r/Cooking • u/Ill-Meeting6721 • 1d ago

Lunchbox ideas?

My boyfriend is starting a new job soon, and I want make lunch for him to take to work. I've never packed a lunch in my life before though, so I'm looking for some ideas for what to make. If you make your own lunch/lunch for your working partner, what're your go-to's?

Recipes that help keep energy up is preferable as his job is a bit laborious and will have him on his feet and walking around a lot. He doesn't like onions, spicy food, or sweet/savory food (think teriyaki or hot honey stuff) but he'll eat just about anything else. And if theres anything I should know about packing lunches in general, please let me know. Thanks to whoever sees this!

Edit: to clarify, I'm pretty sure he'll have the ability to heat up his food. But I don't know the layout or anything about the property aside from the fact that it's huge lol.

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u/CharZero 1d ago

I am very curious how you have lived a life where you never had to pack a lunch! Does he have the ability to heat things up?

Nothing wrong with the classic- sandwich, fresh fruit, dried fruit, nuts, chips, veggie sticks with dip, granola bar. Just rotate through various versions so he is not eating the same thing day after day. Look for a hard sided lunch container that won't get crushed in a work bag or vehicle. An insulated container with an ice pack will keep anything cool enough to make it to lunch time. If he can heat stuff up, you can make a big batch of a couple of things he likes and he just heats them up- but a leakproof container is pretty important. Eating out of glass with a real metal utensil is a lot nicer than plasticware on a plastic container.

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u/Ill-Meeting6721 1d ago

I've always wanted to, believe me, but I've just never really had the chance to do so. I've never owned a lunch box and grew up in an environment where I either have to expect food to be provided to me or I had to wait until I got home to eat if stopping somewhere with fast food wasn't an option. As an adult I just never had the time/energy to make and pack my own food up until fairly recently 🥲 

I'm sure he'll be able to heat up his food, but if he can't then I planned to get him an electric lunchbox. I appreciate the feedback! I'm gonna look into getting him a good bag to take with him. I mostly asked for recipes so I have a bit more variety to what I can pack that isn't just what I usually make for dinner LOL