BrokeAss Gourmet

BrokeAss Gourmet

In the Bag: How to be a Packed Lunch Hero

Though I have been out of school for many years, I still feel the promise of things to come when, toward the end of the summer, the nights start to cool down and the leaves on trees crinkle and fade from green to orangey-brown. Kids everywhere head to office supply stores with their parents to buy new pencils, notebooks, and binders (or, more likely, iPads, iPhones, and laptops), to fill their backpacks (which, if they are anything like I was, are already personalized with white-out, silver Sharpie, and buttons stamped with contrarian statements). 

And then there's lunch.

It's been a long while since I've packed a school lunch for myself, and it will be a little while yet before I pack one for my own future little ones (sorry mom--hang in there!), but I have had a handful of nanny gigs over the years, which required me to make bag lunches, and Evan and I picnic nearly every weekend in our beloved Dolores Park. In other words, I know a few things about making food that is easy to throw together and still tastes good after sitting in a bag (most likely unrefrigerated) for at least 3 hours.

So parents, kids old enough to pack their own lunches, and anyone else who brings a lunch to work or school, take a deep breath. This is easier than you think. You've got this in the bag.

Rule #1: Consider a reusable bag/box. If you're not already doing this, you should be. Not only are reusable lunch bags and boxes better for the environment, if they are insulated, they keep your food colder (or hotter, depending on the temperature when you pack it) than a regular paper bag. Got a big kid who thinks lunch boxes are lame? Send them to school with this reusable "paper bag".

Rule #2: Leftovers, Leftovers, Leftovers! The absolute first place you should look when you have the 9 PM "Oh damn, I forgot to make my kid's lunch!" panic is whatever you ate for dinner. First of all, if your kids ate it for dinner, they probably enjoyed it, so it will likely go over well for lunch the next day. Secondly, it's a helpful way to clean out your fridge. Either pack leftovers in thermoses or other sealable tupperware containers, or repurpose them. If this works for you, consider planning ahead just a smidge, and make a little bit extra dinner so you have leftovers ready to go for the next day.

Slice leftover grilled or roasted meats and layer them into a sandwich (see below for notes on sandwich making) with vegetables, cheese, pesto, mayonnaise, etc. Or wrap them in flatbread, pita, or a large tortilla. Think of your leftovers as a handy shortcut to lunchmaking. 

 Rule 3: One Good Sandwich. Sandwiches tend to be the first thing we think of for school and work lunches, mostly because they are an all-encompassing meal in one handy package. But a little bit of thought is required if you want to make a really good one. Good, sturdy bread, firstly, is imperative. You want something that will be able to hold wet or semi-wet ingredients for a few hours without falling apart. Think thick sourdough, cut from a bakery loaf, dense whole wheat bread (which is also digested more slowly, which helps combat that after-lunch need for a nap), or a roll. Toasting sliced bread is also a great way to ensure it stays intact until lunch time. And if you are making lunch for a gluten-free eater, buy a rice-based gluten-free bread and be sure to toast it before building your sandwich. 

Keep sandwich ingredients minimal. I recommend sticking to 2 or 3 components, maximum. Think: salami, mozzarella, basil, or egg salad and tomato. 

You might also consider a make-your-own-sandwich kit for bigger kids or adults. Send a split roll, packets of mayonnaise and mustard (grab extra the next time you are at the deli) and sandwich fillings like sliced meats, tofu, tuna salad, tomatoes, and/or lettuce. Lunchers can have fun constructing their own sandwiches at school/work, and they can choose to eat it closed or open-faced.

Rule 4: Always Pack a Couple of Snacks: Depending on how hungry your luncher gets, make sure there are plenty of snacks in their bag. Sliced or cubed cheese (or packaged cheese sticks or Babybel rounds), whole or sliced fruit and vegetables (hint: if your luncher likes sliced carrots, celery, radishes, and/or jicama sticks, cut up a bunch and keep them in the fridge in an airtight container with cold water--they'll stay crisp all week and will be ready to pack or snack on whenever you need them), raw or toasted nuts, and/or crackers (go for healthier, whole-grain ones). 

Rule 5: Don't forget something sweet. A little something sweet is such a nice way to round out a meal. And no, it doesn't need to be super sugary and unhealthy. Consider a ripe piece of fruit, a small square of dark chocolate, an oatmeal cookie, or a handful of chocolate-covered almonds.

Bonus Rule: Ask for feedback! If your luncher is coming home with a half-eaten lunch, or throwing (or trading) some of their food away, find out why and adjust as needed (within reason, of course). Kids are prone to changing their tastes periodically, so don't be afraid to try things multiple times. And if your kids are old enough, consider asking them to help make their own lunches. In my experience, when kids participate in preparing food, they are approximately eight million times more likely to eat it. 

