Taking your own lunch to work or school on a daily basis can help you save lots of money on an annual basis.  Here are some tips to help you make the most of it:

• Arm yourself with the right food – Restaurants fight hard for your lunch-time dollar every day; and it’s a bit of an unfair fight when compared to your traditional brown-bag lunch.  Think about it: it’s hard to resist that double-stuffed Italian sub from the local deli or a gourmet salad from the cafeteria when your brown-bagged alternative is ham on wonder bread and an apple.  Raise the stakes in your brown-bag battle by starting with a lunchtime menu that will help you resist the temptation to eat out by packing better lunches:  make your own deli subs or salads with upgraded meats, veggies and condiments that you buy at the grocery store.
• Think about your food needs for the entire day – Packing your own lunch can save you additional money if you think about and plan for your food needs for the entire day.  Do you find yourself hitting the soda or snack machine for a quick pick me up at some point during the day?  If so, then plan ahead and bring snacks and drinks to cover those impromptu needs.
• Cook extra portions at dinnertime – It takes a set amount of time to cook dinner, but usually doesn’t take much extra time to prepare a larger portion that you can use for leftover lunches later on during the week.  This tactic helps save you time, as you won’t have to spend as much time thinking about or preparing meals.
• Prep your brown-bags before morning – With showers, breakfast, and getting the kids off to school, mornings can get really hectic.  Save yourself some hassle by preparing your lunch the night before. 
• Pack food that will be satisfying – If you find yourself getting hungry throughout the day, then take steps to mitigate the risk of a “snack run” to the vending machines or cafeteria by packing food and snacks that will help satiate your hunger.  Food that is high in lean protein – think nuts, lean means, and boiled eggs - will help satisfy your cravings, because it takes longer for the body to break down protein than it does simple carbohydrates.  In addition, take small packs of conveniently sized veggies, such as bite-sized carrots or celery.
• Consider food safety issues – Poorly prepared, packed or stored food can be a potential health hazard.  As an example, chicken or turkey salad, when left in a warm environment for a short period of time, can easily breed large quantities of bacteria.  If needed, use ice-packs to keep food chilled or thermos bottles to keep food warm during transit; and then refrigerate/microwave as needed.  In addition, consider investing in good, reusable, microwave-safe containers that you can use to store and transport your food.
• Make lunch an event – Break rooms are often blandly decorated, boring environments.  If the weather is nice, head outside; or find some nice place where you can enjoy your meal.

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