"LunchTime" news and stories

A couple of days ago, I linked to a post over at Culinate that offered tips on packing school lunches. Here's another helpful resource if you find yourself stumped by what to pack for lunch. The Ultimate Lunchbox Book collects the best entries to the Pack a Lively Lunchbox Contest. Compiled by Honey and Larry Zisman, the recipes in this book aren't just for kids, they also include sandwiches, soups and salads that adults will enjoy as well, because we all know that a good way to keep on top of your health and save a few pennies in the process is to bring your lunch with you to work.

In addition to recipes, this book contains tips on how to pack your lunch so that it is as fresh and appealing when you open it at lunch time as when you packed it (either that morning or the night before). The authors also remind the readers in their introduction that lunch time is so much more than a time to eat. It's a time to have a break from work or school, a chance to move around a bit (or play in the school yard) and an opportunity to socialize.

Now if you'll excuse me, I think I need to make the Cheddar Apple Sandwich on page 39. Yum!

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School starts today for most kids around the country (it's already started already for many kids), and The National School Lunch Program turns 60, part of the National School Lunch Act signed by President Truman in 1946. Some people love school lunch, some people don't, but I think everyone has their favorite foods. Here are mine.

1. Pizza. I'll eat just about any kind of pizza (except Domino's regular pizza...ugh...love the deep dish though), and this square, greasy slab of tomato and cheese was actually really good. And just think kids, you're in school, but you're still eating pizza!

Papa John's is planning to roll out pizza to consumers in 10 minutes or less! The third largest pizza delivery chain in the United States is releasing what will be the fastest made-to-order pizza ever. Guaranteed.

Basically, Papa John's is promising that its Papa's 10 Minute Carry-out Customer Guarantee will have your pizza made-to-order and completely ready for handoff in not more than 10 minutes or it will be free. The offer will apply only to carry-out orders during lunchtime, but a company spokesperson said that they are in the process of upgrading their ovens in one third of their stores, cutting total pizza baking time from 6 to 4 minutes. The company is currently missing the 10-minute mark less than 1% of the time at its test stores. The move is designed to allow thechain to compete with fast food establishments like Jack in the Box and Wendy's, where customers can spend an average of 10 minutes in line at the drive-through. 

A Pizza Hut spokeswoman said "In our experience, freshly baked, high-quality pizza takes more than four minutes. And we think it's worth waiting for." If the Papa John's promotion fails, it could be costly for the company. If customers don't perceive a change in the quality of their pizzas, though, this could en enough to make other pizza companies reevaluate their timing, too.

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