UK

Almost half of working Brits are now making their own lunch for the office

A new study of office workers reveals as many as 48 percent of working Britons have stopped buying shop bought lunches in favour of a classic packed lunch, with the egg salad sandwich (33 percent) the number one choice.

Posted on Sep 18 ,00:05

Almost half of working Brits are now making their own lunch for the office

As many as 49 percent of those polled say they are bringing in packed lunches to be more frugal and save some pennies.

This new research, commissioned by British Lion Eggs, indicates that the old school packed lunch is indeed in resurgence, according to over half (52 percent) of the 2,000 Britons polled.

This is due to a desire to save money (86 percent), cut back on calories (35 percent) and reduce their intake of ultra processed foods (30 percent).
 
56 percent agree that nothing beats a classic home-made sarnie for lunch with the research revealing which ones the nation is packing for the office.

Egg salad sandwiches (33 percent) reign supreme, with ham salad (30 percent), chicken mayo (30 percent), tuna and mayo (28 percent), and ham and cheese (26 percent) sandwich fillings also enjoying a surge in popularity.

In fact, nine in ten admit they are making their lunches fully from scratch instead of depending on shop bought items.
 
Yet the survey shows 59 percent often get bored with their packed lunches, with three in ten looking for more inspiration.

48 percent would like to vary their packed lunches by trying out different sandwich fillings and 46 percent hope to experiment with pittas and wraps instead of always sticking to bread. While adding in more protein to their lunches (39 percent) is also high on the agenda for Brits bringing in their own food to eat from home.

And bringing in a packed lunch instead of going out to buy something is helping working Brits to save an impressive £80 a month on average, stacking up to £960 per year.

However just 48 percent of working Brits manage to consistently pack something for lunch on the days they’re in the office, with 47 percent admitting they don’t always stay organised and manage to do so.

And when it comes to what’s been cut from the budget of working Brits up and down the country, the number one items are shop bought sandwiches and paninis (57 percent).

Meanwhile almost half (45 percent) are cutting out getting coffees and hot drinks from caffes, opting to bring their own flasks from home.

And plenty of Britons are saying no to traditional office treats like shop bought pastries (38 percent), take out wraps (37 percent), takeaway burgers (36 percent) and fruit salads from the shop (30 percent).

Mark Williams from British Lion Eggs, which commissioned the research said: “This research indicates a real resurgence in the classic packed lunch for Brits working from the office, with saving money and eating healthily high on the agenda for people, especially after the summer holidays. And what better than a homemade egg sandwich to answer these needs. Cost-effective, high in protein and packed with vitamins and minerals, a return to a classic packed lunch option of an egg sandwich is an easy way to fuel up well but frugally.”

The research reveals that bananas (54 percent), apples (51 percent) and grapes (34 percent) are the most popular pieces of fruits to add to your Tupperware or lunch box.

When it comes to crisps, working Britons are choosing cheese and onion (39 percent), ready salted (34 percent) and salt and vinegar 28 percent) to pop in their lunch box.

And a home prepared lunch is being packed into classic Tupperware (57 percent) and sandwich bags (38 percent), while over a third (35 percent) are using a proper lunchbox.

Over three quarters (77 percent) of the Britons polled admit they’ve ended up ravenous and chowed down their lunch early, with 16 percent confessing it’s become a regular bad habit.

So it’s no surprise that four in ten admit they look forward to having lunch all morning, starting to get really distracted by 10.42AM.

And on average, Brits can’t resist starting their lunch by 12:18PM.

The research also indicates how few working Brits are taking a full hour for lunch, only taking a break for 35 minutes on average.

THE BEST PACKED LUNCH SANDWICHES, ACCORDING TO BRITONS:

  1. Egg salad                              33%
  2. Ham salad                             30%
  3. Chicken mayonnaise             30%
  4. Tuna mayonnaise                  28%
  5. Ham and cheese                   26%
  6. Cheese and pickle                20%
  7. Cheese and tomato              19%
  8. Tuna and sweetcorn             16%
  9. BLT                                        12%
  10. Cheese and egg                    11%

This research of 2,000 Britons was commissioned by British Lion Eggs and conducted by Perspectus Global during July 2024.

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