Blue collar lunch ideas

TJ_Slade

I'm an HVAC tech, so my lunch options are either buying lunch out (which helped me get to where I am now) or brown bag it.

Looking for some unique lunch ideas that don't require access to a microwave, refrigerator, etc. Something to break the monotony of sandwiches.

Thanks.

rugratz2015

Salads, which can be bought ready to eat. Bring a wrap/slimbo and you can make a sandwich to 'bump' it out. John west pouches with fish and rice, the pouches with quinoa and bulgar wheat. Popcorn. I buy the snack packs of raisins/biscuit/chocolate/dried fruit they're handy to keep in the car. Multipacks of individually wrapped bars/biscuits so that I know the calorie count quickly. Porridge/oats mixed with yogurt and fruit. Have celery/carrots to snack on.

zdyb23456

Try different kinds of sandwiches? I'll send pb&j, for a treat I'll add marshmallow fluff, standard turkey, or salami (hubby's favorite). I've also done ham and cheese biscuit sandwiches. I'll dress up the boring turkey with lettuce and onion (tomatoes make it soggy). You could do egg salad, tuna salad, I've even seen recipes for ham salad. Sandwich variations are endless.

cwolfman13

Honestly, when I worked landscape construction, a sandwich was about the easiest thing...I'd work a pretty wide variety of sandwiches into the mix. I always had a small cooler and would just put one of those frozen packs in there. If it was a meat sandwich of some kind I always kept the lettuce/tomato/etc separate until I was ready to put the sandwich together.

My lunch was usually a sandwich or two...a couple pieces of fruit...and I worked in the heat most of the time so a pickle for some salt and usually potato chips too. I also usually had some trail mix with me...and sometimes jerky.

dm5859

Soup, stew or chili in a thermos. There are thermos made especially for soups. I just made a large pot of chili last night. Hardly any liquid to it but full of meat and beans. Sometimes I eat it on a salad like Wendy's taco salad.

amtyrell

<a href="http://www.target.com/p/thermos-stainless-king-food-jar-matte-black-16oz/-/A-51958282?sid=1042S&ref=tgt_adv_XS000000&AFID=google_pla_df&CPNG=PLA_Sports+Shopping_Local&adgroup=SC_Sports_Local&LID=700000001170770pgs&network=g&device=m&location=9007919&gclid=Cj0KEQjw2fLGBRDopP-vg7PLgvsBEiQAUOnIXBgUth-XUGgiw9avoN8Hh_a_U0DRcZfoEuxRSccGFfoaAum-8P8HAQ&gclsrc=aw.ds">thermos</a&gt;
I have this thermos. If i pre heat it I can cook quino or farro or rice so that it is cooked come lunch. I sometimes bring pulled pork or chicken. If i prechill it keeps yogurt great or other cold treats.

amtyrell

I have a food themos. If you pre heat with boiling water it cooks farro or quinoa before lunchtime. I sometimes even bring pulled pork or chicken
prechill it keeps greek yogurt awesome and best of all it has a cute folding spoon in the lid so i never forget the spoon. I found mine at target for about 20 dollars

007Aggie

Finger foods...cheese cubes, nuts, cubed salami/ham/turkey, cold meatballs, grilled chicken strips, cooked shrimp, veggies and greek yogurt based dips.

Pasta salad in all forms...greek (feta, olives, tomatoes), pesto with chicken, yakisoba noodles with chicken or pork.

Whole grain bagels with cream cheese.

Chicken/egg/tuna salad with lettuce wraps.

Cold homemade pizza (english muffin pizzas?).

dpwellman

When I was a roaming field tech, my mainstay was protein shake (two servings) in a liter size insulated vessel and assorted munchies: carrots and hummus, apples. . . These days I keep a stash of energy, protein bars handy (Zone Perfect, Aldi version of the Atkins Snack, Cliff Bar-- occasionally, Oh Yeah! ONE).

CaliMomTeach

Costco has really good insulated lunch bags that come with their own icepack that stays cold for a long time. They may only sell them at the beginning of the school year, but maybe if you check on line. Salads will stay cold in there. I lost a lot of weight in since last summer, and I started eating Trader Joes salads with half of the dressing to keep within calorie limits. They are good salads.

cdgallagher943

Good ole Montana coal miners lunch. Look it up, make a healthy version of it, I.e. Whole wheat, lean meats... etc.

cdgallagher943

priyamvada_k

Pita toasted with lots of olive oil to keep it soft; hummus; hard-boiled egg; cut fruit; yogurt - all packed in a cooler with an icepack.

sbchadwick71

My husband recently got a Yeti thermos as a gift and he has been taking all kinds of warm food for his lunch. He usually heats up the previous night's leftovers and puts it in his thermos. I'm sure any thermos would do, but might give you another option.

TJ_Slade

Awesome ideas so far. Thanks everyone. Really going to try and choose some healthy options that add variety to my packed lunches.

