would the ice pack in my lunch box melt if...?

Alliegator

I just packed my lunch for school tomorrow, and I put the ice pack in the fridge, with the stuff. but since the ice pack is ice because its in the freezer... would it melt in the fridge or stay the same?

OR

could I just keep the refrigerated food in the lunch box in the fridge, but just put the ice pack in the freezer, would the food stay good even though its inside my lunch box?

Answer
It would last a long time in an insulated lunch bag. If you were just sticking the ice pack in a grocery bag you would have a mess quite quickly.
It will melt in the fridge eventually. Just leave it in the freezer until you get ready to leave.

Help with lunch ideas, please. :)?

sha h

My husband and I both work on an ambulance. We both work a 24 hour shift and a 48 hour shift every single week. We spend between $800-$900 a month on lunch alone, and this is all drive through... Some weeks we may get some time at the station, but it's a very regular thing that we will be away from the station for 24 hours straight and sometimes even longer, so we can't really depend on putting bagged lunches in the fridge. We do however get to work together, on the same ambulance, so we can pack a full lunch together and just share it... The only real thing I can think of to help us save some $$, is peanut butter sandwiches. We both love them, but eating nothing but PB sandwiches for 48 hours straight gets a little old... I just really need some ideas that we can pack for lunch that would be okay without refrigeration for sometimes up to 40 hours. I don't mind to cook stuff before we go onto shift and "portion it out' for the shift, I just don't know what would last. I was thinking maybe some rice, and macaroni, but I'm not sure this stuff would be okay that long in a vehicle. Any input would be absolutely awesome! Thanks. :)

Answer
Oh boy....$800-900 /mo. on lunch alone...hmmm not good. I think my financial adviser would have a heart attack if he read that. Then, I'd be off the hook! haha Let's just shudder and think about it ...before we get to solving the problem...that is over $10,000 a year...just on lunches. Ok, you guys work hard for the money and you deserve better. That money has got to go into savings as an emergency fun or towards a long vacation. :) As much as I love, PB&J sandwiches...and I do...no one can eat those 24/7. So, here's a few ideas that come to mind. You might not be able to make your lunch everyday but if you can do a few things to start...you'll be heading in the right direction in no time. Even if you cut the "drive through" stops to just 3 times a week...that's a start.

So, let's start with "tools of the trade". These items are great for transporting/storing food. Some things might work better than others just use them by trial and error. I recognize you don't want to carry alot of stuff with you but a small cooler packed with just about everything you need can go a long way. I was a driver for an International Express Mail Delivery service. I had to make do alot until I wised up...put some energy into it and got it all set up.

-(reusable) Frozen water bottles (Just use regular small water bottles, freeze them and use them as your ice in a small cooler). As they melt, they are great for a quick after meal hand wash or just drink the water. Buy a six pack and put them all in the freezer to keep on hand. Just grab and go.
-Igloo ice chest (small) These are great and fairly compact.
-Reusable bamboo forks, knives & spoons
-2 durable cloth napkins
-Soft "compacting" ice chests-These are new on the markets and are designed to fold up when you are finished.
-"Thermos" (brand) product lines of hot & cold food/beverage storage.
Examples:
http://www.thermos.com/products/vacuum-insulated-24-oz-stainless-king-food-jar.aspx
http://www.thermos.com/products/element-5-lunch-lugger-cooler.aspx

Entrees:

-Tuna/Chicken Salad Stuffed Bellpeppers/Tomatoes:
Make your favorite tuna or chicken salad and stuff them in whole red bell pepper/tomato cups. (top is cut off & deseeded). Keep the little bell pepper/tomato "lids". Then, wrap the entire item in plastic wrap. No need for a bowl...the food is part of the storage system. Serve with celery/carrot sticks, crackers/crostini.

