Define: Value Meal

McDonalds is well known for their "value" meal.  A considerable amount of fat, sodium, and "sustenance" for a very low price. 

The past week has given me a new appreciation for this phrase.  Heritage offers food with almost all of their meetings and lecture series.  It's probably one of the best fed buildings in DC.

You might think I'm joking, but last year's meal count was over 2300.  That's six lunches and dinners a day, 365 days a week.  Take into account weekends and holidays, there's always food around.

Lunch generally accompanies a presentation by one of the foundation's researchers or another author.  So far I've been treated to like three lunches.

The food is good too.  About 20% is Subway, 20% Chik-fil-a and the rest "real" food.  The real food is fantastic.  Salads, chicken, desserts...

One of the buildings even has a roof top dining area for lunch on your own and some organized shindigs.

My favorite tradition is possibly Donuts and Paychecks.  Paycheck come bi-weekly for us.  So on Fridays when the checks come, we get donuts and juice and coffee for a half hour before work.  

Food is serious business here.  Luckily, it's good and free. The value is much higher than any fast food because dinners encourage us to think and eat.  There's sustenance for the mind AND body.