People Who Eat the Same Meal Every Day • Hacker News Board

Re: People Who Eat the Same Meal Every Day

#181

Post by astura » Fri, Mar 08, 2019, 9:32 PM UTC

0xbadcafebee wrote: post #92

munificent wrote: post #78

When my daughter was born during the recession, my wife and I went through a stretch where money was pretty tight. One obvious expense to cut was eating out for lunch every weekday. So I switched to bringing in lunch. For several months, I brought the same thing: granola, yogurt, and chopped melon. I love food and love variety, so I was really surprised to discover that I simply didn't get tired of it or resentful. E…

As an aside, I save ~$1300 a year by bringing in lunch, and ~$550 per year in breakfast, in addition to controlling portions and nutrition. If I had been doing that for the past 10 years I could buy a new car by now, or put a pretty decent chunk into retirement. I now find it absolutely bizarre how many people at work go out for lunch.

Absolutely no shame at all in ordering takeout for lunch every single day as long as you can afford it and it brings you joy. The goal of personal finance isn't to die with the highest score, its to organize your money to make you the most secure and the most happy, both now and in the future.

Re: People Who Eat the Same Meal Every Day

#182

Post by neilv » Fri, Mar 08, 2019, 9:34 PM UTC

ska wrote: post #121

0xbadcafebee wrote: post #92

Earlier quoted context omitted.

As an aside, I save ~$1300 a year by bringing in lunch, and ~$550 per year in breakfast, in addition to controlling portions and nutrition. If I had been doing that for the past 10 years I could buy a new car by now, or put a pretty decent chunk into retirement. I now find it absolutely bizarre how many people at work go out for lunch.

I wondered the same thing (how do so many people buy lunch daily) but concluded - at the time and the context I was observing it - that there were two main factors. Number 1 was social. People went out for lunch in groups, and it was an "enforced" break in the day. It's a cultural issue that can be hard to replicate for "lunch bringers" in some places. Not so fun to eat alone in a drab lunch room if your friends and…

Both of these match my experience. When I was living off the wages of a young intern, I was working or learning almost every waking hour, and sleeping on a sheet on the floor because I didn't own furniture. But, whenever he group would go out to lunch, I'd go, for the socialization -- it was very consciously the only thing other than rent&utilities that I spent money on. (Fortunately, we had some amazing strip mall restaurants nearby that weren't too expensive.) When the group didn't go to lunch, I'd usually get by with whatever food I could scavenge, because I was so busy, and felt like I had to always be in the office. I hadn't yet even tried to figure out how to make and bring a lunch.

Re: People Who Eat the Same Meal Every Day

#183

Post by opportune » Fri, Mar 08, 2019, 9:35 PM UTC

peterwwillis wrote: post #166

lambda_lover wrote: post #114

Earlier quoted context omitted.

As an aside, I could save $XXXX a year by having a roommate/living in a worse house/having a crappier car/never going out for drinks/etc. The list goes on. There is an incredible number of things your average first world worker could give up to save money per year. The reason people spend money on these things is that they spend 40+ hours a week working so they CAN afford to spend those unnecessary dollars a year on…

I often hear my co-workers complain about their bland green smoothies or salads without enough walnuts. Meanwhile, for lunch I prepare moroccan lamb stew, chicken cordon bleu with pasta, szechuan tofu and green bean stir fry, ham and gruyere with tomato soup, pear and blue cheese salad with rotisserie chicken, loaded sweet potato with curried fried cauliflour, and quiche lorraine, among others. I'm not saying nobody…

This is what I do. I can cheap food every day for lunch for about $6 and longingly look at, but not purchase, nice food (like salmon) for $10-12. Or I can cook and bring my own nice food for $2-6. It's kind of a no-brainer.

Re: People Who Eat the Same Meal Every Day

#184

Post by rootusrootus » Fri, Mar 08, 2019, 9:35 PM UTC

JohnFen wrote: post #112

randomacct3847 wrote: post #14

Honestly I think this is partially why Blue Apron failed...they overestimated how many people desire variety in dinner choices. Someone build a blue apron except for ingredients for weekly meal prep.