-Muffaletta Sandwich-This New Orleans "staple" can be made ahead of time with an entire wheel of bread (big or small), wrapped in plastic wrap tightly (so it compacts) and then at meal time it can be cut into wedges. Rather than type the recipe out (and there are many variations of it...so just find a favorite) here's a link. This sandwich is an entire meal. It can be high in calories so it's up to you how often you make it. But you can pick and choose other healthier ingredients if you want.

http://www.nolacuisine.com/2005/07/17/muffuletta-sandwich-recipe/

-Turkey Chili in a Bread Bowl-Again, this uses the food as part of the food serving/storage. So, you bring along your new Thermos of Turkey chili. Then, when meal time comes around you pull out small wheels of bread (or large dinner rolls) that have been prepped (top cut off, insides removed). Just fill the bread bowls with your warm chili. Bring along a baggie of shredded cheese and chopped onions. Note: Bread bowls & large (prebaked) potatoes work great with hearty stews, thick soups and even tuna/chicken salads. Lots of options here to work with.

Ok, that's it off the top of my head. Good luck to you and take care.

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I need some healthy and easy recipes for lunch?

Q. I want some healthy and easy recipes that I can make for lunch. With cheap ingredients and that I can eat on a regular basis. Also maybe some healthy snack ideas?(preferably cheap) thanks!

Answer
I like to make chicken salad for lunches. Itâs healthy, fast, and full of protein to keep you full for a long time. Just boil 4 skinless/boneless chicken breasts (around $7), then dice into small squares. Mix in a big bowl with 1 cup mayonnaise, ¼ cup mustard, 1 tsp lemon juice, 1 diced onion, 5 diced stalks of celery, salt & pepper (around $5). So, for a total of only 12 bucks, you have lunch for every day of the week.

I pre-portion the Chicken Salad into ziplock sandwich baggies and keep in the fridge, so they are ready to go for each day. Just use a small insulated lunch bag with a freezer pack, to keep the food fresh until lunch time. For a snack, I bring along a bag of baby carrots and ranch dressing. I work in an office, and this is a great lunch for Mon-Fri. Saves me bundles of money and is much healthier than eating fast food every day. If you want, you can take bread to put the salad on, but since I eat low-carb foods, I skip the bread.

What are some good take-lunch ideas that don't require refrigeration or microwaving?

DrowEthel

I need ideas for lunches I can take to work with me but they can't be any that require refrigeration or microwaving because there isn't a fridge (and I don't have an insulated lunchbox) or microwave at work.

Answer
I have a few thoughts for you. First, there is this great lunch system that makes packing lunches super easy and you can win one free on my site (simply comment on food items already there, or add your own item - it doesn't take long at all). It is called easylunchboxes.com - you could win a container set and an insulated bag. If you don't want to enter, or don't win, I'd suggest buying an insulated bag and a couple little ice packs. Then, for packing lunches ... visit http://www.lunchtaker.com for a lot of ideas. We have a blog section that gives suggestions for things as well. Everything on the site is on the easy side, nutrition is included for all items you can be aware of how you are eating etc. Also, especially as it gets colder out, consider buying a thermos so you can pop leftover soups and stews and such in your lunch. We have a blog post about pre-warming thermos products to make them hold heat better that I'd suggest before you use one.
Good luck with lunch! :) Amy

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How to keep a salad fresh for lunch without a refrigerator?

insulated lunch bags in fridge image

Jenny

I want to start taking salads to work for lunch but there aren't any refrigerators to put my food in. How would I be able to keep a salad fresh?

Answer
blue ice jel packs!! I use these a lot, and keep twice as many as I need in the freezer.

Pack your salad with dressing on bottom in quart canning jars, keep in fridge and grab as needed.

slip them and the gel packs into insulated bags and go!

What are some school lunch ideas?

lakinny101

I am packing my lunch this year, because school lunches are gross. I need some ideas of lunches that will stay pretty fresh in a locker for a few hours. I don't want the hallway to stink because of my lunch.

