First grader: What’s your favorite subject?
Third grader: Lunch!
An old joke, for sure, but it has some truth to it. Most of us look forward to our lunch break whether we are employed full time, are a student, or work from home. Its a much-needed break in the midst of a busy day. Its a time to socialize with peers or coworkers, a time to run an errand, or it’s “alone” time…time to regroup and prepare for the rest of the day.
When I retired six years ago, it took me a while to find an at-home schedule. I was no longer working outside of the home, but my work at home was still there and it was difficult to get into a routine without waiting for the bell to ring to signal for the next class.
I soon discovered that I needed to schedule a lunch break for myself, even if I spent the entire day alone, which happened frequently. If I didn’t take a break, I found myself starving in the middle of the afternoon and getting grumpy and sleepy. So I pulled out my old school lunch tray (we won’t discuss how I happened to have that in my possession) and began to fix myself an easy lunch each day.
I sit on the loveseat recliner, balancing the tray on my lap and settle in for a leisurely moment. Timing was a problem though. I couldn’t sit still for very long, so I found myself gobbling my food and heading back to the kitchen to clean up and start the next project. Ten minutes is not enough of a break!
If I watched a TV show, that would be equal to a 30-40 minute lunch and that continues to be my routine, on many days. I have watched Mad Men, Breaking Bad, Orange is the New Black, Dexter, Downton Abbey, and most recently The Handmaid’s Tale. Granted, some of these series are not necessarily “shows to eat lunch by”, but I have enjoyed some downtime in the middle of the day, which was my goal.
My meals are not fancy. Leftovers work well, microwaveable meals, soup and sandwiches, and salads are my favorites. I do enjoy my vintage cafeteria tray because it takes me back to lunch at the elementary level, where my favorites were Grilled Cheese with Tomato or Chicken Noodle Soup or maybe Cornbread with ham and beans with lots of syrup! And of course, don’t forget the chocolate milk and sitting next to your best friend.
What is your favorite lunchtime habit?
my grownup school lunch. Tomato rice soup with club crackers, chicken sandwich with fresh tomato and something to read!
Retired Ruth 
We do the same thing – eat leftovers and catch up on TV.
I actually loathe lunch because I never know what to make. I’m not a fan of sandwiches and I don’t often have leftovers now that youngest son is at university and begging for his freezer to be filled with homemade meals. If I have to eat toast, I sulk 🙂
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My Bobby likes his meals…and since from old school… we do lunch…
sometimes it’s a light one and sometimes it ends up bing our “main meal”…
I admit… mainly in front of the TV…
but, a little of that…and I’m usually ready for the rest of the day…
NICE post!
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Sadly, my lunch is often “al desko” while charting, but I, too, enjoy leftovers. Today: chicken with pesto 🙂
Love the photo – the tray, the soup, the magazine.
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What a lovely post full of atmosphere and stirring memories.
I often forget to eat lunch as I make a packed lunch for hubby to take to hospital where he spends countless hours on dialysis. Sometimes I realise at 4pm that I haven’t stopped all day and haven’t eaten. This is going to change now! I am going to get myself a pretty tray and some pretty serviettes and make myself a packed lunch too! I will then put a yellow cushion on my garden seat and sit there enjoying my lunch.
Simple pleasures are the best and it is a good routine to get into.
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I am sure you are very busy and when a loved one is going through procedures it is easy to get distracted. Glad to hear you are going to take time for yourself! Thanks for reading.
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In the summertime, I ‘meet up with’ my husband on the big garden swing at the back of the yard for lunch (he doesn’t eat lunch – a bad habit he formed as a young man, but he sits with me while I have mine); its a nice break in our busy days (doing whatever needs to be done – which for me is usually some sort of gardening or yardwork; for him, something in ‘the garage’). In the winter, I usually have lunch alone (since its a bit troublesome for him to have to come inside and take off all his ‘outerwear’ to sit with me). Originally, I sat at the kitchen counter, but (like you) found I was too tempted to eat quickly and rush off to do the dishes and get on with the next task. I soon started sitting next to the (two-storey) windows in the living room, where I could watch the birds and furry creatures in the forest while I ate. For while, I had to ‘force’ myself to sit there for at least 30 minutes, but I soon discovered that there was a lot to see (even if it was just the snow falling gently onto the trees) and I extended my lunchbreak to as much as an hour. That break is important – no matter what I’m doing (or NOT doing) in my day.
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This sounds lovely. Sometimes just a few minutes can make a big difference! Thanks for reading.
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