Getting bored with same ol same ol has tended to be my downfall in the past.

jcsgirl86

I've also done a pasta salad: whole wheat penne pasta, diced grilled chicken breast, chopped bell pepper & onion, and a little basil. Toss with light italian dressing and parmesan cheese. Keep it in the lunch box with ice packs. Makes a hearty, filling lunch.

MeginBliss

I do lots of soups, pastas etc in a thermos. Put the sink on as hot as it will go and let the hot water sit in the thermos for 10 mins while you heat up the food then put the food in the thermos. I find it's still hot enough I have to let it cool sometimes by lunch, about 5 hours. I just bought a cheap thermos at TJ Maxx.

Other options are pasta salad, hummus and veggies, chips and salsa, salads, do veggie sandwiches instead of the normal meat and cheese (avocado, cheese, hummus, cucumber, onion, cherry tomatoes cut in half, spinach, and bell pepper is a good combo), fruit with yogurt to dip, bagel sandwiches (Neufchâtel cheese, deli meat, and veggies).

DamieBird

I used this technique a lot when I was in the military and it was pretty effective, but you have to be careful about ingredients and food safety and such. Whenever I could I would pack leftovers from the night before in a glass container and leave it in the windshield of my car (if I drove) or in a sunny spot near a rock or reflective surface and just let it heat up all morning. Granted, this worked in AZ, not sure it would work the same in a cold climate or during the winter. By lunchtime, my food would be hot and I wouldn't be stuck with the same old sandwich or salad. Of course, no dairy or other food that wasn't already all the way cooked through, but it worked wonders with rice, beef, chicken, etc., and all manner of veggie dishes. I've also been known to stash a can of soup (or box or soup) inside/next to/near a hot engine/heater and make a harness out of string to cool off a soda in front of an A/C.

kenyonhaff

DamieBird wrote: »

I used this technique a lot when I was in the military and it was pretty effective, but you have to be careful about ingredients and food safety and such. Whenever I could I would pack leftovers from the night before in a glass container and leave it in the windshield of my car (if I drove) or in a sunny spot near a rock or reflective surface and just let it heat up all morning. Granted, this worked in AZ, not sure it would work the same in a cold climate or during the winter. By lunchtime, my food would be hot and I wouldn't be stuck with the same old sandwich or salad. Of course, no dairy or other food that wasn't already all the way cooked through, but it worked wonders with rice, beef, chicken, etc., and all manner of veggie dishes. I've also been known to stash a can of soup (or box or soup) inside/next to/near a hot engine/heater and make a harness out of string to cool off a soda in front of an A/C.

I had a friend who worked in snowmaking at a Vermont ski resort. The guys would stick their lunches in strategic places in the machinery to have them nice and hot by mealtime.

jimk92

make meal prepping your best friend haha

Sabine_Stroehm

Burritos.

Jennifer76elena

I cut up celery and put long pieces in a clean peanut butter container & bring a half full peanut butter with me on long work days. I just dip the long celery in the peanut butter for protein. I eat alot of veggies, fruits, cheese, nuts... all bought in bulk so they're cheaper. I portion them out each day. I eat things like yogurt & cheese earlier in the day for safety, even with a cold/ice pack, I eat things that can go bad first. Not to be weird but I eat things like beans or eggs later at home, so I don't fart in front of other people and don't have any stomach issues while at work. Water with lemon or lime is good too. So I don't feel the urge to buy soda, I buy the lime flavored fizxy water at Trader Joe's (4 small for 2$ or 4 big for 4$). Food high in protein and fat, and safe to keep in lunch box all day like peanut butter or nuts are great for eating in the car. Make sure you buy foods you actually like and will eat, so you won't be tempted to buy fast food/takeout.

cross2bear

mason jar salads - tons of recipes on line.

princess0lexi

sandwich wrap, lots of ideas on line and you can put all kinds of veggies and meat in there to make it taste good also you could try a veggie and fruit bento box, it can have some veggies or fruits you like and if you cook meals and have left overs, they can go in there. bento box`s can be fun and pretty easy.

Cowgirly

One thing I heard at a weight watchers meeting once was to get a veggie party tray and meat and cheese party tray from Costco and divide it up- a little more expensive than cutting/cleaning them yourself BUT fast and easy and cheaper than eating out. You could throw veggies in a baggie, meat & cheese in another and maybe a few crackers and it would be fine in a lunch bag style cooler. If you freeze a water bottle it will work as an ice pack. I think the biggest challenge is preparing ahead, that's why I shared this idea

ivygirl1937

princess0lexi wrote: »

sandwich wrap, lots of ideas on line and you can put all kinds of veggies and meat in there to make it taste good also you could try a veggie and fruit bento box, it can have some veggies or fruits you like and if you cook meals and have left overs, they can go in there. bento box`s can be fun and pretty easy.

I second this idea - there is an awesome thread on here about bento boxes if you need ideas.

http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10043413/using-bento-boxes-for-lunches#latest