> they overestimated how many people desire variety in dinner choices. And here I thought it was because they are pretty seriously overpriced, not to mention environmentally questionable.

For me it was mostly price, but also work. If I'm going to pay that much for food, I don't want to have to work too hard to build the meal.

Re: People Who Eat the Same Meal Every Day

#185

Post by angarg12 » Fri, Mar 08, 2019, 9:36 PM UTC

One of my companies had subsidized lunch (you could also buy dinner for cheap) with 5-6 options available. As most bulk food, options were generally greasy and unhealthy, with one unchanging exception: roast chicken. For over a year I ate roast chicken and salad both for lunch and dinner every workday.

I do love food and cooking, but the sheer convenience, speed and cost saving was impossible to ignore. I've never been leaner and healthier in my life, and I would still indulge myself cooking my favorite meals on the weekends.

10/10 would repeat.

Re: People Who Eat the Same Meal Every Day

#186

Post by debatem1 » Fri, Mar 08, 2019, 9:37 PM UTC

I do this. Every day for lunch I have two soft-boiled eggs in soy sauce and some higher-grade instant ramen. It's a great way to get a mix of salts, fats, carbs, and proteins in you at low cost (I spend about $2/day on lunch all in) and high speed (I can make and eat my lunch in 20min). It's enjoyable and lets me walk my dog or play a game for a few minutes instead of waiting impatiently at a restaurant.

Two other factors may contribute: I do tend to enjoy rewatching TV shows and movies (so it may be a broader personality trait) and I dislike having people serve me in restaurants, which I view as being beneath their dignity (so restaurants aren't as fun for me as they are for most).

Re: People Who Eat the Same Meal Every Day

#187

Post by SketchySeaBeast » Fri, Mar 08, 2019, 9:39 PM UTC

razorbladeknife wrote: post #106

I survive on One Meal a Day Diet Which consists of a) Oatmeal b)Green Tea c) Coffee I've been going strong On weekends I drink protein shake. I've gained much muscle and focus back through this diet.

Yar, that be a recipe for scurvy.

Re: People Who Eat the Same Meal Every Day

#188

Post by [deleted] » Fri, Mar 08, 2019, 9:41 PM UTC

opportune wrote: post #169

chrisseaton wrote: post #128

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> your numbers are somewhat off I used the McDonald's calorie calculator on their website. I picked the hamburger 250 calories (it's their main item and I guess most people get it), medium fries 337 calories (so not even picking the smallest items), and Diet Coke 1 calorie (maybe that one is bending over backwards to be low calorie) = just 588 calories. A very light lunch!

It's not a main item, it's the dollar menu smallest item. Have you ever been to a mcdonalds?

[deleted]

Re: People Who Eat the Same Meal Every Day

#189

Post by [deleted] » Fri, Mar 08, 2019, 9:46 PM UTC

ArrayList wrote: post #134

YUMad wrote: post #48

'Zerocarb' here. I don't insist on eating the exact same thing, but what I eat is quite limited - meat, animal fat, salt and water. I started this because of health issues, but I grew to like the simplicity of it as well. I can eat one large meal and not feel hungry or exhausted the whole day, and I can easily find adequate food without being fussy in most environments. For example, McDonalds burger patties are 100%…

That is insanely bad diet. Hilarious. How are your numbers? Btw, meat causes cancer[0]. 0. https://www.who.int/features/qa/cancer-red-meat/en/

[deleted]

Re: People Who Eat the Same Meal Every Day

#190

Post by liveoneggs » Fri, Mar 08, 2019, 9:47 PM UTC

riku_iki wrote: post #144

Okvivi wrote: post #40

I've eaten the same breakfast, and the same Sweetgreen salad for lunch (in 6-12 months streaks) for the past 5 years. The reason it works so well for me is the reduction in needing to make decisions every day, and feeling bad about having made the wrong choices. I like this because this is in a part of my day where I need to focus on work, and being productive, and don't need to be distracted by food decisions. I als…

What is your breakfast, if you don't mind to share?

not OP but I've eaten two eggs on toast every morning for a lot of my life