The truth is that most corporate offices have already changed their habits.
HOW THE NOVEL CORONAVIRUS HAS CHANGED OUR LUNCH TIME?
Catered lunch and shared food are now less common for staff and team members. The stance is avoiding unsafe behaviors and encouraging social distancing. We've already said goodbye to packed cafeterias, communal kitchens, buffet or other types of shared meals. Offices and work places are going to look completely different to keep food safety. Many companies are opting for individually boxed lunches, prepackaged snacks, disposable drinks. The one who will disappear might as well be the beloved communal coffee pot, replaced by outside coffee shops or individual travel mugs.
HOME COOKED LUNCHES AND SNACKS
During the pandemic people have learned to prepare their meals at home by unplanned necessity. According to Time, scientists believe that “It’s possible that a shift toward home cooking, if it persists, could eventually lead to reductions in chronic diet-related illnesses, like cardiovascular disease, diabetes, hypertension and obesity. Eating a healthy diet is linked to a longer life, and one of the biggest predictors of eating a healthy diet is eating at home”. The magazine also underlines the other side of this historical moment: “Unhealthy foods are also still in wide circulation. Flour, sugar, canned soups and alcohol—not exactly staples of a wholesome diet—have all surged in U.S. sales during the pandemic”. The secret? Learn to eat and cook better, preferring healthy food.
THE PERFECT HOMEMADE LUNCH FOR WORK
If you are looking for the perfect work lunch to prepare at home with healthy and natural ingredients, you could try to include brown rice into your diet. Dieticians always encourage us to avoid too many refined carbs and preferably choose healthy whole grains because they can help prevent heart disease, diabetes, and – according to scientists - even Alzheimer. So why not trying some brown rice? This ingredient can really improve the quality of your work lunches and in general your well-being. Our Carnaroli brown rice, produced by Tenuta Margherita, is rich in vitamins, fibers and minerals and is the perfect choice for side dishes, salads and soups. Cook your rice the night before. We suggest to use 1 1/2 cups of water to one cup of brown rice and let it cook for 30 minutes. After this, let your rice rest for 10 minutes and fluff it with a fork right. When your rice is ready you can add grilled or fresh vegetables. A good option could also be grilled chicken. Remember to add extra virgin olive oil (here is our selection). Do not avoid this liquid gold! Olive oil is one of the most important elements of the Mediterranean diet. And it is a healthful fat, super good for you because it contains antioxidants and monounsaturated fatty acids.
