Lunch... what do you do?

[TeacherRW]

What is a typical lunch period for you? Length of time? What do you eat? Where do you eat?

[TeacherRW]

My lunch period is about 40 minutes long. I either bring lunch or order from the cafeteria 4 of 5 days. We usually order out once a week. There are days that I will go out and run some errands. Most often, I am in the lounge when I eat. I will on occasion eat in my classroom if I have something that I need to get done.

[AAA Teacher Forum]

My lunch period is also 40 minutes in length. I usually bring my lunch to school. There are occasions when I order a school lunch. There are a few times when some of us get together and order lunch to be delivered.

I typically eat in the teacher's lounge. It's nice just to get away from the classroom. Most days I spend the last 15 minutes making copies, phone calls, or getting ready for afternoon lessons...but some days I just hang out in the lounge my entire lunch period.

Wow Teacher RW...you have time for errands!?! Unfortunately, my school isn't close enough to any places that I could run to.

Jennifer

[Frogger]

I get about 40 minutes everyday and bring my lunch most days. Our cafeteria has a salad bar for the teachers, which is nice, but I can't eat that everyday. They do offer baked chicken, and other specialty entrees every now and then...

I usually take about 20 minutes to eat then spend the next 20 relaxing a bit before the afternoon hits....

[bernie]

I also get 40 minutes a day for lunch. I typically bring my lunch. Since I'm vegan there's not a lot I can eat at the local restaurants, which are just a block away. Usually one day a week, I go with one of my colleagues and we go out for lunch together. I almost always eat in my room, usually not in the teacher's lounge, except on rainy days, then I go to the lounge to get away from my students.

[SLP]

I get 30 minutes for lunch, but it is often less because some parent is always late picking up his/her child. (I teach an AM & a PM class -Preschool.) I usually keep frozen microwave lunches in the freezer & heat them up at lunchtime.

[anyalee]

I get about 40 minutes for lunch. I usually bring my lunch and eat in my classroom while surfing the teacher forum websites. Sometimes my husband will bring something and we will sit in the parking lot and eat.

[landreth2007]

I get 40 minutes for lunch except on the day I have to do recess duty and then I get 25 minutes to eat. I usually eat a Weight Watcher or Lean Cusine meal since they microwave quickly. Sometimes I even have leftovers! Our school is not close enough to any place to get there and back before it's back to work. I eat in the lounge and after finishing my meal I take care of calling parents, copying, grading, or whatever needs to be done. If it has been a stressful morning I chill.

[SLP]

We have no cafeteria,so if the weather's nice, I sit outside and eat. Our local Boy Scouts made us 2 child size picnic tables for our playground as their Eagle Scout project. It's a little tricky to squeeze in, but it's nice to sit outside. Now, if we could only get them to make an adult size table!

[javamomma]

I bring my lunch. Usually a lean cusine or something similar. Our caf. does a salad bar, so I will get a side salad to go along with my lunch. :)

[Ranchogirl]

I get 45 minutes (primary gets an hour!) and so far (day 5 of my new job) I've eaten in the lounge 1 day and the rest in the classroom. There is a workroom attached to my classroom with a microwave in it - don't know who it belongs to but I am using it. The teacher's lounge is a hike from my classroom and I'm having trouble walking (see my other post) so I'm staying close to home for now. I'm hoping that changes soon - one of the reasons I wanted to go back to work was to make new friends - I've lost touch with most of my former coworkers/friends and it bums me out. After 7 years of being a stay-at-home mom I finally started to feel a bit lonely.

There isn't anyplace nearby that is close enough to eat at unlike my old district. That's a bummer. I'm in a pretty rough Hispanic neighborhood and so far I haven't spotted anyplace to eat that I'd want to go to. It has to be close or there isn't enough time.

[kingrichie]

No time, gotta plan, gotta correct papers, report cards, cums, etc...

[Chef Dave]

What is a typical lunch period for you? Length of time? What do you eat? Where do you eat?

As a high school chef instructor, I am responsible for supervising our student restaurant ... so I typically work through the lunch period and grab a quick bite after we close. Our lunch period is 45 minutes long.

Our student restaurant supplements our school cafeteria. We serve a daily changing plated meal as well as at least one fast food item.

On previous days we have served Swedish meatballs, Shrimp Etouffe, grilled chicken pasta Alfredo, and slow roasted - roast beef.

Side dishes have included glazed carrots, steamed broccoli, cauliflower with cheese sauce, scalloped potatoes, and wild rice pilaf.

Fast food items have included pizza bread, fried chicken sandwiches, and meatball hoagies.

Since I eat too late to join other staff members in the lounge, I eat with my two assistant managers in our culinary arts lab.