Answer
Packing a lunch for school and/or work can be a challenge. Often times you donât have access to a microwave or refrigeration. Eating the same thing every day can get old after a short time as well. My suggestions for lunch are listed below. Consider taking an insulated lunch bag to keep some of these things cold until itâs time to eat. You could also freeze your beverage (water, juice, etc) and use it as an ice pack if you donât have a lunch box.

Wraps, salads, and sandwiches are good for the âentrée courseâ of your lunch. Use different deli meats and cheeses every week so you donât tire of the same flavors. Itâs good to make homemade dressings or switch up the condiments on these items as well. Use as many fresh ingredients as possible to increase the nutritional value as well. Another idea would be to cook chicken breasts, fish, and pork tenderloins in large amounts over the weekend and keep the cooked meat in the fridge or freezer as an addition to your sandwiches, wraps, or salads. Itâs a nice change to deli meat. My family also enjoys chicken, tuna, or ham salad sandwiches every so often. And you can never go wrong with peanut butter and jelly!

As the âside dishesâ for your lunch, I would suggest any of the items listed below.
fruit, yogurt, pudding, or jello cups
fresh vegetables with ranch dressing
granola bars
popcorn
trail mix
chips (take salsa or a cheese dip for tortilla chips)
pretzels
100 calorie snack packs (cookies, brownie bites, etc)
special K cracker chips
dry cereal
fresh fruit (like apples/bananas with peanut butter, orange slices, grapes, etc)
tasty cakes (Little Debbie brand)
bologna and cheese cubes
broccoli, macaroni, pasta, or potato salad
crackers (goldfish, animal crackers, cheese or peanut butter filled sandwich crackers)
dried fruit (raisins, craisins, banana/apricot/apple chips)
deviled or pickled eggs
cheese curls or cheese balls
fun sized candy bars
mixed nuts
gummy candy
marshmallows

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Any ideas for things to bring in my lunch?

insulated lunch bags in fridge image

aamoore199

I'm trying to bring my lunch to university with me because i'm trying to save money. Problem: i really dislike sandwiches. What are some other ideas?

Answer
When I was an Grad student, I use to bring the lunch kits made by StarKist - they consist of a can of tuna or chicken with an easy open can, a packet of mayo, a packet of relish, a wooden spoon and crackers. They were pretty good, did not need refrigeration or heating up. I also use to bring leftovers that didn't always need reheating, cheese cubes and sliced summer sausage - although we did have a fridge and microwave in our department lounge so if I wanted I could reheat things - and I kept things cool with a frozen bottle of water in an insulated lunch cooler. Other things I kept in my backpack to munch on were homemade Trail Mix, fruit such as apples, oranges, grapes, peaches, pears and banana, crackers, cookies, candy bars, etc.

For a healthy snack, make your own Trail Mix using a combination of any or all of the following:

Dried cranberries - Craisins
Dried cherries
Raisins - plain or chocolate covered
Dates
Fancy Mixed Nuts - salted or unsalted, your choice
Dried Mango
Dried Papaya
Coconut flakes
M&Ms
Banana chips
Apple chips
Dried Peaches
Dried Blueberries
Dried Pineapple
Granola

Keep in a sealed container or ZipLock bags to keep fresh.

For healthy lunches, I like turkey, beef or ham with cheese and lettuce sandwiches or wraps made with tortilla shells - make your sandwiches on whole wheat or multigrain bread and use whole wheat tortilla shells; salads with the dressing on the side; homemade chicken or tuna salad using just enough Miracle Whip or mayo to hold the ingredients together; celery sticks, baby carrots, radishes, cherry or grape tomatoes with some salad dressing on the side for dipping...


SAC

Good lunch ideas that don't need to be kept cool or heated?

Snarly

I need to start packing a lunch when I go back to work in January because buying lunch each day is costing me too much and is not good for my waistline.... my only problem is I am really fussy with packed lunch. For example, whenever I put an ice pack in to keep it cool, it makes my sandwiches soggy so they don't get eaten. So now I can't put an ice pack in. I also can't heat anything at work.

