About Jes Watson
For editor Jes Watson, happiness is a perfectly poached egg, a vase filled with fresh-cut peonies — or just getting out of dishes duty. From furnishing and decorating her new house to hosting the perfect dinner party, she shares a slice of her domestic adventures with you each week.
Learning to Love Your Packed Lunch
home slice: lunch inspiration canada
(Jan.25.12)
Blah.
That's exactly the thought that crossed my mind when I opened my lunch last week to discover a tupperware full of leftover soup and a baggie full of baby carrots.
It didn't help that I had eaten the same soup for three meals already (seriously, a woman cannot live on leftovers alone, people!). It also didn't help that my co-worker had just scooted out to procure a heavenly smelling burger from our favourite takeout spot. I was thisclose to dashing out and ordering myself a double cheeseburger, a side of onion rings and a calorie laden strawberry milkshake, when a jolt of reality shot through me. Bringing your lunch is better for the planet, better for your body and better for your pocketbook - so why cave to the fast food craving?
The only thing I was missing out on was some good old fashioned brown bag inspiration. I tasked myself with making my lunch more fun, and I asked my friends to get involved too. Here's what we came up with:
1. Don't fall into the trap of leftover fatigue. Love to batch cook? Freeze your meals to enjoy later. Or, better yet, plan a batchcook swap with your best friends so you have enough food for the week, but three entirely different meals.
2. Arm yourself with an adorable lunchbox. A brown or plastic bag isn't going to inspire you to get excited about your lunch!
3. Channel your seven-year-old self and don't be afraid to call tradesies on your best friend's pizza slice. Or go crazy and arrange for a day each week that you trade you entire lunch with a pal. It'll encourage you to get creative with what you make, and you'll love opening your surprise lunch.
4. Break boredom with simple tweaks. Try different breads like naan, pita or injera (an Ethiopian flatbread) instead of the white stuff. Do as the French do and pack a selection of cheeses, fruit and crackers. The more imagination you put into your lunch, the more you'll get out of it.
5. Always pack a dessert. Even if you're just packing yourself a couple of squares of dark chocolate or some yogurt and fruit, a sweet treat at the end of your lunch will keep you excited for lunch time and less prone to ordering in.
Image: denverjeffrey
What are your tips for bringing your lunch? Do you always pack the same thing? Log in and let me know!
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