Meal ideas for shift workers...

CDC2011

I have found myself back in a job that has a shift pattern, my husband also works outside of the usual 9-5 so meal planning is going to be a challenge.

Ideally I'd like to fill up the fridge / freezer with individual portions of homemade nutritious meals that can then be taken to work and microwaved, or oven cooked at home as required.

OH works every evening 3pm-10pm, with Friday off and then on Saturday and Sunday mornings 7am-1pm. OH doesn't eat at work except for a snack so will either eat his proper meal before he goes or when he gets back.

I'll be doing a mixture of 9 or 10 hour shifts between the hours of 7am to 11pm, with 2 or 3 days off in between each block. I have access to a hob, a toaster and a microwave but no oven at work and would eat a proper meal at work when I am doing a late.

I've considered the obvious suspects like shepherds pie, lasagne and my gran's stew but could do with some other tried and tested options.

So I'm looking for suggestions for meals that can be:

- made in bulk at relatively low cost
- can be frozen into portions
- potentially can be cooked from frozen if required

Just to be awkward, I don't like pasta, spaghetti etc - OH loves it so if you're suggesting a reheatable / freezable pasta dish only he'll be eating it.

Thanks in advance for any advice offered.

KateBob

A nice Lamb Tagine (made with mutton is even cheaper) can be cooked in advance and reheated as needed.

ac085

How about a pasta sauce type dish but you have it with rice instead?
(this depends if you are happy reheating rice... I always have done so but I know some people don't)

KateBob

ac085 wrote: »

How about a pasta sauce type dish but you have it with rice instead?
(this depends if you are happy reheating rice... I always have done so but I know some people don't)

I have no problem with reheating rice either but as she has access to a microwave I would cook as needed in the microwave (only takes 12mins)

SmallL

Any sort of casserole/stew with cheap meat, boned chicken works really well slow cooked as the chicken falls away from the bone so you can pick them out at the end (plus its cheap-thighs/drumsticks etc)

Veggie chilli is very hearty and filling.

Stirfry if you have access to a hob, chuck everything in a tab to take and whack it in a pan with a little oil.

CDC2011

I do have one of those microwave rice cookers and never considered taking this into work actually so that's a great idea. Could easily find some sort of sauce, and maybe just add a bit of cooked chicken too.

Thanks!

ky822000

You could do a fajita mix using strips of chicken bulked out with pepper and onion, courgette or whatever else you fancy. The mix can be microwaved or heated on the hob and the wraps are also quickly microwaved.

You can use a barbecue sauce base (the Aldi dry mix is very good) or a spicier version.

Easy to add mayonnaise, salad and cheese etc after cooking if want or just as nice without the extras.

KateBob

I know microwave jacket spuds aren't as nice as oven cooked but they'd make a change from rice.

You could put chilli/bol on it or with cold meat/salad in hotter weather (if we ever get any).

gibson123

Home- made chunky soups are fantastic for this, make huge pots and then freeze in individual portions. Things like chunky vegetable, mexican bean, minestrone (with big pasta), chicken noodle, Pea and Ham are great, buy cheap bread rolls in the supermarket on your way home, (shift workers get bargain bread) and keep in the freezer as well.

Macaroni cheese, Sausage and mash with gravy, Lasagne, chilli and rice, moussaka, curry and rice, you can also take in toast and have a few small tins of beans and heat beans and toast as well.

CDC2011

Thank you all for the suggestions.

I shall make a proper list and go and track down some recipes(going to use it as an opportunity to teach OH how to cook real food too :T)

CDC x

lemontart

I just cook twice as much as I need for dinner which I eat at 4pm when on nights then take rest in to reheat for "lunch" at 1am is but I work 12 hr shifts so this works well, on days easier as can go subways, cob shop etc for lunch and have something out of freezer when I get home before I crash so to say.