You should know 2 things and us, if you don't already. First: We keep a Swing Shift schedule, even on days off. sleeping the afternoons away and up all night and morning. Second: We don't eat when you expect us to because of our schedule. Breakfast is around 8pm...yes PM. Lunch is around 2am...yes AM. and dinner it around 6 or 7 AM.
With that in mind...
For maybe 6 months lunches on work nights were a homemade made ahead salad. Every week I would prepare 10 salads in advance in airtight plastic containers. Dressing in tiny 1 ounce Tupperwares. Salads go to be mentally less than desirable or not enough or both.
I recently mentioned I wanted to eat lunch Bento style. I searched the shops for the perfect bento box that both Hubs and I could agree on. We almost looked at each other like this was a futile hunt. It's not like I wanted a Hello Kitty one, nor was I threatening to get him a Spongebob one. But the choices either seemed too big or too clumsy. He wanted his to git in his messenger bad. I hadn't thought far enough in the future to how I would carry mine once I was no longer on disability from my knee surgeries.
Later, when we went grocery shopping we stopped to see what was in the semi-disposable/recyclable (GLADWARE) storage containers. And we found shallow 3 compartment lidded "airtight" containers. We bought 2 sets (4 containers), I later bought another set because we tent do do things in 3, plan 3 days of food out at a time.
We both stumbled upon a few website with ideas for things to put in these lunches and how. Thank you Pinterest for the leads!
The 1st 3 days was less than exciting, but interesting. And it has since evolved.
Day one:
(sorry for the sideways view, I need picture editing practice on iphone)
Light string cheese, Half Nutella and Honey Sammy, Seasonal Strawberries, and carrot sticks stuck in some Ranch Dressing/Dip.
I also did, with out photos, BLT wraps in whole wheat tortillas with similar sides; Hand and string cheese rolls with fruit n veggie sides; and a few other plain Jane beginner ideas.
THIS WEEK:
I pulled out all 6 containers, almost everything fromt he fridge and pantry that was lunchbox worthy and splayed it all over my countertop, after looking at more ideas online and having a sleepless night.
I mostly wanted to raid and use up remnants before they went bad.
Heres what I came up with:
Left:
Whole grain Tostito scoops, Wholy Salsa, Hard-boiled egg, Colby-Jack cheese slices and some Kiwi wedges. I separated the cheese and egg in foil when I closed the container.
Top Right:
I had 1 last whole grain burger bun floating around the fridge so I utilized it with some sliced natural ham, muenster cheese, mayo n deli mustard vut into 4 wedges, down the center is a pickle spear wrapped in foil, on the side is some cottage cheese and pineapple as well as baby carrots cut in half length-wise and a tiny tub of hummus.
Botton Right:
PB & banana half sammy made with the heel/last piece of whole grain bread, Red grapes, Ham smeared with cream cheese n rolled up, and then some cauliflower drizzled in balsamic vinaigrette.
Left:
Slices up cauliflower, baby carrots, and radishes, Hard Boiled egg, Ham n String Cheese roll-ups, Hummus n feta for the veggies, then some greek honey flavored yogurt topped with a drizzle of honey, sliced banana and granola.
Top Right:
Apple n PB stacks, apple wedges, Lemon Newton Wafers, More sliced veggies n Hummus/feta mixture.
Bottom Right:
DIY Pizza Lunchables!
Pita Bread wedges, Pizza Sauce, Mozzarella shreds, Sliced ham, also an organic cup of applesauce and a tiny midget tupperware with some cinnamon-sugar for the applesauce.
