[prepend]

What about commutes stops you from bringing lunch?

You don’t need to buy food in bulk. Just buy regular food, cook it, and take it to work.

Either take stuff that doesn’t need refridge (pb&j, hummus, etc), or insulated lunchbox, or thermos.

This is not a complicated problem to solve. Ride the bus sometime and look at the lunches people bring long distances.

Eating out isn’t a necessity. But at $12/day food budget you definitely have money left over to eat out every once in a while. And that if you cook only for yourself. If you’re part of a household who can share food, it’s even easier.