My DH works on the oil rig and doesn't have access to a microwave. I fix him sandwiches, but they're soggy by lunch time. He takes leftovers, but not too many things taste good cold. He's a meat and potatoes type of guy. He wouldn't touch any yogurt, granola bar, or fruits. He likes a "manly" portion for his lunches. I'm out of ideas. I would also like some good ideas for premade breakfasts.

By Cybermommyx4 on Tuesday, June 28, 2005 - 03:01 pm:

Boneless fried chicken tastes pretty good cold...maybe with some potato salad...why are the sandwiches soggy? Can you pack the ingredients in a separate container (kept cold by a frozen water bottle) and then the bread in another container? Good luck with the breakfast -I can't think of anything pre-made cold that isn't cereal, yogurt, fruit, etc....except pastries or banana bread or something like that.

By Kel_Leigh99 on Tuesday, June 28, 2005 - 03:05 pm:

I tried that & that's the best idea, but he complains that he doesn't have enough time and he just doesn't like laying everything out and preparing it.

He could pop anything in the microwave at home before he leaves for breakfast. Just not for lunch

By Juli4 on Tuesday, June 28, 2005 - 03:12 pm:

my mom would make my dad breakfast the night before. She would make bacon or sausage and eggs and even his toast and put it in the microwave and all he did was come along and heat it up. She made it around 9 or so and he ate it at about 4 or 5. He didn't seem to mind that it sat in the micro all night, but you could put it in the refrigerator. When doing work like oil fields and stuff you do need something that sticks to you and prtein is good. What about Ham? Ham is good cold and you could put some cold sides with it along with boiled eggs or deviled eggs. If he wants the lunch not real cold then when he gets to work he can take out what he wants warm and set it out of his lunch box and let it sit in the car or outside wherever he keeps his stuff and it will be somewhat warm or at least not cold. Just a few ideas.

By Kel_Leigh99 on Tuesday, June 28, 2005 - 03:18 pm:

Thanks, those are some good ideas. Especially the eggs. Hadn't thought of that.

By Frasersmama on Tuesday, June 28, 2005 - 03:23 pm:

What about a spinach or chef's salad that has ham or bacon, hard boiled eggs, cheese in it? Would he object to a separate container of salad dressing to add. Or what about a pasta salad with tuna, cheese, pickles etc - pasta salads are fairly hearty and don't go limp and soggy like greens.

By Kel_Leigh99 on Tuesday, June 28, 2005 - 03:26 pm:

That sounds good to me, but he's not big on pasta. He would like the chef salad, but I don't know if it would fill him up or not.

By Frasersmama on Tuesday, June 28, 2005 - 03:32 pm:

What if you included a dinner roll or bread of some kind on the side, some nuts (almonds are great in salad), or a muffin or baked goodie?

By Amecmom on Tuesday, June 28, 2005 - 03:33 pm:

Cold meatloaf? Yummy! Chicken salad?
Sandwich - make ahead, put the dressing (mayo, mustard etc) in between the meat and cheese and put on lettuce or whatever else. Wrap in plastic wrap. Put bread in baggie. At lunch all he has to do is put the saran wrapped innards on the bread. He doesn't have to make the sandwich.
Hope you come up with some more ideas - OH!
There's a cooler/food warmer that costs about $70 (mini fridge - I think it's called). It keeps cold food cold or hot food hot. You could get one of those... I'm not sure if it runs on batteries though.
Ame

By Kel_Leigh99 on Tuesday, June 28, 2005 - 03:39 pm:

Thanks, y'all. This is helping me out a lot. I'm going to have to check out that cooler.

By Heaventree on Tuesday, June 28, 2005 - 05:16 pm:

My mom used to make bacon and egg toasted sandwiches for me and put them in my lunch box. I loved them! The bread does get a bit soggy because she buttered the toast. I'm not sure if that man of yours would eat a bagel, but it would hold up better than bread .

By Dana on Wednesday, June 29, 2005 - 07:57 am:

You can make tortilla sandwiches and cook in the AM. I just stuff w/ whatever leftovers we have. Then I wrap in foil and leave in the toaster oven to keep warm. If in foil, your DH can then place the meal on his dash board and the sun will do the rest. I know someone who cooks his breakfast on his dash board. He takes the tators and lies them on the bottom w/ onions, then cracks an egg over it and lies some bacon on top (I would precook the bacon myself). Keeps the whole thing on the dash and it is cooked by the heat of the sun. Seems like you could do anything like that just to keep it warm til lunch time.

By Kaye on Wednesday, June 29, 2005 - 10:43 am:

I also have sent spaghetti and meatballs in a thermos to school. Just fill the thermous up with very very hot water first, then pour the water out and add the hot food. It stayed warm from 8 to 1.

By Missmudd on Wednesday, June 29, 2005 - 01:07 pm:

How about burritos, I have cooked burritos for the kids the night before in the oven so they are crunchy on the outside. They are pretty good even cold.