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'Lunch-sharing' a fad among Chengdu commuters

2011-12-28 14:56    Ecns.cn     Web Editor: Wang Fan

(Ecns.cn) – "Lunch phobia" is a common phenomenon among health-conscious Chinese office workers, causing urban commuters in Chengdu to come up with a "lunch-sharing" concept that allows them to enjoy a variety of cuisines and a diversity of flavors, reported the Chengdu Evening Post on Tuesday.

For office workers who are weary of company cafeterias and fast food from nearby restaurants, lunch sharing allows a group of colleagues to take turns making meals for one another.

On December 26, 30 staff members at a company went to a neighborhood community dining hall for lunch, where each of them serves as a master chef once a month. At a cost of about 150 yuan ($24), the meals always satisfy the healthiest appetite.

Mr. Qin, one of the participants, says he enjoys the trend very much, and that it is easy to set up a lunch-sharing group. By getting colleagues together and planning schedules, containers, dietary guidelines and recipes, there is basically nothing to worry about, he says.

According to the latest online survey cited by the Chengdu Evening Post, about 44% of Chinese workers choose to dine in company cafeterias, while 20% order meals on wheels, 16% go to nearby restaurants, and 14% prepare their lunches in advance.