Want to Eat Cheap? Start a Lunch Co-op at Work

By Jennifer Woods Fri., Mar. 4 2011 at 1:34 PM

Categories: Fun

Pin It

Isabela Branco

We came across a tweet the other day from Slow Food USA (@SlowFoodUSA) about their lunch co-op (#lunchcoop) and wanted to know more. Was this something like a 5th grade tuna salad and cheese sandwich swap? We consulted the all knowing internet and found that it's a genius idea to have a hot home-cooked lunch every day but you only have to put in the work once a week. Sounds like a perfect lazy foodies lunch plan to us.

Here's what you do:
1. Find 4-5 people to join the group. We would recommend picking people who you would not mind cooking you food.

2. Create a weekly schedule. Assign each person a day and rotate weekly.

3. When it's your day, bring enough food for the people in the group. Slow Cooker and casseroles would be super easy but a big 'ol salad with all the fixins would be fun too.

Here's a few recipe sources to get you started:
A Year of Slow Cooking Blog
Bed and Breakfast Lunch/Dinner Casseroles
65 Cheap, Healthy, One-Dish Meals with Good Leftover Potential

4. Decide ahead of time if you're all going to bring your own plates/knives/forks/spoons or have the person bring enough utensils for everyone. This cubicle picnic set would be so chic.

Arango Design

Like this Story?

Sign up for the Dining Newsletter: The week's top local food news and events, plus interviews with chefs and restaurant owners, dining tips, and a peek at our print review.