The Packed Lunch Is Officially Back, With Almost Half Of Working Brits Making Their Own Sarnies For Work

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 packed lunch.

And a classic egg salad (33 percent), ham salad (30 percent) or chicken mayonnaise (30 percent) are the nation’s favourite sandwiches to pack for work – with the only downside being, Brits can’t resist starting their lunch at 12:18pm.

As many as 49 percent of those who pack a lunch, say they are doing so to be more frugal and save pennies, with bringing a packed lunch instead of nipping out at lunchtime, helping working Brits save an impressive £80 a month on average, stacking up to £960 per year.

This research, commissioned by British Lion Eggs, suggests Brits are also packing sandwiches to 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 sandwich for lunch, with tuna and mayo a popular choice (28 percent), as well as ham and cheese (26 percent).

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, according to the 2,000 surveyed.

And when it comes to crisps, working Britons are snubbing modern flavours for a classic cheese and onion (39 percent), ready salted (34 percent) and salt and vinegar (28 percent) to pop in their lunch box.

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 fillings - and 46 percent try 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 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 cafes, 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. 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.”

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.

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 loved 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%