National Salad Month

It’s time for the freshness of National Salad Month. Greens pop this time of year, and it’s easy to grow garden lettuce even in a small space. They fill the grocery with a variety of color, too.

Beyond the leafy part of the salad, the crisp vegetables, proteins, flavorful cheeses, herbs, berries, grains, and nuts make salads exciting and healthy.  If we don’t over indulge in the cheese and fatty meats, it’s usually the dressing that causes our salad downfall.

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HOW TO OBSERVE

Salads are an excellent way help get your 5 servings of fruit and vegetables a day.  We’ve provided tips to get the maximum salad-eating in this month!

  • Mix up the lettuce variety. Iceberg is what we’re most familiar with in the United States. Try spinach for a change of pace. Romaine makes excellent lettuce wraps. Butterhead comes in loose, crisp, rosettes.
  • Prepare salads for the work week. Fill the bottom of a Mason jar the salad dressing.  Add the more solid fruits or veggies to next layer followed by any proteins and cheeses. Next, add the leafy greens. The items crunchy croutons, nuts or soft fruits and veggies should be added the day you eat the salad.
  • Serve salad with every meal, even breakfast. Fruit salad is a bright way to start the morning.
  • Substitute salad for one meal a day.
  • Try a different type a salad every week.

Use #NationalSaladMonth to share on social media.

NATIONAL  PACK YOUR LUNCH DAY

National Pack Your Lunch Day on March 10 encourages everyone across the country to take their lunch to work, school or where ever they’re spending the day. It’s an opportunity to revitalize lunchtime with fresh and healthful meal choices.

Packing your lunch has benefits you may not expect. One of the immediate benefits is savings. Many home-prepared lunches cost less than ordering off the take-out menu or eating out. Another benefit of making your own lunch is controlling portion sizes and ingredients. By adding fruits, vegetables, and whole grains to your lunches, they will be healthier, too. 

  • Mickey Mouse was the first licensed character to appear on a lunchbox in 1935.
  • The 1950 Hopalong Cassidy lunchbox was the first lunchbox based on a television show.

While some foods pack well for lunch, others don’t fare so well. If you’re new to packing lunches, check out this starter list:

  • Hardboiled egg – provides a serving of protein
    • peeled and placed in a separate container
  • Fresh vegetables – choose a dipping sauce like ranch or balsamic vinegar
    • carrots sticks, celery sticks, sliced cucumbers, cherry tomatoes
  • Whole fruit – apple, orange, banana, grapes, berries
  • Yogurt – provides a serving of dairy
  • Salad – prepared with deli meats of your choosing
    • place dressing in a separate container
  • Cheese
  • Crackers
  • Nuts

You will want to include a gel pack to keep your food chilled until lunchtime, even if you’re reheating leftovers. 

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HOW TO OBSERVE #PackYourLunchDay

Make a plan and a shopping list begin taking more lunches. You might be surprised how much you enjoy it. Bring a packed lunch to work, school or a friend’s house and use #PackYourLunchDay to post on social media.

NATIONAL TAKE BACK THE LUNCH BREAK DAY

On the third Friday in June, North American workers are encouraged to take back their lunch breaks.

Lunch!: Flavorful, Colorful, Powerful Lunch Bowls to Reclaim Your Midday Meal Hardcover – September 25, 2018

by Olivia Mack McCool (Author)
Lunch!: Flavorful, Colorful, Powerful Lunch Bowls to Reclaim Your Midday Meal

by Olivia Mack McCool (Author)

Why? Because there’s been an increasing trend to take less frequent and shorter lunch breaks, affecting employee morale and well-being.  According to Gallup, only one in three employees are engaged at work. Because engagement affects productivity, happiness and job satisfaction, it is time employees and employers across North America stepped up to the plate – the lunch plate that is!

Prep Naturals Glass Meal Prep Containers 3 Compartment - Bento Box Containers Glass Food Storage Containers with Lids - Food Containers Food Prep Containers Glass Storage Containers with Lids 3 Pack

by Prep Naturals
Prep Naturals Glass Meal Prep Containers 3 Compartment – Bento Box Containers Glass Food Storage Containers with Lids – Food Containers Food Prep Containers Glass Storage Containers with Lids 3 Pack

by Prep Naturals

According to a 2017 study commissioned by Tork, an Essity brand, employees who take lunch breaks are more likely to report being efficient at work and satisfied with their jobs. The survey reveals that nearly 90 percent of employees consider the ability to take a lunch break critical when accepting a new job. However, once they are on the job, the average lunch break is less than 30 minutes for more than half of North American workers – barely enough time to purchase a meal, let alone enjoy it.

Sable Black Large Lunch Box, Insulated Adult Lunch Bag, Reusable Waterproof Cooler Tote Bag for Meal Prep with Dual Compartments, Shoulder Strap Included, 10.8 8.3 11.2inch, 16L

by Sable
Sable Black Large Lunch Box, Insulated Adult Lunch Bag, Reusable Waterproof Cooler Tote Bag for Meal Prep with Dual Compartments, Shoulder Strap Included, 10.8 8.3 11.2inch, 16L

by Sable

That is why Tork created National Take Back the Lunch Break Day -to help improve workplace morale, satisfaction, and productivity across North America.

Gone for Lunch: 52 Things to Do in Your Lunch Break Hardcover – August 15, 2017

by Laura Archer  (Author)
Gone for Lunch: 52 Things to Do in Your Lunch Break

by Laura Archer  (Author)

HISTORY

National Take Back the Lunch Break Day was created by Tork in 2018 to counter the decline of the employee lunch break in today’s 24/7 work culture.  According to research conducted by Tork, employees who take a lunch break score higher on a wide range of engagement metrics, including job satisfaction and productivity.  The Tork Take Back the Lunch Break idea is simple: with more workers taking their lunch break, we can improve workplaces and worker happiness!

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HOW TO OBSERVE

Break the cycle of skipping lunch or eating in front of a computer. Get away from your desk and enjoy some fresh air, a real lunch, and some social interaction.

Use #takebacklunch to share your lunch break experience on social media.

Best Sellers in Grocery & Gourmet Food
Best Sellers in Grocery & Gourmet Food