**Full Disclosure: This is a compensated post. The friends, lunch routines and opinions are all my own.
I have this fantastically amazing group of friends. I love spending time with them because they make me a better person. They inspire me to be a better me, push me to keep pushing myself and teach me to be more selfless. In my mind, my friends are just an extension of my family. These ladies are more than friends – they are sisters to me. What’s better? Not only are we are all friends with one and other and our families husbands and kids are friends, too!
Every Sunday, we get together for lunch. It’s my absolute favorite time! I look forward to that lunch all week long. There is a list of restaurants that we rotate through. It doesn’t matter how family-friendly a place is, there are a few downfalls to dining out with kids: 1) There are so many other people in the building and carrying on conversations can be difficult, 2) The younger kids don’t like to wait for their food (or wait for the adults to finish talking!), 3) We often have to take advantage of multiple tables which divides us up.
Occasionally, we will head to the park to enjoy our Sunday lunch. We don’t want to prep a meal – we want to enjoy as much time as we can together! That’s where catering comes into play. Having lunch catered is beyond easy and it’s a little cheaper than dining out.
Last week, we did exactly that – I ordered from Panera Bread‘s catering menu. Three of the eight families in our group met at my house and had a great time chatting and spending time together. It was terrific! No one stressed over the food and there was plenty to go around! We weren’t on a tight timeline because the kids could play in the backyard and they weren’t anxious to get out of a restaurant.
Do you enjoy lunch with friends often?
I used to LOVE having lunch or coffee dates with friends. Then we moved and now I know no one so the coffee/lunch dates are no more, well more like a party of one. lol
In my last home, I had lunch with friends a couple times a week. I thoroughly enjoyed it! I actually don’t know anyone in this town so I can’t do that anymore. 🙁 For the record, I went to Panera twice this week!
Oh I do love Panera bread. I have never tried their catering… but it sounds like a great way to eat yummy (healthy) food while chatting with friends without worrying about meal prep. 🙂
I don’t get a chance to enjoy lunch with friends often… unless it is picnic style at a park while we chase our kiddos. 😉
I go to lunch weekly with girlfriends too. Its SO SO SO important to have those friendships. We normally go TO Panera – never thought to have them cater something LOL
Love the idea of having lunch catered for friends! I usually only do that for work meetings.
Very nice! Yes, I love meeting with friends to eat. We used to meet friends and family at a music in the park event weekly. It was much easier to go get catered food for our evening fun.
I’m all about less time in the kitchen! I love Panera, had no idea they do catering!
I had lunch with one of my girlfriends a few weeks back. I didn’t realize how much I missed getting with her. I really miss all the laughs..and the good food tops it off.
Having lunch catered by Panera is a fantastic idea! I hate having to spend time on food prep when I’d rather be chatting it up with friends!
I haven’t been out to lunch with friends in a long time, but the last time I was…I loved it!! Panera is one of my favorite places to grab lunch at!
I wish I had more lunches with my friends, it just seems like we are always too busy.
I go out with friends on occasion and it’s definitely such a nice getaway when I do! I have heard so many good things about Panera, I wish they would come out west to Utah!
Sadly I don’t get to have lunch with my friends as much as I would like. However, when we do we love to go to Panera Bread. I knew they had a catering menu but I have never used it. This gives me a great idea for a get together I have coming up. Thanks for sharing.
I almost never have lunch with friends. The one local friend I have works now so we don’t get the chance like we used to. I miss it.
We use Panera catering for work. I love how easy it is to work with them and their menus!
Ordering online is a BREEZE!
How awesome is this? I’m jealous you have a regular “play date” every weekend. That’s wonderful!
Yes, I love Panera Bread they are the best!
Yes, I do try to get together with my girlfriends as often as possible. It seems to happen more during the summer months though, but we do have a good time. It’s a neat idea to use the catering experience to help make it so everyone can really relax together.
I don;t, but should make lunch dates more often. I am a big fan of Panera because of their commitment to remove the artificial stuff from their food.