The lunch solution

We live about 15 minutes out of town.

Since J and I both work IN town, this has made our lunch breaks, if we have them, a little on the interesting side. There's not enough time to run home on a regular lunch hour--we'd basically get there, sit down for a few minutes, and turn back around. Eating out every day is also not an option on our budget. So, for the most part, it's been about packing lunches.

Last year, we were lucky because my job had a refrigerator and a microwave. Lunches were easy to deal with. This year, I have those options at my job as well, but I can also just head home after work since I'm off by 2.

But J has had a much harder struggle. Not only does he often work 12 hour shifts, but he works in a mall kiosk...with no break room, no refrigerator, and no microwave.

For the past few months, we've experimented. He has an insulated lunch box, so I would make him sandwiches the night before and stick them in his lunchbox in the refrigerator overnight. That way, when he took it in the morning, they would stay relatively cool until lunch. But sandwiches get old every day, especially for two meals a day. I tried to budget it in for him to buy lunch at least twice a week, but, with our goals, it just wasn't something either of us was thrilled with.

Then, last week, I discovered the Lunch Crockpot. It had great reviews, so J went and bought one. It is PERFECT. You can use it to warm things up or cook them...just like a regular crock-pot. J has been using it to cook canned soup, but, as soon as I'm out of the hospital (again), I will start cooking up soups and various crockpot things for him to take during the day. He is so happy to be free from sandwiches, and our budget is happier, too. :) Plus, I love making Crockpot stuff--soups and such are just great.

Yay!