Meal deals are hugely popular and every major supermarket is competing for your lunch money including Tesco, Sainsbury's, Boots, Marks and SpenceÂÂÂÂÂr, Morrisons, and Co-op and more.
A recent survey by short term loan provider Wonga revealed the average British consumer will spend £10,044 on lunchtime meal deals over their working lifetime.
Depending on your profession, you may be more partial to a meal deal than others. For instance, people who work in IT like the convenience of a meal deal the most, followed by plumbers, electricians, builders and accountants.
What is a meal deal?
Meal deals are a popular and convenient lunchtime choice for UK working professionals offering a sandwich, a drink and a snack for a fixed which is supposed to cost less than buying them all individually.
According to recent research, the nation's favourite sandwich fillings are cheese, chicken and bacon, tuna, chicken, and ham.
Meal deals are readily available in all major supermarkets in the refrigerated aisle, often closest to the entrance, making for a quick grab and go lunchtime meal.
Are meal deals good value for money?
Most meal deals often cost between £2.50 to £3.50, depending on which supermarket you visit.
There are so many variations of meal deals in the shops and although most do represent a deal compared to buying each individual item, some do fail to live up to the title 'Deal' if you buy each individual item on their own.
There is also the fact that you may not need that third item to feel satisfied, which means you've been forced into buying something that you actually don't need. In many cases a sandwich and a soft drink is enough for a light lunch, rendering the packet of crisps surplus to requirements.
Are meal deals healthy?
Meal deals have come a long way since they first hit the refrigerated shelves in supermarkets. In the early days they were pretty basic with a very small selection of foodstuff, all of which can't claim to be 'Healthy'.
These days however, there are loads of different items bundled into the meal deal offers, including 'healthy' options such as yogurt, fruit bowls, and water instead of a soft drink.
Depending on how you mix and match your meal deal will determine if they can be called a healthy.
Even with the odd healthy option included in meal deals, some people still think they are unhealthy and some go so far as to say they should be banned!