Just Throw It In The Bag: It’s National Brown Bag It Day!

On May 25th, it’s all about throwing it back to an old school tradition, the classic “brown bag” lunch. It’s National Brown Bag It Day! On this “retro” day, it’s a reminder for everyone to skip the restaurant or cafeteria lunch for the day and pack your own lunch from home.

3 Benefits to Brown Bagging Your Lunch

There are loads of benefits to bringing your own lunch to work or school. From being wallet-friendly to helping improve your food choices, the humble brown bag is the way to go. If you still aren’t convinced, here are 3 benefits to brown bagging your lunch:

1. Cost effective. Did you know that on average Americans spend about $2,500 on purchasing lunch out per year? Think about how much money you would be saving if you brown bagged your lunches just for work. By preparing your lunches from home, you can avoid spending money on expensive restaurants near your workplace or resorting to the over-priced vending machines.

2. Environmentally friendly. By simply reusing the same plastic, glass or stainless-steel containers during lunch time, you can help reduce the amount of non-recyclable materials, like Styrofoam and paper plates, from being used—making the planet greener!

3. Improved variety. Eating out typically means two things: (1) limited variety in fruits and vegetables and (2) generally high amounts of added sugar per meal. Brown bagging your lunch can help with ensuring there is balance of fruits and vegetables, as well as whole grain and calcium-rich foods that are both filling and satisfying!

Brown Bag Lunch Ideas

When you think of brown bagging your lunch, do you have flashbacks to a soggy peanut butter and jelly sandwich or a piece of fruit you know you don’t want to eat? Let that trend stop here. Brown bagging your lunch doesn’t have to make you feel this way! Try one of these brown bag lunch ideas that you’ll actually look forward to:

Bento box. This old Asian tradition has transformed the way we eat lunch. A bento box is simply a boxed meal with compartments separating various toppings or courses. Bento boxes can be used for just about anything you could want. From an on-the-go cheese and charcuterie board to a nicely packaged sandwich with a variety fresh sides, it makes for the perfect (and convenient) lunch combos!

“Doctor up” the sandwich classics. Let’s re-do some of the sandwich classics! Add some texture to the classic PB & J by adding sliced bananas, strawberries, or sprinkling in some chopped almonds for an extra crunch. Or try adding a new spread like hummus or guacamole to a classic turkey sandwich. Or experiment with your tuna salad or egg salad sandwich by replacing the mayonnaise with avocado.

Salad on-the-go. Say goodbye to pre-packed, overpriced salads from the cafeteria! Pack your own favorite salad combination in a mason jar or other desired container. Be sure to pack the dressing on the side to avoid a soggy salad! Experiment with different salad toppings like nuts, edamame, chickpeas, quinoa, or dried fruit.

Revamp your leftovers. Leftovers aren’t everyone’s favorite but let’s change that! Try adding new vegetables, putting leftovers over rice or quinoa, or even stuffing a whole wheat tortilla with last night’s leftovers. Wrap it up, throw in a piece of fruit and you have completely transformed the meaning of leftovers!

The best thing about this day is that there is no “wrong way” to brown bag it! However you choose to pack your lunch, be sure that food safety is always your number one priority. Always use an ice pack or an insulated lunch box to keep your homemade food fresh and within a safe temperature for eating. Happy packing!

Your Turn to Take Action: What will you “brown bag” for lunch on National Brown Bag It Day? Let me know in the comments below.