Ambient healthy packed lunch ideas?

Boomdocker · 15 May 2006 at 7:21AM

Morning, I have seen lots of ideas on here and in the index for healthy ideas for taking a packed lunch to work. However, if I am on the road I can't guarantee the use of a fridge. I do have a cool block thing but I was wondering if anyone has any ideas for food that doesnt need chilling? I cant see beyond crispbreads so I need inspiration.

I am particularly looking for low fat ideas.

nicki_2 · 15 May 2006 at 8:20AM

I'm interested in this too. My only problem is some limitations :

No nuts or seeds (allergy sufferer in the school, who can't even go near anyone who's had nuts or seeds :eek: )
No chocolate (as above)
No cooked meats (she's always ill whenever I give her cooked meat sandwiches for her packed lunch )
She's 5 so it's got to be something thats easy to eat and not too messy.

Will be grateful of some new ideas, I think she's starting to get fed up with a cheese sandwich, carton drink (no bottles allowed), a fairy cake/small bag of biscuits, packet of raisins. If I have really small apples I might put one in but lately I've been including a small fromage frais which wont' be such a good idea in the hot weather :eek:

Chell · 15 May 2006 at 8:24AM

For kids packed lunch try humzingers. I can only get them in Tesco but I think larger Boots stock them - http://www.humdinger-foods.co.uk/ourProd_humzingers.html

Spendless · 15 May 2006 at 9:42AM

I'm interested too, as I have this problem with DH and his packed lunches if he is away from his office and it ends up costing a fortune for him to buy a sandwich out.

nicki-Don't they allow a flask (sports type of bottle) that is refillable. It must cost a fortune to provide a carton drink each day

Rebob · 15 May 2006 at 9:54AM

Use a cool block and/or freeze a small carton of juice to keep your lunch cool. Also use one of the cool bag type of lunch bags.

Try rice salads, cous cous ,with raisins and apple or lemon juice, parsley and salad veg. Both these hold up to being stored well.

HTH

nicki_2 · 15 May 2006 at 9:57AM

Spendless wrote:

nicki-Don't they allow a flask (sports type of bottle) that is refillable. It must cost a fortune to provide a carton drink each day

From what I can gather they don't allow even sports bottles so I just stock up on Asda's own carton drinks at the start of each term. I buy the kids "Great Stuff" brand and pure juice as well in multipacks (98p for 6 cartons which lasts about a week or so as I alternate the cordial ones - here - with pure juice ones at about 58p for 3 - here ). ATM I think I have enough to last me until the end of the school year! :eek: I don't mind too much about the cost though as it still works out cheaper than school dinners and since I make a lunch for OH anyway it's not too bad, plus I know exactly what she is drinking at lunch time and can keep her diet reasonably healthy.

Gingham_Ribbon · 15 May 2006 at 10:00AM

Very quick side salad idea to have with or in a sandwich. Grate a carrot, add some sprouted beans and drizzle some lemon juice over it. It's good with pumpkin or sesame seeds and/or sliced beetroot too.

**purpleprincess** · 15 May 2006 at 10:07AM

I find cous cous or bulgar wheat great. What I do is make a dressing of olive oil, lemon juice, crushed garlic, ground cumin, black pepper, mixed herbs. Mix it all together, pour over the cous cous and I then add chopped tomatoes, chopped cucumber and some chickpeas, stir all together and bingo!! Yummy lunch!:drool:

Spendless · 15 May 2006 at 10:55AM

Not sure about the OP but I don't think I've made it clear the ideas I'm looking for. Hubby is often visiting customers all round the country. He doesn't always get to use their facilities for his lunch, so he is stuck to eating his own dinner in the car. Anything messy, anything that needs to be eaten with a spoon or fork or that could stain are out really, cos of him getting stuff on his suit and tie. I can't think of anything other than sandwiches he can take, and I find sandwich fillings in hot weather very hard to think up. Him buying sandwiches out for these reasons are costing us quite a lot of our budget, which is why I'm desperate for some help.

sarah0404 · 15 May 2006 at 11:30AM

If you make sandwiches or rolls and freeze them they defrost in the lunch box by lunchtime. They also help to keep everything else in the lunch box cool. That might help if you aren't able to keep your lunch cool in the fridge. Cheese and meat sandwiches freeze well, but things like lettuce don't freeze so well. You need to add salad after you take them out the freezer.

**purpleprincess** · 15 May 2006 at 1:08PM

Spendless wrote:

Not sure about the OP but I don't think I've made it clear the ideas I'm looking for. Hubby is often visiting customers all round the country. He doesn't always get to use their facilities for his lunch, so he is stuck to eating his own dinner in the car. Anything messy, anything that needs to be eaten with a spoon or fork or that could stain are out really, cos of him getting stuff on his suit and tie. I can't think of anything other than sandwiches he can take, and I find sandwich fillings in hot weather very hard to think up. Him buying sandwiches out for these reasons are costing us quite a lot of our budget, which is why I'm desperate for some help.

What about getting a little ice pack, or freezing a small bottle of water to keep the food cool?

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Ambient healthy packed lunch ideas?

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