I really want to start packing a nutritious lunch for my DP. He would happily eat fast food cheeseburgers and soda for lunch every day (and pretty much does). He's not big on trying new "weird" foods, which I'm working on. He likes peanut butter sandwiches, but peanut butter every day doesn't seem healthy. Our dinner leftovers usually are good for lunch, but he's a general contractor and doesn't always have access to a fridge or a way to heat lunch up.

I'd love to hear your experiences with this or advice. He has arthritis and I'm really trying to help him eat more traditional foods. I haven't been helping with his lunch at all and NEED to.

Does he know ahead of time which days he'll have access to a fridge? Or is it uncertain always?

Does he know ahead of time which days he'll have access to a fridge? Or is it uncertain always?

Uncertain most of the time 'cause he bounces around from location to location a lot of the time and doesn't always have a set schedule of where he will be.

I’m interested in the responses.

My husband also works construction and takes a cooler daily. He doesn’t like using site microwaves so he doesn’t take leftovers that require heating.
Not necessarily TF, but he takes a sandwich (meat, cheese, veggies) – the kid’s and I are veggie and my husband eats veggie at home so he looks forward to his ‘meat sandwiches’ at lunch. He also takes fruit, yogurt, granola, cut up veggies, and tea or lemonade. He likes something sweet with his morning coffee so I usually throw in a baked sweet.

When we both worked we both bought lunch daily. He said he feels much better/healthier now that he takes a lunch from home.

Uncertain most of the time 'cause he bounces around from location to location a lot of the time and doesn't always have a set schedule of where he will be.

This is one of the reasons my husband likes taking a cooler. He can eat in his truck, at a site, anyplace. Also, my husband likes to graze throughout the day instead of taking a set lunch, so having the food available makes grazing a little easier.

I've been planning this very thing. My dh will be home from deployment soon, and at work has access to fridge, and only a microwave to reheat. I'm not planning on having him use the micro.

Here are the links I'm using to plan. Some amazing ideas!! I'm hoping by the end of summer I will have lots of tried and true to use for my son at school.

I haven't tried anything yet so I dont' have any recipes to share myself!

http://cookingformyfamily.blogspot.com/2008/07/healthy-lunchbox-ideas.html
http://oreganicthrifty.blogspot.com/2008/11/lunchbox-makeover-ideas-for-school.html
http://www.thenourishinggourmet.com/2008/08/nourishing-portable-food-challenge_26.html

Most leftovers do just fine eaten cold. My DH refuses to reheat anything, but I don't let that effect what I pack him. We have yet to find any leftovers that are truly inedible when cold, and I've been packing his lunch daily for almost 5 years.

As for keeping things cool... as a contractor, I'd probably look into a small ice chest or even one that can plug into his lighter, since the car can get so hot. Mine just carries an insulated bag, but it won't be sitting in a hot car, either.

My DH's lunch today was the leftover mofongo (mashed plantains) from last night, leftover pork roast from Sunday night, and carrots for the main. At this time of year he gets a bunch of fresh fruit for his snacks, so today it was plum, apricot, cherries, grapes, along with string cheese. I also pack him iced (herbal) tea in his KK, and he can refill it with water when that's gone.

But his main is entirely dependent on what leftovers we have in the house... sometimes it's chicken salad, sometimes it's sliced roast, only rarely do I actually make something specifically for his lunches, usually I just make sure to make extra dinner. If he's been having stomach issues, I'll pack him yogurt and granola or yogurt and fruit... but it's too "messy" for him, so I only do that when I have to.

I pack his lunch in a 2-tier tiffin most of the time (if I'm packing yogurt I use a 3-tier). One tier is his main and the other his snack - and with time I've figured out the amounts that he needs in order to come home ready for dinner, yet not starving.

I swear, for a moment reading the OP, I was wondering if my DH was your DP!

My best shot is a peanut butter sandwich, hunk of raw cheese, raw carrots, and a small piece of chocolate. Not exactly TF, but a vast improvement over McDonalds daily. PB is the only kind of sandwich he likes that's not heated. And he's out in the field most days with no access to anything.

I await more suggestions, too.

these links look great!

I've been planning this very thing. My dh will be home from deployment soon, and at work has access to fridge, and only a microwave to reheat. I'm not planning on having him use the micro.

Here are the links I'm using to plan. Some amazing ideas!! I'm hoping by the end of summer I will have lots of tried and true to use for my son at school.

I haven't tried anything yet so I dont' have any recipes to share myself!

http://cookingformyfamily.blogspot.com/2008/07/healthy-lunchbox-ideas.html
http://oreganicthrifty.blogspot.com/2008/11/lunchbox-makeover-ideas-for-school.html
http://www.thenourishinggourmet.com/2008/08/nourishing-portable-food-challenge_26.html