WHAT are your plans for the weekend? Meeting friends for lunch, picnic in the park, or a barbecue for tea? It feels good that things are starting to open up again – and our social circle widens to embrace friends and family that we haven’t seen for a long time.
For so many of us, our neighbours and local community have been more important than ever before over the last 15 months or so.
The Big Lunch is an annual celebration of community spirit, to bring neighbours together in an act of community and friendship.
An idea that was started by The Eden Project back in 2009, this year’s Big Lunch runs throughout the month of June and is a chance to make positive connections with your neighbours and say thanks to each other.
With some restrictions still in place, this could mean a cup of tea on your doorstep, an online lunch date with some friends who have been your community support over the last year, or asking neighbours to pack a sandwich and join you for lunch in your garden.
It doesn’t have to be anything fancy or complicated – in fact the more simple ideas are usually the best.
I love the idea of The Big Lunch and have been working with them over the last few years to put a healthy twist on the big lunch recipes and tips. This year, everyone who signs up for their free Big Lunch pack will be entered into a draw to win an online nutrition workshop and cookery class with me for their family, neighbourhood or community. You can download your free pack from www.thebiglunch.com
If you are planing your own Big Lunch, just remember to play it safe. It is a good idea to ask people to bring their own food rather than sharing, but you could give it a healthy twist.
Here are some ideas:
Salad boxes packed with colourful and vibrant, fresh vegetables – grated, shredded, chopped and diced. Carrot, beetroot, scallions, tomatoes, peppers, broccoli - any veg you like. Add a tasty dressing, some protein that you like (eggs, a selection of cold meats, fish, feta, bean salad, houmous) and pop into a pitta pocket or have some oatcakes on the side.
Keep things simple and ask your neighbours to join you for a doorstep cuppa and a healthy snack. A healthy brunch of berries, yoghurt and granola could be a great way to start your day, or a mid-afternoon meet and greet with a cuppa and your favourite banana bread recipe (remember the banana bread phase – one of the hottest crazes over lockdown).
Meet a couple of friends or neighbours for a walk and take some lunch with you.
If you do prepare food to share, make it in individually wrapped portions, to reduce sharing plates, or ask people to bring their own foods, drinks, plates, cups and cutlery.
Everyone likes a tidy table, and there are extra reasons to keep surfaces and tables clean now, so bring antibacterial wipes or spray to have a wipe regularly. Encourage people to bring antibacterial hand wipes or hand sanitiser with them and have a bin nearby so people can dispose of things safely.
Community spirit and good food, what’s not to love? There is a lot for us to be thankful for and this year it’s been more important than ever to look out for our neighbours and community.
For more information, head to www.thebiglunch.com
