Simple Pleasure Mondays: The "value" of grab 'n go

Hello O'Donnovators,

Happy Mid-midterm Fortnight! Don't know about y'all but this week promises to be an absolute killer in terms of workload; best of luck to everyone on their myriad midterms, essays, and what have you.

As you contemplate the option of grab 'n go as a viable and time-saving alternative in the midst of all those assignments you've been procrastinating on, let's take a closer look at how much you're paying for what you get. Here is what one grab 'n go lunch consists of:

-1 entree (salad, sandwich)
-1 beverage (water, soda, milk, juice)
-2 sides (fruit, chips, yogurt)
-1 dessert (cookies) or an additional side

All for the price of $11.55; breaking it down into ballpark proportional prices for each of these items, here's how much you're paying:

-Entree: $6
-Beverage: $1
-Sides: $1.50 each ($3 total)
-Dessert: $1.50

Now flash in your mind the type of food you're getting for each of those prices. Good grief--$1.50 for those measly two cookies? $1.50 for an apple? A whopping $6 for a pre-packaged sandwich?! Reallocate those prices however you want, but you'll never come out on top...

We understand grab 'n go is fast and convenient, but when you break it down and see how much each individual item is costing you, it's really a shame. Since this is supposed to be a simple pleasure post, I leave you with the recommended pleasure of getting a decent meal value from actually inside Leo's rather than taking grab 'n go as an alternative. A great way of thinking about this when you pick your meal plan: choose the number of meals that you will definitely eat inside Leo's, because for every grab 'n go you use you're paying about $5 more than what you'd pay for similar items at Safeway, Wisey's, or other eateries.

If you're concerned about time, here are some suggestions for the fastest ways to get in and out of Leo's with a good meal:
1) Pasta/Vegetarian: I love pasta, and there's not much you can do to mess it up. You will have your food within 30 seconds of walking into Leo's.
2) Pizza/Bistro Pasta & Garlic Bread: see last week's post for details
3) Make your own sandwich: Rarely a line, and you can get in and out quickly. I love their chicken salad.