It’s back to school – so what should you be putting in your lunchbox? Is it time to be a bit more adventurous?
Sandwiches with traditional fillings have been a staple of Britain’s on-the-go lunches for decades, but a growing number of us are shunning familiar combinations and instead looking overseas for inspiration. Combinations such as brie and grapes, and falafel and hummus, are putting the pressure on time-honoured favourites such as ham and cheese.
On top of this, sandwiches overall are losing popularity. According to research by Kantor we made 182m fewer of them last year, with soups and salads increasingly appearing in lunchboxes. Of the sandwiches we did eat, we consumed far less cheese and chicken, which saw plunges of 8% and 17% respectively.
Another sandwich alternative is the Italian piada, recently introduced to Sainsbury’s and Waitrose. These simple flatbreads are served warm after being heated in a dry pan. Or you could look to India for inspiration. Naansters from Jake & Nayns are curry-filled naan breads in four flavours, with a vegetarian option.
If this all sounds a far cry from 70s corned beef sarnies, don’t despair. Emma Weinbren, food trends editor at the Grocer, says: “People are gradually getting more adventurous, but traditional options are still by far the most popular.”
Clare Clough, food and coffee director at Pret A Manger, says: “The classics are still big sellers for us, such as egg mayo, cheese and pickle and smoked salmon. Our vegan sandwiches are increasingly popular, including curried chickpeas and mango chutney, and avo, olives and toms baguette.”
And fancy new sandwich trends have struggled to make an impact at school. According to a YouGov survey of more than 500 parents, the most popular items for a school lunch box are yoghurt, crisps, apples and old-fashioned ham sandwiches. The survey also revealed that three-quarters of parents are anxious that they are not giving their children sufficiently healthy lunches.
Still, the most important point to remember is that whatever sandwich trends emerge, now that September is upon us, it can only be a couple of weeks before shop shelves groan under the weight of turkey and stuffing sandwiches: your lunch choice will be obvious.
