Overview
We're here today to conduct an experiment: To see if it's possible for me, as a man of 22 years of age and of sound mind and body, to spend a week ordering food from a convenience store without even leaving my home
7-Eleven presented me with this challenge, and who would I be to refuse? Now that the road trip-snack-central convenience store chain has brought its catalogue of food, essentials and treats to Menulog, it seemed like the perfect opportunity to nobly abandon all kitchen duties for a week and instead attempt to exist by only eating meals ordered from my local 7-Eleven through Menulog. I would spend the hours from Monday morning to Friday night eating food exclusively bought from 7-Eleven, with only emergency exceptions permitted.
Sunday: Stocking up on Essentials For the Week
My week began with planning and preparation, particularly for the most important meal of the day. Breakfast. I take breakfast very seriously, and I like it balanced.
For the week ahead, I was going to need the following:
- Zymil Lactose-Free Milk 1L
- Carman's Muesli Classic 500g
- 7-Eleven Maxi Wholemeal Bread 850g
- Chobani strawberry Greek yoghurt pouches x5
- Pace Farm Free Range Eggs 12pk
- Ben and Jerry's Choc Chip Cookie Dough 450g
- 7-Eleven Protein Bar Salted Caramel
Bread, milk, eggs — the bare essentials. Muesli and yogurt are great for weekday breakfasts since they're quick, easy, and delicious. Eggs are also good if I need something substantial, especially if I want to make my favourite easy but big breakfast: scrambled eggs on toast.
I know what you're thinking, but I can explain. Protein bars are for emergency snacking. And the ice cream? Come on, let's stop pretending ice cream isn't an essential. It was ordered and delivered in the one bundle and delivered pretty quickly too, the ice cream probably helped to keep everything else cold.
Monday: Starting Simple
Day one started with a lovely bowl of muesli and a yoghurt pouch, enough to fuel through the start of the day. I was feeling confident on the way to work and the plan for the day was to keep it simple.
Lunch: 7-Eleven Ham, Cheese and Tomato Sandwich, Bundaberg Ginger Beer
When lunch rolled around, I wasn't feeling particularly hungry, so I picked the classic convenience store menu item: the sandwich. And what sandwich is more beloved than ham and cheese? Ordering just a sandwich felt like criminal behaviour though, so I added a drink, too.
Dinner: 7-Eleven 100% Aussie Beef Pie
Speaking of classics, what's more classic than a beef pie? As an Aussie, I love a good pie but my hopes weren't high for the convenience store version. However, I was pleasantly surprised by the flavour, the substantial filling and the flaky crust. A moreish delight that was as easy as it was delicious.
Tuesday: Feeling Indulgent
Monday was a success. I was feeling good. But, if I wanted to subsist on sandwiches and pies, I'd go back to uni. It's time to level up this challenge. After the same breakfast as the day before (I do love routine), I decided to dive deeper into 7-Eleven's menu.
Lunch: 7-Eleven Hot Bites Mac & Cheese, Nobby's Porky Bits
When I think of the word 'indulgent', one of the first things that comes to mind is mac and cheese. It's a simple yet beloved dish that never fails to delight, and this is no exception. However, on reflection, I can see that my palate is still tuned to the uni diet, especially since I added the pub snack classic Nobby's Porky Bits as an extra crunch to accompany the bites.
Dinner: 7-Eleven Southern Fried Chicken Wrap
Emboldened by my urge to enjoy the menu's full extent, I chose to get something with more depth. I chose the southern fried chicken wrap, which, with its combo of chicken, veggies and smokey mayo, proved to be a complete experience of crunch and indulgence that had some of the depth my lunch lacked. At the recommendation of our 7-Eleven contact, I customised it slightly with a spin in the sandwich press, which took it from great to elite.
Wednesday: Balance Is Key
That was fun (and tasty), but I was starting to feel the effects of the lack of balance in the diet. Just because I'm limited to the meals ordered from 7-Eleven on Menulog doesn't mean I have to limit myself to simple (but delicious) carb-heavy eats. To shake up the muesli monotony for breakfast, I instead went with fried eggs on toast for breakfast, which never disappoints.
Lunch: 7-Eleven Chicken Schnitzel Sandwich, Liquid Death Sparkling Water
That's why I chose to return to the most sacred of all food forms: the sandwich. This time, a stacked chicken schnitzel sandwich (toasted by my own grand design). It had a lot going for it, with enough veggies to keep my conscience quiet alongside lovely schnitzel. And to feel fancy, a can of Liquid Death that caught my eye by the branding alone and turned out to be the most refreshing and interesting sparkling water I've ever drunk, tasting more like water than the usual mineral flavour.
Dinner: My Muscle Chef Chipotle Chicken Burrito Bowl
Remember what I said about balance? By dinnertime, I was hungry for something that put protein first. I'm a carnivore, after all. I opted instead for the always delightful My Muscle Chef Chipotle Chicken Burrito Bowl, perfect for cosying up on the couch and watching Shōgun, come at me, gym bros. After an episode or two I had room for more, so I enjoyed a date with that tub of Ben and Jerry's before bed.
Thursday: The New Normal
The home stretch had begun. I was starting to lose interest in the routine elements of my menu, which was making me come to terms with the habits I supposedly loved. So, on Thursday morning, I treated myself to a little treat in the form of a latte and an Original Glazed® Krispy Kreme.
Lunch: 7-Eleven Spinach & Ricotta Roll
It made sense to return to another Aussie classic today. I started this journey with a beef pie, so why not throw a sausage roll in the mix? One problem. I don't really like sausage rolls, un-Australian, I know. The next best thing for me is a spinach and ricotta roll, which helps eliminate the recurring meat out of the diet, too. It was as hearty as I needed, with a lovely cheesy flavour and a warmth that survived the delivery.
Dinner: 7-Eleven Asian Style Chicken Noodle Salad
In keeping with my (slightly) healthier choices in these final 48 hours, I decided to come as close as I could to a full-blown salad and opt for the Asian-Style Chicken Noodle Salad. This was the right call. Its zesty hit of sesame chicken goodness carried me through the evening.
Friday: A Grand Finale
At last, my week of scientific study on the modern convenience diet was coming to an end. I was pleasantly surprised with the week, but soon, I'd return to the joys of preparing my own food rather than waiting for it to arrive with a knock at my door. But I had one day left, so I was going to make the most of it. Starting with, at long last, my specialty (but basic, I'm no gourmet chef) scrambled eggs.
Lunch: 7-Eleven Spicy BBQ Beef Brisket Wrap
It was a brave swing here, I know, but the idea of anything with beef brisket always catches my attention. My fatal mistake was missing the keyword 'spicy' as I do not handle spice well. Thankfully, it was not immediately as hot as I was worried about, being more of that smokey barbecue spice than actual chilli.
Dinner: DIY Charcuterie Board — Nobby's Original Beef Jerky, 7-Eleven Vintage Cheese and Pretzels, 7-Eleven Savoury Snack Mix
To me, nothing says 'celebration' quite like a good charcuterie board. So, to celebrate the end of my experiment, I created a board using only the ingredients 7-Eleven could provide me: jerky, vintage cheese pretzels and a savoury snack mix. My presentation didn't look the best, but it tasted good, and it went down well. The saltiness of the pretzels, matched with the creamy vintage cheddar, was pleasantly complemented by every carnivore's favourite trail snack, beef jerky.
And like that, it was over. I never expected to take part in an experiment like this, but I genuinely was impressed by the range of options available and the quality of what I found on offer.
7-Eleven is available for delivery through Menulog now. Delivery not available in all areas and product availability may vary per store.