# Packed lunch ideas **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 7, 2008, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/packed-lunch-ideas/466793 "2008-10-07T02:56:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![velvetjones](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/5f9b8f/32.png) [@velvetjones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/velvetjones)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2008, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/packed-lunch-ideas/466793/21 "2008-10-07T17:44:25Z")
Try some of the other nut butters if you’re sick of peanut butter. My grocery store has almond butter and Cashew butter. A bit more expensive than PB but delicious. I love an apple or carrots or celery with nut butter. ---
**Author:** ![vintageloveletter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/8e8cbc/32.png) [@vintageloveletter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vintageloveletter)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2008, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/packed-lunch-ideas/466793/22 "2008-10-07T17:50:05Z")
One of my favorite sandwiches is fresh sliced mozzarella, tomato, basil, and a little olive oil on a nice roll. ---
**Author:** ![Hockey\_Monkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a183cd/32.png) [@Hockey\_Monkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hockey_Monkey)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2008, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/packed-lunch-ideas/466793/23 "2008-10-07T17:55:25Z")
Instead of regular bread, try a FlatOut wrap or something similar. It’s like a tortilla, but not a tortilla. Place whatever fillings you like on it in a thin layer and roll it up. There are several variations that I rotate frequently, but the possibilities are endless. Roasted chicken with Fontina and sliced Granny Smith Apples Deli sliced ham and Muenster Deli sliced turkey with Havarti Peanut butter and jelly with sliced strawberries, bananas, and granola Get a cold pack and toss in things like yogurt or cottage cheese, and leave room for fruits like apples, oranges and bananas that come in their own wrappers. ---
**Author:** ![Velma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/85e7bf/32.png) [@Velma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velma)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2008, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/packed-lunch-ideas/466793/24 "2008-10-07T18:04:16Z")
You can roll up lots of stuff in tortillas. I buy the whole-wheat ones and make my son lunches with leftovers - chicken, tuna, ground beef, lunchmeat, cheese, etc. You can add pretty much any veggie to it. Or spread some hummus on it and a slice of turkey or sliced veggies and roll it up, good to go. I also like the mini-pitas that many grocery deli sections have. Good for stuffing salads into them. Cold pasta salads are good, bagels, hard boiled eggs, pretzels and spreadable cheese… Wander around the deli or lunch to go section of the grocery store and see what they have, it can give you ideas of what to make yourself. Sometimes just switching the bread of a sandwich makes it more appealing, try pretzel rolls, or swirled rye or something fun. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2008, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/packed-lunch-ideas/466793/25 "2008-10-07T19:57:58Z")
> [@Silver Tyger Girl](#): > > So anybody want to suggest sandwich ideas? Because my old standby of deli turkey, spinach, and mustard is no longer appealing. And I’m afraid to try eating peanut butter any more (not allergic - just lived on it long enough that it makes me gag). The snacky stuff was working because it was a variety of textures and tastes (somewhat). I’m not trying to be difficult, I swear, I’m just kinda picky and have to be careful that I don’t overdo it on any one food. > > I really should try making rice balls again. With actual fillings this time. Vary it. Roast beef is good. I like Lebanon bologna, when I can get it, and this week I’m eating salami from Katz’s deli in NY which I got as a thanks for doing booth duty last week. (With real NY rye bread. Yum.) If you make chicken for dinner, make a few extra pieces and slice them for sandwiches. That’s a lot tastier than deli meat. I don’t make this, but when I’ve got a choice of sandwiches from a trade show lunch I often prefer the vegetarian alternative, with eggplant and peppers. When we make eggplant at home, there is seldom any left. ---
**Author:** ![spoike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/da6949/32.png) [@spoike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spoike)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2008, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/packed-lunch-ideas/466793/26 "2008-10-07T20:30:25Z")
> [@Silver Tyger Girl](#): > > So anybody want to suggest sandwich ideas… The two sandwiches that get asked for most in my house are as follows: 1. Thinly sliced Granny Smith apple with cream cheese or cheddar on either toasted raisin bread or a toasted cinnamon raisin english muffin. I sprinkle the apple lightly with cinnamon, as well. 2. Sliced avocado with cream cheese and either sprouts or lettuce on brown bread. The only seasoning necessary is a little salt and pepper. Both sandwiches are extremely easy to make, but very yummy. One of my most favourite lunches is just a little container of hummous packed with separate containers of whole wheat pita wedges and crudites. I especially enjoy broccoli as it has lots of surface area for the hummous, but celery, carrots, mushrooms and cherry tomatoes are good, too. ---
**Author:** ![maladroit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f475e1/32.png) [@maladroit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/maladroit)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2008, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/packed-lunch-ideas/466793/27 "2008-10-07T20:37:35Z")
try pita bread instead of loaf, or try lettuce roll-ups or tortillas ---
**Author:** ![Pyper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Pyper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pyper)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2008, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/packed-lunch-ideas/466793/28 "2008-10-08T03:08:23Z")
French bread pizza is easy to make, easy to customize, and easy to pack. It’s just as tasty cold as it is warm. My current schedule doesn’t allow a lunch break, so I actually eat lunch while driving. Lunch consists of: a bottle of milk or kefir, an energy bar, and fruit. With the different flavors of milk or kefir you can get, and the endless variety of energy bars and fruit, this doesn’t really get boring. The combination also has good sustaining power without making me drowsy. ---
**Author:** ![Lisa-go-Blind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Lisa-go-Blind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lisa-go-Blind)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2008, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/packed-lunch-ideas/466793/29 "2008-10-08T03:24:25Z")
I cook a lot, so I usually just bring leftovers. Some work cold better than others. I think [this recipe for Panthay Noodles](http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/20/dining/201orex.html?ref=dining) was particularly tasty cold. Another favorite was Thai beef salad and quinoa, both of which were meant to be eaten at room temperature anyway. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/packed-lunch-ideas/466793.md?page=1)