One of the fringe benefits of being chef instructor is that all of my meals are free. I get complimentary beverages from our soda fountain or juice bar. I also get fresh fruit salad, garden salads, yogurt, and ice cream ... not that I'd ever eat all of these items during the same meal as that would be quite filling. :)

[Ima Teacher]

We get about 25 minutes for lunch. That's from the time we leave the classroom until we return, so we're probably about 20 minutes in the cafeteria. I eat in the cafeteria. The teachers have their own table. I eat school lunch sometimes, but I also sometimes have leftovers, soup, or a frozen meal. Occassionally we order out.

[busbus]

When I was in the classroom, I had 30 minutes for lunch. My buddy (next door teacher) and I took turns bringing lunch. I had a microwave and refrigerator in my room, so we could have hot, cold or a combination thereof for lunch. She brought home-cooked foods. Usually these were leftovers from her meals at home and I would bring sandwiches from the deli or frozen entrees from the market. Sometimes we would each bring in items to make great salads. We kept bottled water and drinks in the refrigerator and I always had coffee available.

Now that I'm no longer in the classroom and am out in the field everyday going from school to school, I do a lot of nibbling even though I have 45 minutes for lunch. Sometimes I take the time for lunch; but, usually its only two days a week when one of my colleagues and I plan our schedules to be able to meet at a nearby restaurant.

[upnorthteacher]

We get 30 minutes. There are no restaurants close enough to go and get back in that amount of time. I eat in the lounge, as do most of our teachers. I typically bring leftovers or something else from home. School lunch here is usually something salty and/or fat-laden, and I don't want to spend $3.10 for that!:D

[chele]

20 minutes by the time you drop off kids at cafeteria, get to the lounge and heat up food. I usually don't eat much during the school year (lose over 20 pounds) because of stress.

[FrazzleDazzle]

Our lunches are 17 minutes long, the same as the students'.

[Karenrbw]

Our lunches are 25 minutes and since we are in a town with no food service we all eat here at school. Teacher lunches went up this year - they are $1.75. We also have the option of a prepared salad. I don't eat in the cafeteria anymore. The new chairs pull my hair out and the new air conditioner/heater blows right on the teacher's table. We call it the hurricane. I can't eat with my hair blowing across my face. I have started bringing my lunch a lot more this year and will bring leftovers or can of soup.

[kingrichie]

I have a 40 min. lunch. Usually I eat my lunch in the classroom while scoring papers, planning, tutoring, etc... The only time I eat in the lounge is on rainy days.

[Aziz]

I alternate between bringing it and buying it. The nearby café has some great empanadas. We also have great Lebanese food catered to our school so I often get a lamb tagine or some tabbouleh.

[musicteacheruk]

I get one hour and 15 minutes for lunch, but 40 minutes of that every day is taken up by a music rehearsal or theory lesson.

[Camelle2173]

We get 30 minutes. I eat in our teaching plan center that is shared with 12 other teachers. Typically, I have leftovers, or a big salad. For me taking that 30 minutes in the middle of the day, to laugh with my friends, and recharge is important. I try hard to not have to do much more than maybe pick up some copies or a quick phone call over lunch.

[ginger11]

I get abou 30 minutes for lunch. We have to eat with our class and I always bring lunch from home.

[Bananas]

We get 43 minutes. I usually bring food or leftovers. Thursday's sardines gave me food poisoning, so I am on the mend. :(

I occasionally eat in the lounge, but mostly chill in my room or work as I eat. One colleague has viewed me as competition, which is not what makes a team work for the kids. Rather than have her control conversation and stress everyone out, I leave her the company and take care of myself. I have my hubby to go home to, she does not.

[lizzyb]

We have 40 minutes for lunch, I eat in the staffroom and it's usually something from home - unless I've run out of time in the morning then it's something yummy from the canteen ( they do the best baked potato's - but too many of those can't be good! lol :) ) I enjoy sharing my lunchtime with my friends and having a good chat and laugh before the afternoon begins.

[AW2245]

Wow! I can't believe so many of you get 40 minutes or more for lunch. That is great! Our lunch period is about 23 minutes long, but that includes taking the kids, going through the line, picking them up, etc. I usually only have about 10 -15 minutes to eat by the time I get in the lounge, use the bathroom, and heat up my food. I usually bring something from home. I will eat from the school cafeteria a couple of times per month.

[Bananas]

It is our state law, and in our contracts, that we be given 30 minutes of duty free lunch time. We have aides who do the lunch duties for recess.

I will occasionally take the full 43 minutes if it has been a tough morning, or if I have a bad migraine and I try to nap on the futon in my room. I typically try to work part of that period, though. I am wanting to use the treadmill in the fitness room part of the period, though. I can do that by eating in my room while working during my planning period.