What your lunch says about you: From shop bought sandwiches to leftovers reheated, and a salad
IT TURNS out that what you eat for lunch says a lot about you and your personality.
Whether you often heat up your leftovers or are partial to making a homemade sandwich for lunch, according to Dr Suzanna Forwood, a Food Psychologist at Anglia Ruskin University, what you eat at lunchtime can flag if you are confident and independent or more maternal.
According to new research, UK office workers have been tightening their belts when it comes to lunchtime treats since the start of the cost-of-living crisis.
The study, conducted by online printing specialists, instantprint, found that almost one in three workers set the goal to make more homemade lunches in 2023, placing it in the top five new year’s resolutions, which also included eating better (48 per cent), getting fitter (46 per cent) and saving money (44 per cent).
To uncover what the type of lunch you choose says about your personality, we heard from Food Psychologist Dr Suzanna Forwood.
Shop bought sandwich
According to Dr Suzanna, if you are someone that buys their lunch, namely a sandwich from a shop, you are someone that is willing to pay for convenience.
She explained: “Those buying sandwiches are out for convenience, and work somewhere with access to shops – either on the way to work or at work.
“The sandwich is the most popular lunch option in the UK from retail outlets and the meal deal is a value option for many of us who have access to shops for lunch.
“These are people who might struggle for time in the mornings or be willing to pay a bit extra for the convenience of not making their lunch for themselves.”
Homemade sandwich
Dr Suzanna highlighted that on the other hand, if you are someone that prepares a sandwich to take to work, you instantly scream mum vibes.
She said: “The other group that takes sandwiches to work are those who are also preparing this for their children’s lunches – it is easier for everyone in the family to have the same option and takes less time to prepare.
“These people live with children and take a practical approach to getting everyone fed.
“They are probably quite organised in the mornings. And they may have an eye on healthiness – there are lots of options to meet a range of food preferences and diets.”
Soup
If you are someone that opts for soup for lunch, Dr Suzanna claimed that you are strong-willed and are not discouraged by what others think.
Dr Suzanna continued: “This option of lunch serves a variety of purposes for different people.
“Soup is easy to prepare and eat (just drunk from a mug if needs be) so has lots of convenience.
“It is warming and filling, so can be good for those working outdoors or prone to cold, or those wanting a reassuring warm moment in their day.
“Some varieties of soup are very traditional and may appeal to those who want a simpler and predictable option.
“While other soups are more exotic and unusual, and may appeal to those enjoying a wider range of flavours in their diet.
“For these reasons, I suspect people who choose soup are people who know their own mind, and are not trying to make a point with their lunch.
“They will have their reason for choosing it, and won’t be swayed by colleagues.”
Dinner leftovers
While many people will re-heat their leftovers from the night before, according to Dr Suzanna, this screams someone that is opportunistic.
She explained: “This choice of packed lunch suggests someone who is cooking dinner, probably from scratch, and in more quantities than one meal.
“They have time in the evenings and resources to do this, or motivation and interest in cooking.
“They may also be aware of food waste or want to enjoy lunch without the work of preparing something separate.
“Some will plan this when cooking evening meals and choose to cook more, while others will be more opportunistic.
“Those in a household of one might do this, as it is relatively hard to cook one-person quantities and this strategy can help with the extra food.
“Everyone using home cooked meals leftovers for packed lunch will likely be getting a better balance of nutrients than the sandwich option – we tend to include more veg and nutritious foods when cooking meals from scratch.”
Salad
However, if you are someone that has a salad for lunch, to this food expert, this instantly flags that you are watching your weight.
Dr Suzanna added: “This choice of lunch is very likely to be chosen by those watching their weight, and interested in something fresh.
“It is probably more popular in the summer, when more options are available in the shops at a more accessible price.
“Some salad options can be surprisingly unhealthy – it all depends on what is included, and what sauce or dressing is used.
“So, while these people might THINK they are eating more healthily, it is not a given.
“For that reason, this might be the option for colleagues who want to look like they are healthy.”
Pasta
Finally, the food expert explained that if you regularly eat pasta for lunch, you are typically someone that lacks time but takes pride in thinking about their food.
Dr Suzanna concluded: “As with sandwiches – this category is likely a mixture of those making it at home, or buying it readymade. So, the same two categories of people are also here.
“But pasta is more of a “proper” meal. It can be hot, and hearty, and include both veg and protein without necessarily including butter, mayo or rich sauces.
“I suspect pasta eaters have thought about their lunch – they may have explored a range of the other types of lunch and not found them to their taste.
“Maybe they want something more sustaining than soup or salad, but healthier than a shop-bought sandwich.
“Maybe they lack the time to make meals, so don’t have leftovers, but would like to have a meal for lunch and not a sandwich.”