My husband recently started working the graveyard shift (6pm - 6am) and I pack his "lunch" every day since he works in his car as a security guard and has no access to a microwave or stove, so he needs food that will taste good cold and fill him up. I've been feeding him a lot of pasta salads and he likes fried chicken when it is cold. He's not too keen on sandwiches since he ate them almost every day as an employee of Subway and Wildflower Bread Company for a combined total of about 6 years. I need some inspiration and variety. I'm not afraid of healthy food and he is a captive audience in his car (poor guy -I gave him beans in his salad twice last week). I grind my own flour and bake my own bread, we eat every food group, but I'm used to preparing HOT meals. Help!
My husband now works 7 nights each week. My menu has become more complicated with his new hours, but we are getting things figured out. I did buy a thermos for food and he has enjoyed having fairly hot meals, especially since 5 nights every week are on a bicycle patrol. On the nights he bicycles, he can't run his car to keep the cooler from draining his battery, so we are regretting that purchase (wish I would have gotten one of the fancy non-electric coolers that say they keep ice frozen for 7 days at 90 degrees for the same price as the electric cooler/warmer).
I really appreciate the recipies and tips.
B.- this won't help you with cold foods but here is a little trick. Take whatever you make for him and wrap it in aluminum foil. About 30 minutes before he is ready for lunch, tell him to open his hood and put it on either his engine block or his radiator. After he runs his car for just a little while his lunch will be warm. Hope that helps... (You can also try sending him with BBQ pork or BBQ Beef cold for a change)
my husband works for homeland security on the border. until recently i found out he was eating at texaco mini marts and when he got a raging stomach infection from fried chicken gizzards (yuk), i started making a better effort to pack a lunch, he usually leaves at 0430 and gets home around 5. he also doesn't have time or use of a microwave most of the time. so here are a few thigns that i have packed (and he eats) that work well. I invested in a thermos and an insulated lunch box. It has two sections, for hotand cold. got it at walmart. so i know he gets hungry around 10 am then again around 2. so i have been packing a hot soup or stew, lentils, split pea, in his thermos. i make cheese crisps out of a tortilla and different types of cheese so he wont get burned out. i add cooked chicken or left over roast or steak and sauteed veggies and cut them up into triangles so he can graze on them since he never actually sits down to lunch. he is in his vehicle a lot and up climbing towers and such. also dried fruit and muffins/cookies(he wont eat the store bought stuff). i have also packed sausages baked in cresent rolls and have wrapped them in foil so they are still warm. into the cold area of his box i put in cut up oranges apples, fruit salads, puddings. he loves meatloaf sandwiches but i hate meatloaf so sometimes i make a big batch and freeze the slices so i can pack him an occasional ML sandwich. i dont get home from work till 6 or 7 so we eat a lot of crock pot meals during the week and sometimes i pack left overs but not the day after we eat something, i freeze stuff in those new zip lock containers and reheat them before i put them in his lunch box and wrap the container in foil and a dishtowel to keep it warm. this beats that nasty freid food he had been eating. he also likes wraps. i buy the different colored/flavored tortillas and add lunch meats and veggies in them. his favorite is spinach tortillas, roast beef, swiss, red onion, tomatoe, avocado and ranch dressing wrap.he doestn always eat his lunch but at least i know he is eating healthier or at least eating. hes not so grumpy when he comes home either, and i get up earlier and we get a little more together time before he leaves for work.
Hi B. I know how difficult it can be to come up with a new menu. Not long ago I had to change some of our eating habits and it still can be frustrating. But, I have been using the cooks.com website and it really helps. There are a lot of different recipes so you have to read them.. but, I mainly use them for ideas and adjust them for our needs.. I hope this helps.
T.
This salad is great cold. I serve it on tostadas. You can top w/ hot sauce if you like & add more lemon to taste.
Ingredients.
1 lb. imitation crab meat tsp. vinegar
1/2 lb. cooked shrimp lemon juice to taste
1/2 onion 1 cucumber
1 tomato
First shred the crab meat in a large bowl add some lemon juice & vinegar so it can marinate, cover let bowl sit while you chop the vegetables & clean the shrimp. Then mix all ingredients together, season to taste & that's it.
HI, What about getting one of those hot/cold thermos things? You could make him some soup or stew and it would stay warm. Here are a couple of recipes ( www.allrecipes.com has some great recipes) http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Chicken-Tortilla-Soup-I/Deta...
http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Hearty-Turkey-Stew-with-Vege...
http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Delicious-Ham-and-Potato-Sou...
I would go online and find recipes. You can google recipes, try epicurious they have some good ones. That will give you variety and they will be able to tell you how long it will take to make them. Also, food and wine has some good fast recipes that work cold. Try Rachel Ray's cookbooks as well. You can also check the cookbooks out of the library.
Good luck
Does he like Japanese food? I'm not into raw sushi, but California Rolls is good. You can buy them any grocery store pre-made or ask to make fresh ones and they can stay cold in the fridge or ice chest.
Get a Thermos and fill it with hot soup, stew, rice, pasta...doesn't have to have cold food everynight.
What time does he typically eat the food?
Hahha..I just saw Ace of Cakes on Food Network last night..and the owner, Duff Goldman, was on a road trip. He placed a Russet Potato wrapped in foil in his engine and a can of baked beans or chili beans wrapped with wire under his car. He brought bacon bits and had a feast. Bring napkins or towels so you don't burn fingers.
I like cold pizza (the thicker the pizza, the better). Freeze in tin foil & it's usually thawed by lunchtime. Depending on toppings, it's actually pretty good for you. And I like the thermos idea!
That IS a tricky situation! There are some ways to give him warm meals though :) How about a thermos for soups? Also, there is a great plug-in food warmer: http://www.rvpartsstore.com/vector_thermoelectric_portabl... that can plug into the car's cigarette lighter - which means you could make him soup, stew, lasagne, or whatever....and viola!
Good luck - hope my ideas help ;)
Have you tried packing hot meals in a thermos? I don't like the hot meals that the schools prepare because I don't feel that they are very healthy. So, I often will make a hot meal and send it to school with him in a thermos to keep it warm. Hope this helps!
