Lunch ideas for outdoor job

skinnymamain2015

so... I'm an outdoor sales rep which means I have no office so I work out of my car. I don't have access to a microwave so I end up eating fast food for lunch most of the time. Not good for health or budget. I'm tired of sandwiches and need new ideas. I can take a lunch cooler but also concerned about summer heat melting my food. I would love your ideas!! TIA

worstcaster

If you have a cooler you could try a salad in Tupperware.

shadowfax_c11

As a farrier I also travel to barns and work outdoors,sometimes all day. I usually keep a few frozen large bottles of water in my freezer and toss one or two into a cooler bag along with any food/snacks I want to have in between barns. This way I have cold drinks as well as keeping my food cool. Even in a hot car things easily stay cool until lunch time.

Since I only do farrier work 1-2 days a week I often stop for my lunch at a Sheetz, Subway or getgo where I know I can get something that fits in my calorie goals and is healthy. If I am not planning to stop and buy food I usually pack cut up fresh fruits and veggies, hard boiled eggs and cheese. I also pre-portion out crackers or chips into baggies ahead of time and if I need carbs grab one of those.

skinnymamain2015

Great ideas so far!!! More more!!

Queenmunchy

I pack a thermos for my child for lunch. She eats soup, chili, stew, meatballs - basically any leftovers. It stays hot from the time I pack her lunch at 8am until at least 1 or so. Thermos brand, comes in all wide mouth sizes.

elcollins24

My problem with tupperware salads is that they can go soggy n gross (mixing all the meat/leaves/dressing) but then i got this awesome tupperware set. Its one box but its seperated into a 'leaves' section, meat/protein section and even a little pot for dressing. So they stay seperate and then you mix when you eat. Well worth investing in.
Little snacks you can take with you like nuts/fruits etc so you dont get too hungry and need to buy food.
I know buying food out impacts as much on my bank balance as my calorie allowance! Youll be shocked how much money you end up saving per month :-)

kdcancan

How about cooking extra dinner and having it for lunch the next day? Have equipment on hand to keep hot foods hot and cold foods cold such as various size thermoses and bento boxes. Special dishes and cutlery make you feel like you're having a special picnic for one. Keeping ingredients in separate containers to assemble at lunch time should keep things from getting soggy. Easy lunches: Taco fixings with preloaded tacos. Hot homemade soups with Wasa or similar type crackers. Super salads with nuts or seeds, beans, cheese, shredded meat/fowl or fish added to the veggie mix. Sardines on Wasa with side of veggies. Peanut butter on quality bread with mixed fruit and seed salad. Chili with cheese and onions on top and homemade corn muffins. Cold sautéed kale or collards with chicken roasted with a heavy dusting of Old Bay spice. Oven roasted root veggies and sliced beef at room temp. Chicken a la James Beard: whole chicken rubbed with salt/pepper and heavy dose of fresh tarragon inside and out, with new potatoes,all oven roasted. Egg salad with crisp lettuce and lots of onion on good roll with salad of cherry tomatoes, mozzarella, parsley and vinegraite. Whole grain French type baguette with your favorite Brie and either side vegetable such as cold oven roasted asparagus or salad. Whole grain toasted bagel topped with cream cheese and sliced olives with side salad and beans. Homemade veggie sushi with piece of cold salmon and seaweed salad. What do you think.... Nuff ideas?!

Lizzy622

You can also think of hiking type foods like jerky and trail mixes. My favorite lunch in summer is cottage cheese with fresh fruit (whatever is in season). It should keep well in a cooler bag.