Now it's your turn! What are your lunch-packing secrets? Tell me in the comments!

Leave a Comment

Textile help (For formatting your comment)

What They're Saying

Sarah, on Sep 5, 11:13 PM, wrote:

the art of sandwich making is a serious thing! When I was young enough to still live with my parents, but old enough to be working full time after school, they would try to be helpful by making me sandwiches. I always hated how they made it but they thought they were being helpful. I was super grateful but I would have preferred to make own lunch that I actually enjoyed or if they made it the way I liked it. I mean all in all my parents were awesome but taking the feedback would have been awesome too. Hope I remember that when I have kids!

On the sweets tip, I always find it helpful to have some fruits washed and portioned out for easy grab and go. If you have fruits instead of a packaged snack, you’ll eat the fruit and will probably satisfy your sweet tooth.

Thanks for the tips! Love your blog, recipes and point of view!

Sarah
thesloppyperfectionist.blogspot.com

NPerrone, on Sep 8, 04:39 PM, wrote:

I try to find an hour on the weekends to bake up a batch of healthy muffins to have on hand for a week or two. I tend to go for a fruit/veggie combo with a sprinkle of flax seed meal. It’s easy to throw in a lunch box, will definitely get eaten and the kid isn’t any the wiser. A little peace of mind for mama.

Lindsay, on Sep 16, 09:26 AM, wrote:

Thanks for this great information! My daughter is always asking for something different for lunch.

Hair Harmony And You, on Mar 21, 05:01 AM, wrote:

Thanks for the awesome information

Lesa Cote, on Jun 27, 05:11 AM, wrote:

This is a great blog on lunch. I am really pleased with the food pictures. Textile help

https://saskatoondentists.ca, on Jul 23, 11:57 AM, wrote:

Posts are all wonderful. Thank you for putting a lot of work into it.

Leadership Training Denver NC, on Jul 24, 11:14 AM, wrote:

Your web page is great.The food looks yummy! I can tell you have put a lot of work into it.

Homes For Sale Didsbury, on Nov 26, 02:05 AM, wrote:

We are very thankful for all your ideas and for sharing them to all your readers. Keep it up and we will continue to support your web posts.

먹튀검증가이드, on Jan 20, 07:07 PM, wrote:

Wonderful and useful submit. I found this much helpful <a href=“https://www.totosafeguide.com” target=”_blank” title=“먹튀검증가이드”>먹튀검증가이드</a>

Matcha Slim Tea, on Apr 7, 03:06 AM, wrote:

You can combine this super meal with a great, tasty and healthy tea like matcha tea.

Clenbutérol Prix en France, on Nov 4, 05:31 AM, wrote:

Vous n’avez pas besoin de passer des heures à la salle de sport ou de vous soucier de votre alimentation. Avec le Clenbuterol, vous pouvez perdre de la graisse et gagner du muscle rapidement, tout en maintenant un mode de vie actif. Le Clenbuterol est rapidement devenu le produit de référence pour les personnes qui cherchent à perdre du poids sans modifier leur mode de vie. Il est sûr, efficace et donne des résultats durables !

majorsite, on Aug 20, 02:20 AM, wrote:

The assignment submission period was over and I was nervous, majorsite and I am very happy to see your post just in time and it was a great help. Thank you ! Leave your blog address below. Please visit me anytime.

multi recharge software in rajasthan., on Aug 17, 02:39 AM, wrote:

multi recharge software in rajasthan ..
https://www.vastwebindia.com/Home/multi-recharge

multi recharge software in rajasthan, on Sep 3, 02:31 AM, wrote:

multi recharge software in rajasthan .*
https://www.vastwebindia.com/Home/multi-recharge

multi recharge software in jharkhand, on Oct 20, 02:25 AM, wrote:

multi recharge software in jharkhand.//
https://www.vastwebindia.com/Home/multi-recharge

kolkata call girls, on Jan 24, 03:56 AM, wrote:

Thanks for posting such an informative article, thanks for sharing informative post

www.lunwenhui.com, on Mar 20, 10:40 PM, wrote:

Undoubtedly, students have been working hard to complete challenging academic tasks throughout their student life. They are constantly exposed to new subjects, knowledge, and concepts, which leads to various difficulties in the assignment writing process. Due to the heavy workload and academic pressure at overseas universities, many students cannot complete the assignment writing tasks assigned by their course instructors within the given time. However, the completion of assignments has a significant impact on course grades. Therefore, seeking assignment writing services has become the best solution to this problem.