Few things have killed the leisurely lunch like capitalism, and nowhere is this more evident than in the food courts of London's Canary Wharf. Amid the warren of Pret a Manger and Itsu outlets, a new staple has emerged: the slop bowl. This pick-your-own mishmash of salads, grains, and proteins has become the de facto working lunch for many office workers.
The term 'slop bowl' refers to a customisable bowl of food assembled at fast-casual chains such as Atis, Farmer J, and The Salad Project. Contents typically include a base of leaves or grains, a selection of vegetables, a protein such as grilled salmon or tofu, and crunchy toppings like pickled cucumber or maple walnuts. Prices range from £7 to £25 depending on the ingredients chosen.
While the name may not sound appetising, the trend has gained traction on social media, with Merriam-Webster naming 'slop' its word of the year in December. The term taps into both AI-generated content and the sound the food makes when it hits the bowl. As one executive assistant in a Farmer J queue noted, 'Once you've had J, it's hard to go back.'
The slop bowl trend is largely driven by health and wellness concerns, according to Alex Ruani, a researcher at UCL. 'The main ones are plant-forward eating and minimising our intake of ultra-processed food,' she says, adding that convenience is also key. Food historian Dr Annie Gray points out that the concept is not new, drawing parallels to medieval potage or fusion cooking from the 1990s. 'It's a pragmatic way to serve food for an industry in dire straits,' she adds.
The trend has even reached supermarkets, with Ocado launching M&S 'nutrient dense' bowls at £5.95 in January. As the slop bowl continues to spread from finance bros to influencers to the masses, it seems this practical, customisable lunch is here to stay.
