Traveling Job Lunch Tips

LifeInTheBikeLane

So I've just accepted a job offer that will involve me leaving behind the comforts of an office. I will be traveling daily and my district just so happens to be vast....meaning some of the places I will be going every month are over an hour away. I typically make my lunch and store it in the fridge here but since my new office will be inside my car and my suitcase, what can I do? I'll be spending every single day inside of Subways but I know from past experience I will get tired of eating sandwiches Every. Single. Day.

Does anyone have any advice? I have a lunch box that has a ice pack but am afraid that might melt in this heat.

SweetP27

Your ice pack should hold unless you open and close your cooler a lot before lunch time. Also - Some lunch items can be frozen and will aid in keeping other items cool. It is also helpful to keep your lunch box in a shaded part of your vehicle. **I'm thinking of the ice packs that are fairly large (like a 4x6) and not those little tiny things that come in some lunch boxes. ** Also - if you freeze bottles of water to drink they will keep your lunch cool.

bebeisfit

I used to drive all day and had a small cooler. Ditto on the frozen water. How about cut up vegetables and fruit for snacks? Hummus or bean dips will keep well. Grain salads with roasted vegetables, chick peas & a light dressing can be filling. Raw nuts? Trader joes has them prepackaged.. toss a couple in your glove compartment in case you are delayed with traffic. Good luck!!

dopeysmelly

I assume you won't be sticking to a really tight driving schedule (like making timed deliveries), but I would get google maps out and find a grocery store at a convenient place along your route. It'll mean you'll also be able to stretch your legs for a few minutes as well.

RodaRose

I live in Florida.
Two big gel packs (or four little ones like these Fit & Fresh Cool Coolers Slim Lunch Ice Packs - Set of 4
will keep the food coolish in a cooler in the trunk of my car until lunchtime -- especially if the food was made the night before and has been in the fridge all night (starting the day cool).
If I need the food for after lunch time, I use a big enough container/cooler that can hold more ice packs.
Also, I can put cold foods in a thermos in the fridge the night before and then put the thermos in the cooler the next morning.

michmill98_1

My husband takes his lunch every day so a quarter of my freezer space is devoted to various sized ice packs! We've found that the hard plastic ones seem to keep frozen longer than the gel packs (even in south TX summer heat).

Get a larger and well insulated cooler. He uses a soft-sided one that is designed to hold 9-12 canned drinks. This gives him plenty of space for his food (lunch and snacks), ice packs, and bottled drinks. He's a construction superintedent so he has an office space to keep his cooler out of the elements instead of sitting in the sun all day and his ice packs are anywhere from still semi-frozen to thawed but still cold most of the time when he gets home.

As others have said, pre-chill as much of your food and drink options the night before. Frozen water bottles do double duty as ice packs and to drink at the end of the day. Keep the cooler inside the car and in the shade as much as possible. Choose food items that will still be tasty cool vs ice cold like cheese and crackers with some fruit and a hard boiled egg. Use larger ice packs since they take longer to thaw out.

When the weather allows, find a park to eat at instead of eating in your car. If you must eat in your car, please make sure to clean it out daily!

JoeCWV

PB&J. Doesn't need to be refrigerated and tastes great. I am also on the road a lot. It's the best. A travel mug full of black coffee and It's a party. I have a Yeti mug. Fill it up and it stays hot for hours. When I stop for gas I refill the mug and drain the used coffee.