5 Ways to Refresh your Daily Lunch Sandwich

Sometimes we go through seasons of life where a sandwich for every lunch just works. You’re busy, it’s easy, and it holds up well in your bag all morning until your lunch break. But I know when I go through those seasons, I start to get depressed. It sounds odd, but I genuinely get sick if I have to eat the same thing too many days in a row. My stomach doesn’t understand that I simply don’t have the time, energy, or strength to switch to a new lunch all the time. If you’re in that season now, and need to refresh your lunch without uprooting your whole routine, here are some things I used to do to make my lunches more enjoyable.

Photo by Chris Cooper on Unsplash

1. Cook the bread
   My usual go-to is sticking my bread in the toaster before assembling. I love the crunch it adds to an otherwise soft sandwich.
   If you’re feeling up to the task, you can fry it in a pan with butter like a classic grilled cheese. Makes any kind of sandwich seem more intentional.
   Sometimes you might wanna feel “gourmet” though! Have you ever tried dipping sandwich bread in a milk and egg batter and frying it to use on a sandwich? It’s like french toast without the sweet spices. 10/10 would recommend for a relaxed day in.
2. Add a spread
   An easy-to-pack, on-the-go dress up is a single pack of hummus, guacamole, or something similar! I know all those pretty recipe videos use lovingly sliced avocados ripened to perfection. Those are recipe videos. This is my too-short lunch break. Single serve spreads give you all that same flavor with so much less energy spent.
3. Put your chips in your sandwich
   I’ve gotten mixed results over the years from people about this being a cherished childhood tradition or a horrible affront to lunch. (Whispers- Ya know, kind of like dipping your fries in a Wendy’s frosty) But seriously, do you need some crunchy texture in your sandwich and don’t have access to a toaster or frying pan? Chips! And this really gives you lots of room for playing around with flavor and shape combinations. Besides, it’s just fun squishing it all together and feeling the crunch between your fingers.
4. Swap one ingredient for the week
   Part of what can make a daily sandwich sad and boring is that we use the same stuff to make it every time. Some people love their same foods, and some people need variety to not feel sick. If you’re the variety type, a lovely trick is to switch at least one kind of ingredient every time you need to replenish supplies.
   Do you usually use a standard, sliced loaf of bread? Hit up the bakery and try a fancy loaf! Always use the same cheese? You can probably find a different type of cheese for a similar price. Or! Even try using 2 kinds at once! Same goes for your sliced meats. Swap out what kind you’re using periodically and it starts to feel less and less like you’re eating the same thing every day.
5. Switch to *Charcuterie*
   I mean, you’ve totally reached the fanciest of fancy when you pull out that word. But it’s all the same basic elements. Crackers, meat, cheese, and literally whatever else you want. Buy small sized versions of things and then assemble while you eat it. You suddenly have a meal that even Fancy Nancy herself would shout “Ooh la la!” for.