E-stretch

For most people, wallets seem to be shrinking as waistlines are expanding. One simple solution to both problems is brown-bagging your lunch.

Packing your lunch might seem like a hassle but if you consider the effort spent in acquiring lunch, the hassle is comparatively small. Driving through midday traffic, ordering, and waiting are hassles to be dealt with to obtain your midday meal. Bringing your lunch from home will be like adding free time to your day.

If the time-savings are not enough, consider the financial benefit. The average cost of a lunch purchased out is around 7.00. A lunch prepared at home costs around 2.00. That is a savings of 5.00 per day. Consider that savings over an entire year.

If such a financial boon still isn’t enough to convince you, consider the greatest potential gain of all; your health. A typical fast food meal will weigh in at over 1,400 calories with a good portion of those calories coming from fat. A nutritious, low-fat lunch brought from home will have well under 700 calories. That caloric savings adds up just like the 5.00 does.

So, bring your lunch from home. Both your wallet and waistline will thank you.Want to know more? Go ahead: What’s Going On with School Lunch Reform?