Packed lunch - make it the day before?

**fifitrix** · 13-06-2012, 07:35pm

J has school lunches normally - thank goodness, I barely get out of the house in the morning as it is

But we have a couple of trips coming up where she needs a packed lunch, and then holiday clubs likewise.

Am I right in thinking it's ok to make sandwiches etc the night before and just keep them in the fridge? I normally make tuna, crab or other tinned fish, cucumber/peppers/carrot sticks and fruit, plus other non-fridge bits.

Please say yes!

it would be so much easier to just do it while I'm making her tea and then not come home to everything strewn all over the kitchen!

**zummerzet lou** · 13-06-2012, 07:39pm

Yes - I make my kids lunches the night before, and then come back the day after empty so must be OK!

Only thing is, don't put cucumber, tomato etc in the sandwiches as they'll go soggy overnight, but dry-ish fillings work well.

**Jelly** · 13-06-2012, 07:44pm

If you're adding biscuits, don't put them in until the morning or they go stale. DS1 likes cucumber on his sandwich and I put it in a little pot with his lunchbox and he add it at lunch.

**Mrs B** · 13-06-2012, 07:59pm

I always make them the night before and keep in the fridge, ready to go in their lunchboxes. Have heard of people making a weeks worth of sarnies, freezing them and just taking 1 out each day - but MrB thinks that's minging and won't let me do it.

***Holly*** · 13-06-2012, 08:01pm

Originally Posted by Mrs B

I always make them the night before and keep in the fridge, ready to go in their lunchboxes. Have heard of people making a weeks worth of sarnies, freezing them and just taking 1 out each day - but MrB thinks that's minging and won't let me do it.

Exactly this, I would love to give the freezing sandwiches a try but its been vetoed here too! Just seems so much easier!

**January** · 13-06-2012, 08:15pm

Totally fine to make them the night before.

I've heard of the freezer thing but never done it. Not entirely convinced they wouldn't be a bit grim

**cheeky_biscuit** · 13-06-2012, 08:23pm

I do my lunch the night before but usually do salad (no dressing) & take a wrap/pitta separately.
I worked with someone, a grown man who lived with his mum and when his parents went on holiday his mum would freeze enough sandwiches to last him the duration of her holiday.

***Holly*** · 13-06-2012, 08:24pm

Originally Posted by January

I've heard of the freezer thing but never done it. Not entirely convinced they wouldn't be a bit grim

Thats the main thought overriding my laziness at the moment. Well that and being too lazy to even make 5 sandwiches in one go!

**Jelly** · 13-06-2012, 08:49pm

I used to have to make my own lunch as a kid, and I made 5 vegemite sandwiches and froze them every Sunday night

**Sam** · 13-06-2012, 08:49pm

Dh says yes definitely. He's the head of that department in this house

**Superkat** · 13-06-2012, 09:32pm

I always make the packed lunches the night before. If I am using something that will make sandwich soggy I pop it in a wee pot. No chance would I have time to do it in the morning!

**Chell** · 13-06-2012, 09:37pm

I always do them the night before too. Any salad goes in tin foil or a little plastic pot.

**fifitrix** · 13-06-2012, 09:54pm

Oh brilliant, thanks ladies! Permission to prep in advance then

I had thought about soggy things so will make sure they are separate

I am glad it's not just me that is incapable of rational thought in the morning

I dread to think what I might put in there...

**Samba** · 13-06-2012, 11:41pm

Right, I'm going to give this a try too. One less thing to have to do in the morning

**Oana** · 14-06-2012, 09:48am

Always, never have time in the morning

**S-J** · 14-06-2012, 11:30am

Yes I always do all 3 of our packed lunches the day before and leave in fridge. Dont have time in the mornings.

They have always been fine, but never have cucumber tomato etc in them as that would go soggy.

Ive wondered about crackers for a lunchbox for DS. But wouldnt the crackers go soft if I put butter on them(in the morning even til lunchtime)? Anyone do crackers?

**fifitrix** · 14-06-2012, 01:39pm

Oh yes I do crackers for holiday club - I put butter and cheese on, and wrap them in tinfoil and they've aways been fine (but I wouldn't do that the day before)

**S-J** · 14-06-2012, 02:12pm

Thanks fifitrix, yes Id do crackers in the morning. Might see if DS wants that tomorrow.

**Chell** · 14-06-2012, 03:14pm

I made myself crackers and Philli the other night. I chatted to my mum for 50mins on the phone. By the time I ate them they were soft.

I give the children the Philli in a little pot, crackers wrapped in tin foil and a plastic knife. Or cheese wrapped seperately and some butter in a pot. If we are in a cafe and get too many of the little butter portions then I take those for packed lunches. My children also like a pot of Phillidelphia and bread sticks to dip.

Homemade pizza swirls freeze really well as an alternative to sarnies.

**Helski** · 14-06-2012, 06:45pm

Originally Posted by Chell

I made myself crackers and Philli the other night. I chatted to my mum for 50mins on the phone. By the time I ate them they were soft.

I give the children the Philli in a little pot, crackers wrapped in tin foil and a plastic knife. Or cheese wrapped seperately and some butter in a pot. If we are in a cafe and get too many of the little butter portions then I take those for packed lunches. My children also like a pot of Phillidelphia and bread sticks to dip.

Homemade pizza swirls freeze really well as an alternative to sarnies.

Oooh what are pizza swirls? DS is so fussy with sandwiches that I'm desperate for alternatives!

I do them in the morning and it was

to begin with but fine now.
Except this week I put DS' peanut butter roll in DD's lunchbag by mistake and she was less than impressed!!