So far I have got popcorn and juice packs to take, but I am looking for something more substantial to put with it!

Answer
We have a microwave & a fridge, but I keep some things at room temperature to eat them lukewarm after cooking them in the morning & eating half of it for breakfast. For instance,
curried rice & veggies & cooked apples with raisins or chopped dates & spices
Trader Joe's frozen entrees in bags, stir fried in the morning with extra steamed veggies added
warm or cold mac 'n cheese with steamed veggies added
oatmeal with apples & raisins (still good, milk or not)
all or half of a sweet potato baked that morning
Any of those can be dished up into plastic lidded containers placed in bread wrappers if needed.
Another possibility is a small wide-mouth thermos to keep them warm. If you have any doubts about the safety of what I'm doing, then by all means be safe & put cooked food in a wide-mouth thermos. In fact, that's what you'll often see the outdoors workers eating from so they'll have hot soup with their sandwiches.

Others can be taken out of the fridge in the morning & kept for several hours without much danger. Blue ice could be taken with them if you feel the need. Sandwiches can be in plastic sandwich boxes or in bread wrappers.

cheese sandwiches
cucumber & cheese sandwich--cut into fourths & put a slice of cucumber & a sprig of cilantro onto each fourth.
hummus sandwich--vinegar in hummus works well as a preservative.
almond butter & low sugar fruit preserves
cheese sandwich on pita bread with ruffly lettuce
crackers & cheese
bagel & cream cheese
homemade oatmeal muffins or cookies
I always use soy mayo (Nayonnaise) because I figure that it's less likely to spoil than a standard egg mayonnaise. Other possibilities are oil and herbs on the bread and/or a sprinkle of vinegar

Other items from the fridge can be in serving size containers or in plastic bags with twist ties. For example,
baby carrots or carrot sticks
olives
cashews, blanched almonds, or mixed nuts
plain yogurt with cardamom, cinnamon, or garam masala stirred into it
pasta salad made on the weekend
bean salad made on the weekend
a whole avocado--peel & slice at lunch & hope that it's good.
the usual apple, banana, or other fruit

I also take frozen things for the microwave & confess that even after eating breakfast, I still want to eat some of these quick lunch items at morning break & will still be ready for lunch by the time noon rolls around. It saves time & money not to rush off to the coffee shop for a chocolate muffin or a bagel.

Plain yogurt can be made overnight in a wide-mouth thermos. Heat the milk to 180 degrees then cool it down to around 95-110. (I've seen some disagreement about the 2nd temp.) Pour into a hot thermos & add a big spoonful of plain yogurt as a starter. Use a good brand from the health food store as the starter. Stir on the lid, wrap in a dish towel, & place in an insulated nylon container to keep it warm overnight. The next morning, with a little bit of luck, you'll have fresh yogurt in your thermos. It's a variation on an ancient miracle. Carry it in the thermos or put it into a little lighter weight plastic container. Over time, even plain yogurt starts to taste sweet.

Also note that the Japanese people use divided containers called Bento Boxes & have made quite an art out of packing these with a variety of dishes. After hearing about these, now the makers of plastic carriers in America have followed suit, so now you can find similar divided dishes in our big box stores, some with spaces for blue ice beneath the food. If you want to buy any sort of lunch bag or container, you'll find the best selection in the late summer when parents are buying school supplies for their kids. Other times of the year, it may be a little hard to find the insulated bags that you want.

Aside from all that fancy stuff, some of us just toss our food into some sort of cloth tote bag & head off to work. For more food, I may use a tote bag with a small cardboard box I've set inside, a good idea, too, if some things are best kept upright to avoid leakage. It's best if these bags get washed every weekend. Have an extra bag in case one is still drip drying. Forget any ironing. No one cares. Commercial cloth lunch bags may have cute sayings like, "Brown Bag," but I usually want something a little bigger than that with handles on it. I get really hungry when I'm at work. Don't forget your toothbrush btw.

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