VOTE AT THESE COOKING WEB RINGS
PACK A LUNCH
Dad takes a lunch in a cooler, mom takes a lunch in a bag, the big kids use a back pack and the little one (who stays at home) keeps an eye on all this (where's mine?)
To many families lunch is soup, salad and/or sandwich:
 | Soup is easy, just make sure it boils before it goes in the thermos or if it is a chilled soup, chill it well. Don't forget to prime the thermos by filling it with either hot or ice cold water before you add the soup. |
| Leftovers: Don't forget last nights dinner, reheat the macaroni & cheese; use the leftover hot dogs with a can of beans; be creative! |
| Salads are great, but don't put the dressing on it, send the dressing along in a separate container to be added just before lunch (most kids don't like soggy lettuce). Additionally, don't include items in your salad that require regular refrigeration, such as fish, unless it is canned and added at the last minute with the dressing. |
| Sandwiches are mostly used at lunch. But again, watch what may go bad without the refrigerator. A good precaution is the sandwich spread. Mayo is great but on a warm day (like every day in Palm Springs) it will not keep properly 3-4 hours (my opinion). However, there are many spreads that you can use on your sandwich that will "hold" until lunch time. Note, I like mayo on my sandwich (if it's cold) however, there are a lot of other spreads that are not only as good, some are better; see below. |
Ok, now we have the basics....but what about some tricks.
| Need an ice pack? Try taking that box juice (6 oz real juice only please, not the 1% juice 99% sugar) and freeze it real good. Before you freeze the juice wrap it in moister proof paper (don't want dripping water in the bag) and use it as an ice pack. After 3-4 hours it defrost and meantime keeps the other food cool. |
| The traditional ham & cheese sandwich or peanut butter & jelly....freeze it! Yep, prepare your sandwich as usual just don't include the vegetables, pack them separately. Take your bread, put spread on it, add the lunch meat & cheese. Wrap it in freezer paper or moister proof paper & freeze it. Pack the lettuce, tomato, pickle & what ever in a zip lock bag & refrigerate it overnight. Next day you simply pack the frozen sandwich, add the veggie bag & just before you eat, the sandwich add the vegetables. |
| Limit the junk food. Try adding something salty or sweet. Low fat crackers; dried fruit; trail mix that you make; even APPLE SANDWICH will work. You will never eliminate their desire for junk food but if you fill them up with something like a good tasting fruit juice that is cold they might put off getting that can of soda. |
| Get the family involved: Try to send lunches that they want to eat. What is dad's favorite sandwich? Will the kids want to eat what other kids are eating? What will the "little one" eat? Also important, what do you want to eat? In other words, talk to everyone & PLAN. |
| You know that there are times when you have to have a "fall back" plan. You don't have what they want; you are in a hurry; you name it, it happens. So.....plan ahead! Example: Everyone wants something you do not have or have time to prepare but they all like (peanut butter & jelly) you fill in the blanks. Use the following search bar to find more idea's & recipes |
SANDWICH SUGGESTIONS
| BANANA SANDWICH |
Flour tortilla, banana & cream cheese sandwich |
|
| BACON LETTUCE TOMATO SANDWICH | BEEF SALAD PITA | CHICKEN PITA SANDWICH |
| CHICKEN SANDWICH 2 | CHOPPED BEEF SANDWICH | CLUB SANDWICH |
| CORNED BEEF SANDWICH | DOGS IN A TUX | HAM SANDWICH |
| HAM-BURGER |
Baked ham, cheese, lettuce, tomato & onion sandwich |
|
| HAM & CHEESE SANDWICH | HOT DOG FINGERS | HOT DOG SPREAD |
| MUSHROOM FAJITAS | PEANUT BUTTER-BANANA SANDWICH | ROAST BEEF SANDWICH |
| SANDWICH ROLL | SANTA ROSA SANDWICH | SOUTHWESTERN WRAP |
| SUB SANDWICH | THE SMOKETREE | THE THUNDERBIRD |
| TURKEY BURGER 2 |
Burger style sliced turkey, cheese, lettuce, tomato, onion on toasted bun |
|
| TUNA SALAD SANDWICH 2 | VEGIE SANDWICH | WRAPPED CHICKEN SANDWICHES |
SALADS
| BEET SALAD | BROCCOLI SALAD | BROCCOLI SLAW |
| CARROT CUCUMBER SALAD | CHERRY CHICKEN SALAD | COBB SALAD 2 |
| COBB SALAD 3 |
Salad using chicory & romaine lettuce with watercress, chicken, pickle juice, pepper dressing, pickles, blue cheese, avocado, eggs, tomato & bacon |
|
| COLE SLAW | CUCUMBER POTATO SALAD | |
| FRUIT SALAD 2 |
Fruit salad using grapes, orange, banana, peach, nectarine & more |
|
| GREEK SALAD | GREEK STEAK SALAD | |
| HEARTS OF PALM SALAD | HOT DOG SALAD | ISRAELI SALAD |
| MUSHROOM SALAD | PEAR SPINACH SALAD | |
| POTATO SALAD | SPINACH SALAD | STRAWBERRY CHICKEN SALAD |
| STRAWBERRY SALAD | SUMMER SALAD | |
| STUFFED TOMATO 3 |
Tomato stuffed with breakfast cereal, tuna, yogurt, onion, cucumber & spices |
SPREADS (replace mayo when necessary)