Packing your lunch has benefits you may not expect. One of the immediate benefits is savings. Many home-prepared lunches cost less than ordering off the take-out menu or eating out.
Another benefit of making your own lunch is controlling portion sizes and ingredients. By adding fruits, vegetables, and whole grains to your lunches, they will be healthier as well.
- • Mickey Mouse was the first licensed character to appear on a lunchbox in 1935.
- • The 1950 fictional cowboy Hopalong Cassidy (or Hop-along Cassidy) lunchbox was the first lunchbox based on the eponymous hour-long 1952 NBC American black and white western action/adventure television series.
While some foods pack well for lunch, others don’t fare so well. If you’re new to packing lunches, check out this starter list:
- • Hardboiled egg – provides a serving of protein
- peeled and placed in a separate container
- • Fresh vegetables – choose a dipping sauce like ranch or balsamic vinegar
- • carrots sticks, celery sticks, sliced cucumbers, cherry tomatoes
- • Whole fruit – apple, orange, banana, grapes, berries
- • Yogurt – provides a serving of dairy
- • Salad – prepared with deli meats of your choosing
- • place dressing in a separate container
- • Cheese
- • Crackers
- • Nuts
You will want to include a gel pack to keep your food chilled until lunchtime, even if you’re reheating leftovers.
HOW TO OBSERVE
Make a plan and a shopping list begin taking more lunches. You might be surprised how much you enjoy it. Bring a packed lunch to work, school or a friend’s house and use #PackYourLunchDay to post on social media.
HISTORY
The research by National Day Calendar® was unable to find the creator or origin of National Pack Your Lunch Day. However, they did find out that this day is also celebrated by some on other days throughout the year.
What do you pack in your lunch?
#PackYourLunchDay
@nichecinema
