Commuting - What about lunch plans?

Just curious what all you other bike commuters do about eating lunch during the day. Do you carry a bag lunch? Dress and go out to a local eatery? Starve until dinner? Fortunate to have a cafeteria at your workplace?

I work in an area surrounded by streets and highways and have to cycle a couple of miles to get food - no restaurants close by. Kind of inconvenient at times if the weather has turned bad during the day. I do carry a bag lunch, but you get tired of the same old sandwiches, fruit, yogurt cup, etc. plus it takes up a lot of room in the panniers. Leftovers from home in plastic containers would be heavy and potentially messy in panniers or backpack.

Any ideas?

There is a only a Subway and Burger King :eek: :crash: within walking distance of where I work.
So I usually bring my lunch (stuffed into my panniers) and keep it in the refrigerator at work.

I rotate among several local restaurants, food courts, and take-out places, ranging in distance from across the street to 2.5mi/4km. All of these are casual enough for shorts and T-shirt. Because of southern California's ethnic diversity, I can select authentic Thai, Mexican, Hawaiian, Polynesian, Afghani, Italian, Indian, Chinese, Greek, or Japanese food or a delightful American-style salad bar (SoupPlantation / Sweet Tomatoes).

I normally walk round to "Le sandwich" on Frederick Street and buy a Honey Apple and Banana roll, and carrot soup (I'm vegetarian)

Other days I go out to one of the local Mexican or Italian eateries and have nachos or pasta. (the benefit of working in the centre of Scotland's capital)

Originally posted by John E
Because of southern California's ethnic diversity, I can select authentic Thai, Mexican, Hawaiian, Polynesian, Afghani, Italian, Indian, Chinese, Greek, or Japanese food or a delightful American-style salad bar (SoupPlantation / Sweet Tomatoes).

You are a very lucky person to have that variety. I'm jealous.

2 Peanut Butter & Jelly sandwiches, 1 bag of patoto chips, and 1 can of cheap citrus punch every day for lunch. Some times I'll throw a bag of baby carrots in as well.


Once in a great while (once in the last 2 months) I'll eat at the cafeteria in the office building.


I tried bringing a banana twice, but they fell out both times. On my ride home I noticed that somebody had ran over them on a bicycle each time.

I bring my lunch. I have a rubbermaid brand container that keeps a couple of sandwiches and/or banana bread slice. In winter I bring a small thermos of soup sometimes. Always fruit and yogurt.

I've got a McDonalds within 200 yards, but that's not lunch! :thumbdn:

I usually bring my lunch. I just stuff it in my bag, which I strap to my rack. Things usually don't get too smushed. On days when I ride the fixed gear (no rack), I try to go out to lunch with my co-workers or get my girlfriend to pick me up and take me out. There isn't any place really close by, and I get too sweaty if I try to ride somewhere.

andy

Cream cheese sandwich, carrots, radishes and some cookies. It might be boring but I can prepare it in my sleep. When I drive I can take a load of boxed fruit juice.

occasionaly I eat in the cafeteria - the food is ok and they also have beer and wine which is pretty rare for an office cafeteria. I eat a full cooked meal in the evening, but I dont think I need 2 meals like that per day.

I bring lunch and visit Bikeforums.com during lunchtime!

So KOBYJ, those were YOUR bananas!

Originally posted by AndrewP
they also have beer and wine which is pretty rare for an office cafeteria

I want a job in your company. That would make the afternoons so much more relaxing.

I work downtown. If you can imagine it, it's available. I make it a rule to get out of the building and walk around every day at lunch anyway; I feel less trapped that way. So every day is different.

RichC

I used to have a raspberry patch about 3mins walk from work, great for collecting dessert in summer. Unfortunately Ronald build a drive-thu over it 6 months ago.

I bring my lunch in a Tupperware container--the kind with the soft blue rubber rim on the lid are best for not leaking. I then put it inside a plastic grocery bag just in case, but I've never had a leak yet. A thermos works best for soup.
BTW does anyone know of a leak proof cup for coffee/tea? I want to bring some with me to class, but a thermos is too hard to drink out of.

I try and leave a stock of food at work. I'm fortunate, in that we have a small kitchen to prepare simple meals.

When I drive in I can bring in some food, otherwise I just fill up the pannier every once in a while.

I also keep fuit energy bars on hand for snacks or just before the ride home.

I carry my lunch in the bottom of one of my panniers. I don't really notice it, even though my lunch weighs more than everyone else's lunch. :D

I sometimes bring leftovers, but lately I've been eating at the food court across the road from my office. They do a good curry at The Stockpot, and the chinese place does an outstanding (and enormous) seafood laksa. mmm laksa.

I've never had a problem with exploding food in my bag, although if I bring soup I will put the container in a plastic bag. The exception was when I crashed on the Story Bridge last year and had to wear yoghurt covered clothes for the rest of the day. The sweet smell of strawberries about my person was most popular right up until the milk went off and I smelled more like a strawberry fart.

Drink: H20 & coffee (@ work)
Eat: yogurt & granola
Treat: Candy bar (as needed)

Makes for a cheap, quick and easy lunch. Monotonous but fairly healthy.

tt

No problem for me....if I don't want to bring lunch, there's a gas station a block away from the library where I work that makes great subs and pizza: and two blocks away is a grocery store with a pretty good deli: three blocks away is a real restaurant: and about 6 blocks away (the other side of town) are a Dairy Queen, a Subway, and a McDonalds.

A rural town with a population of 3,000 is a wonderful place to work. :D

It takes me 9 minutes to ride on my bike from home to work. I can get home for lunch in the same amount of time, but I have to climb two moderate hills. If my knees ache, or I just wimp out, I can call my wife. She can pick me up for lunch. Bikeman, the option of moving 1.5 miles from work may not be available to you. Sorry if this didn't help you in your search for easy lunch.

Originally posted by bikeman
Just curious what all you other bike commuters do about eating lunch during the day. Do you...Starve until dinner?
:eek:

If I forget everything else, I NEVER FORGET FOOD!

;)

We have a man who brings us fresh fruit at insane prices. I also keep a stash of staples (not the metal kind) at work. I'm with Dave (Aerobat) on that one.

Chris L: my lunch is bigger than your lunch! :D (Sometimes I like to freak people out because I eat all day long while they nibble and stay delightfully plump. They must see the connection by now...)

"Food, glorious food..."

i work at a pizzeria...=D packing lunch (dinner, in most cases, as i work evenings) is a non-issue. i either get some food at my pizzeria, or from any of te other many restaurants in the neighbourhood.

now, getting food at school is a different story....there, i have to make myself content with the handfull of roach-coaches that adorn my urban campus. ah, well...it beats the cafeteria.

-rob