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Post by Tyler's Helpmeet on Dec 1, 2012 9:46:36 GMT -5
I have a sort of unique situation I guess. I do work outside the home a few days a week and homeschool too. My kids are able to come with me to one job (I am a librarian in a super tiny library) and the other they sometimes come with me (assistant to an attorney, my sister in law) to my other job but usually stay home with my husband. If my husband works he eats not one but two lunches that day. He does not prepare food at all. When he was single he went to his mother's house to eat I only make minimum wage at the library. There is a store next door and it is way too easy to run over there for food and drinks. But I can not afford to spend an hour or more of my pay on food when I work. I am having a hard time getting everyone food ready and drinks. Oh and I have one kid in public school who often needs lunch. I have one kid who is super picky, one kid who is ok, and one who needs to be gluten free. Not to mention the really hungry husband. Any suggestions on how I can pack and prepare lunches for 5 people ahead of time? I am just not used to this. I used to only worry about lunch for one. I also need it to be less expensive. Right now I am getting some food help but my husband wishes me to end that now that we are married and I must abide by that even though it is going to make the budget very tight and stressful.
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Post by rachel on Dec 1, 2012 16:20:01 GMT -5
Well, a good old staple is sandwiches. (Although let me tell you, from nine years of eating sandwiches for lunch every day, all week... That gets old, really quickly). Sandwiches are quick and easy, and depending on what you put in them, keep well until lunchtime (stay away from jam and tomatoes). I guess the problem for you would be that gluten-free bread is little better than cardboard.
For small kids, particularly gluten-free ones, try 'biscuit sandwiches' (I know 'biscuits' have a completely different meaning for you than me, I just don't know what you call them). Rice cakes or corn crackers work well, put normal sandwich things like meat, cheese, spreads, et cetera, between and eat like a sandwich.
Salads also work, if you have re-usable airtight boxes, you can just put whatever salad items you want in that.
Fruit is good, too. Ones that don't bruise or go soggy quickly. So bananas, apples, oranges, all good... strawberries, not so much. Also it works best if you leave the fruit whole as long as possible. If you cut it up beforehand, even if it's in an airtight container, it will look pretty unappetising by lunchtime.
There are also sundry 'lunch-nibbly-things' which you can buy at a supermarket, depending on what your stand on such things is. These can range from muesli bars to cheese and fruit sticks. They're good for supplementing a meal if you feel a sandwich and fruit isn't enough.
When I was still going to school (I'm schooled at home now), I tended to pack a sandwich or wrap (cheese and cucumber is nice and keeps reasonably well) and a piece of fruit (usually a banana, sometimes kiwi fruit or something else). I ate the fruit at recess time and the sandwich at lunch - but I was always hungry when I got home.
My sister still goes to school, and she tends to pack a salad, a fruit, and something sugary (usually a bit of chocolate), plus various other things like a small container of olives or some sticks of carrot and cucumber.
Another thing you could do, if there's a microwave at your place of work, would be to cook extra for dinner the night before and put it in a re-usable container. Then heat it up at lunchtime the next day. This works best for pasta.
Slices can often be packed and eaten cold (vegetable slice works well for this).
Lunches don't have to be overthought. Try using things that you and the children would eat normally, only try to make it keep-friendly and packing-friendly. At the times when I still need to pack a lunch (about once a month at least), I'll just take whatever's in the house - fruit, make a sandwich or biscuit sandwich from whatever's in the fridge or cupboard, and if there are suitable leftovers, take them, too. For more people, however, some forethought needs to go into it - when you go to the supermarket for your normal shop, add some lunch items.
There's probably more I could tell you, but I can't think of it right now. I hope what I've said is helpful.
I've got to ask, though... don't you have to pack a lunch anyway for the child who goes to school?
from Rachel.
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Post by Guadalupe on Dec 3, 2012 8:35:21 GMT -5
Any suggestions on how I can pack and prepare lunches for 5 people ahead of time? I am just not used to this. I used to only worry about lunch for one. I also need it to be less expensive. Right now I am getting some food help but my husband wishes me to end that now that we are married and I must abide by that even though it is going to make the budget very tight and stressful. When the children were home, we all gathered in the kitchen after supper to make our lunches for the next day. Everyone made their own lunch out of the leftovers of the supper. Then they put their names on the paper lunch bags and put them in the fridge. It was done all at once so the counters and kitchen could be washed up after supper. If no leftovers, we got out the lunch meat an other proteins. There was a special spot in the pantry and in the fridge with all the lunch "fixins" so everyone could go and get their choice for sandwiches or other bits. Sandwich bags can hold proteins such as boiled eggs, cheese, sandwiches, beef jerky. Crackers don't travel well but bagels do and so do sandwiches. Sandwich fixins for when we didn't have leftovers: pimento cheese spread; peanut butter and jelly. We had one child who just wanted bread with mayonnaise (old fashioned mayonnaise had eggs in it, a protein.) He grew up healthy and fine. Everyone had to take a whole apple or orange or peach or whatever fruit would hold up. No fruit cups. You can find more ideas at Hillbilly Housewife. www.hillbillyhousewife.com/
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