It Worked For Me - Hot Lunch from Home

My blogger buddy Josi Kilpack over at What is a Sundial in the Shade has started an "It Worked For Me" linked list as "a way for us to share our tricks and tips about home, family, kids, etc." I've shared with several people our little strategy for sending hot lunches to school, and decided this would make a good contribution.

And this time I illustrate with fuzzy pictures.

The first thing I do in the morning is boil water in the teapot. Today's lunch menu is tortellini, so I also started some water in a second pot.

Once the water in the teapot boils, I pour it into our trusty little thermoses - one for each of the girls, and one for me. No need to make lunch twice. Unless lunch is mac and cheese.

Then I make breakfast and heat lunch while the boiling water warms the thermoses. This is also when I nag the sleepyheads.

Yum! Tortellini!

I empty the water and fill the thermoses with the hot food. We usually try to plan our dinners so there are leftovers to use in lunches. We've had mixed results with nuggets and burritos. Soups, stews, and pastas work great, although I have to be careful not to let the soups boil, or they're still too hot to eat at lunch time.

Casseroles all work very well, except for tuna casserole which is never good. Ick! Yuck! Blech!

Then I pack the thermos in with the sides, snacks, utensils, and a bottle of water. Today's menu includes Fritos, sliced apple, fruit snacks, a granola bar, and a sugar cookie with a chocolate chip in the middle, just in case you were wondering.

All in 30 minutes or less. My only fear with this method is that one day I'll accidentally forget to fill the thermoses and send my children to school with nothing but hot water for lunch. But so far, so good.

Share your "It Worked For Me" ideas with Josi. I've learned a lot, and look forward to getting even more good ideas.

Comments

Josi said…
That's very cool, I'd have never thought of that but it's brilliant--I've added you to the link list. Thanks, Don.
9/10/08, 2:23 PM
Jewel Allen said…
At first I was thinking, does he put the water in the tortellini? But now I get it. What a great idea!

It's lunch time and your post made me hungry. I'm gonna go eat now!
9/11/08, 11:19 AM
Marcia Mickelson said…
This has been a great idea that I've been using since Don first mentioned it on his blog and it's great for my 8 yr old who hates sandwiches. I put mini corn dogs in his, and he likes that. Chicken nuggets haven't worked for us either. I've tried to tell him pasta or mac n cheese, which he loves, but somehow he doesn't think that's what you eat at school lunch.
9/11/08, 1:47 PM
wendy said…
Brilliant! I think that just might work for my dd's breakfast. She is just not ready to eat at 5:45am. But maybe she could eat a hot breakfast from a thermos after seminary. I wonder how scrambled eggs and bacon would do...
9/13/08, 12:57 AM
2sisters said…
What a great idea! Would you be interested in sharing it as a guest blogger on our blog? http://acraftyclan.blogspot.com
teri (& micki, the 2 sisters)
3/26/10, 1:22 AM
Julie Wright said…
Simply brilliant! I have got to try this!
9/14/10, 10:49 AM
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