lunches for a SUPER picky eater?

**kellydoeshair** · 03-18-2008, 09:44 AM

no, not kids
my dh has been working a new job, eating at a hospital cafe which means like 8-9$ a DAY YIKES
I've packed him lunches but he's really not interested
I try to not JUST stash leftovers in there, that way he "feels" like he's getting something special;-)
he's not into "fussy" things, I tried to send him to work with components of english muffin pizza and he said it was too much "stuff"
he doesn't like regular lettuce *only spinach*
usually likes japanese/ chinese/ pastas
we live near a restaurant supply so I have access to a lot, and I wouldn't mind spending a little money upfront to save money down the line

**kellydoeshair** · 03-18-2008, 09:45 AM

the good news is he DOES have access to fridge, freezeer, microwave, and toaster oven

**sunshine** · 03-18-2008, 10:06 AM

Find out what's he eating in the hospital cafeteria, and make a clone of those sort of things.

**kellydoeshair** · 03-18-2008, 10:17 AM

Originally Posted by sunshine

Find out what's he eating in the hospital cafeteria, and make a clone of those sort of things.

pizza, chef's salad, chicken fingers
like I said I TRIED to send him with pizza components so they wouldn't get gross
I think it's more the convenience of it than the actual food, because he doesn't eat like that at home

**IntlMom** · 03-18-2008, 10:30 AM

What does he SAY that he wants? I am assuming by your post that the "normal" sandwich, chips and fruit is out of the question?

some "fancy" ideas he may go for:
pasta salad
spinach salad maybe with hard boiled eggs
club sandwich
sushi
my hubby loves cold grilled chicken drumsticks (I just re-read that he can nuke stuff...my dh still likes 'em cold!)
any frozen dinner from the grocery store is going to be cheaper than 8-9 dollars and may be a good place to start

**sunshine** · 03-18-2008, 10:32 AM

OK-- then how about baking some specialty breads and sending slices of that?

Make a pasta salad, with lots of goodies in it.

His favorite hearty soup, that can be microwaved?

Wraps are big hit in our hospital cafeteria -- how about making him some on the specialty tortillas?

Ask him what he'd like. . . ?

**kellydoeshair** · 03-18-2008, 10:34 AM

I think he MAY go for a cold pasta salad
as long as I shove as many fresh veggies in as I can
he actually LOVES vegetables

**Ali Lee** · 03-18-2008, 01:40 PM

You all are just too kind. Sit his *** down and say.. we have allowances, yours is this, mine is this. If you choose to spend it all on a lunch.. so be it. But @ the end of the week, and you're broke, here's the peanut butter.

**sunshine** · 03-18-2008, 03:03 PM

Originally Posted by Ali Lee

You all are just too kind. Sit his *** down and say.. we have allowances, yours is this, mine is this. If you choose to spend it all on a lunch.. so be it. But @ the end of the week, and you're broke, here's the peanut butter.

:ROFL: Actually, in my household, that's what I'd do too. . . but I know not everyone operates that way.

**Rosebush3** · 03-18-2008, 03:43 PM

What about homemade 'pocket' sandwiches like calzones? They can hold pizza fillings, turkey and swiss, meatballs, tomato sauce and mozzarella, chicken and broccoli, even beef stew. They'd be easy to reheat at work, and you could make a bunch ahead of time and freeze them.

**ladykemma2** · 03-19-2008, 09:12 AM

what ali lee said...

curious - why are you making his lunch anyway? have plan and make his own, there will be lots more "buy in"

**northernmom2boys** · 03-19-2008, 09:17 AM

Originally Posted by Ali Lee

You all are just too kind. Sit his *** down and say.. we have allowances, yours is this, mine is this. If you choose to spend it all on a lunch.. so be it. But @ the end of the week, and you're broke, here's the peanut butter.

well said lol

**IntlMom** · 03-19-2008, 09:18 AM

Originally Posted by Ali Lee

You all are just too kind. Sit his *** down and say.. we have allowances, yours is this, mine is this. If you choose to spend it all on a lunch.. so be it. But @ the end of the week, and you're broke, here's the peanut butter.

I had to laugh at this too, cause this is pretty much how it is in our house too. IF my dh takes a lunch, it's as he's getting ready to go out the door in the AM. He'll ask me what he can take and I'll run down the list.
Soup, sandwich, leftoevers, frozen whatever. Usually I'll end up just making another pb&j for him when I make the kiddos lunches. Throw in some chips, maybe some nuts, some fruit, and wala, the guys got a lunch!

**kellydoeshair** · 03-20-2008, 10:11 AM

Originally Posted by ladykemma2

what ali lee said...

curious - why are you making his lunch anyway? have plan and make his own, there will be lots more "buy in"

I don't really mind doing it
and he's supposed to cut back on sodium
and if HE WERE to pack, it would be mostly canned soup and chips
not exactly condusive to cutting out salt
also in all fairness he works a LOT, his full time is 40+ hours a week, plus he teaches at a local university, and often times he does freelance from home, I only work about 35 hours a week, so I would be happy to do it, if he actually EATS what I put in there

**jettsmom** · 03-21-2008, 01:09 PM

My dh, and both adult boys work together.

They take leftovers sometimes.

They will take canned soup and crackers.

I also buy lots of frozen stuff like pizza pockets for them. Even though I could make them myself, these are still way cheaper than eating out. So my freezer is always full of these things. They just go down and grab something before going to work. There's usually a pretty good variety of things. I also watch for sales and really stock up and get rainchecks if necessary to help keep the cost down. Even paying full price, it's still cheaper than eating out.