How can I give my lunchbox some love?
Post categories: lunchboxes,Ìýsoup
| 15:00 UK time, Friday, 17 September 2010
Thinking about packed lunch consumes a great part of my working day: remembering to pack one in the first place, working out the optimum time to tuck in and then thinking about the next day's lunch... So where can I find inspiration? As the weather changes, soup is a comforting lunch option. Make it in large quantities in advance and freeze it - beans are particularly useful for bulking it out if necessary. And you can normally buy a fresh bread roll just before lunch. There was talk about pattypan squash on the messageboard recently, this might do the trick. There's also .
Leftovers are definitely the way to go. Make a little extra the night before and set aside tomorrow's serving before it gets nabbed - you'll find that dishes like curries and casseroles actually improve the next day. Love Food Hate Waste has some great .
Any robust salad that can stand the wait is perfect for preparing the night before. Couscous, noodle or pasta salad will fill you up nicely. Add extras like some cheese or hummus or sliced vegetable sticks to keep your interest after a few days! Get your tastebuds going with a peek at .
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Far be it from us to enforce 'bossy' lunchbox advice, but a few healthy kids' lunchbox suggestions can be a lifesaver for many parents. Indeed only - so even if you're not up to the fun of , it's worth giving it some thought.
Mumsnet can be relied upon for useful , as can the Food Standard Agency's , or Epicurious' . It's a good idea if you can get your child involved in deciding what's going in their lunchbox - maybe you could spend some time online together checking out recipes.
Do you have any inspirational ideas to lift lunchbox lethargy? Are you a packer or a purchaser? And what's on the menu for lunch today for you or your children?
Ramona Andrews is the host of the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Food Q&A blog and messageboard.
Comment number 1.
At 18th Sep 2010, Organoleptic Icon wrote:Don't you have a (free?) canteen at the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ, full of calorie counts and healthy eating options?
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Comment number 2.
At 18th Sep 2010, NoFrillz wrote:Never suffered from 'lunchbox lethargy' - being interested in food I never found it a chore or a time consuming problem myself.
Quote: Thinking about packed lunch consumes a great park(sic) of my working day
Hope this was said for some kind of artistic effect?
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Comment number 3.
At 20th Sep 2010, Dan Biddle wrote:A free canteen at the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ? Not that I've seen. Besides, that could be considered adding compliment to injury...
(Apologies to the excellent ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ catering staff for that sub-Ronnie Corbett joke.)
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Comment number 4.
At 21st Sep 2010, sueturnersmith wrote:The Beeb has some excellent staff cafeterias and restaurants, and when I was there the food was very good, with lots of choice.
Unfortunately, they are NOT free!
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Comment number 5.
At 22nd Sep 2010, Sandi wrote:I was hoping to get some inspiration for children's packed lunches - the new school year has now begun and my kids are telling me that there are classmates with elaborate lunch boxes. from the way they describe the contents it sounds as though their parents send them off with each morning!
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