Home Lunch Ideas

The Thermos idea does work, I heat up Mac & Cheese in the morning for my son, put it in a insulated metal cup & it's still warm by lunch time.
For other ideas, I know Costco has a pasta salad with chicken, I eat it with a sandwich & it's really filling. You can also throw in a cheese stick or two with crackers. A banana, or a peeled orange. Some trail mix.
As far as sandwiches though, maybe try making it on a roll (single rolls are .33 or .50 at most grocery stores) or large slices of french bread cut in half and add make it thick by adding a lot of lettuce, bacon, & tomatoes or avacado (if he likes that stuff).

Strangely enough, I thought about your problem for a while. My husband eats like that, or he used to until I intervened (he still eats a lot, just healthier). I would attack the snack thing first. Pack him a filling snack along with the lunch- anything high in protein and fiber (and some fat if he doesn't have a weight problem). Protein bars might be a good choice, or protein drinks. Foods high in protein and fiber will make him feel full longer and stay away from his lunch until lunch time. Then look at lunch the same way. I could probably eat 5 PB and J's too, and I really don't eat that much. Give him more lean protein, and if you do Peanut butter put bananas on them instead (yum, now I want one!) and lots of vegetables- pack him a salad! I know men hate that on principle, but my husband, if given the choice, will order a salad for lunch and swears it keeps him alert (istead of drowsy food coma) all afternoon. Use a cooler pack and you can send him cheese or other refridgerated stuff. I also read somewhere that you can pack any hot food in a thermos (and I mean more than just soup) and it will stay hot, but I've never tried it. Maybe you could heat up a big portion of last night's leftovers and put them in one.

I told my husband about your request and HE said to tell your husband that he has to have enough discipline to not eat his lunch for a snack! On a similar note, maybe you can give your husband a small food budget for when he does really need a little extra, but otherwise stick to his lunches. I know some (most) men are relunctant to go on a budget when they feel they bring home the money, but you can try it.

Ok so I'm not the only one who married a guy with a bottomless pit for a stomach! lol. My husband drives around in a truck. He does convention so has messed up hours to the point where i have to remind him to eat. I sometimes will give him cereal like cherrios or frosted mini wheats to snack on during the inbetween meals, so he doesn't feel as hungry. I know someone mentioned about making subs and filling it with lots of veggies, thats a really good idea, i do the same. My husband's coworkers actualy get jelous because thier wifes don't make them a nice filling meal! (I'm italian so in my world, thats uncalled for lol) He will also snack on dired fruits and nuts. I keep on him about drinking water more then soda becuase the water will at least not make you feel as hungry. In the warmmer months, I make him fresh sun tea. He takes the whole gallon to work and comes home with an empty jug. No added sugar and caffene free. Due to the fact that he's in a truck, i can't give him anything that requires untensiles (spell check?), so plenty of finger foods is the way to go. He's getting to the point where his fat is turning into muscle. He has more engery to haul loads and is more focused on the road.

I can't think of any good books or sites to direct you to for recipes, but what I did for my husband is buy him his own small microwave to keep in his truck. He is fortunate enough to have a generator in his truck which can accomodate a regular plug. I don't know if this is an option for your husband, but I spent $40 dollars on a small, digital microwave at Target, which has probably saved us over $2000 in the last year alone. Just $5/day, 5 days/week, 4 weeks/month would be $1200 for the year. My husband, like yours, is a big eater, each meal is probably closer to $10-$15 rather than $5. (If the generator thing doesn't work, I believe adaptors for the cigarette lighter, might be available. I've never really looked into it.) Anyway, good luck to you.

I have some of the same issues with my husband, who also works construction. He finds that protein really helps make him feel full, so I try to send him with beef jerky or nuts. I buy the beef jerky, but I have known people who make it at home a lot cheaper. I just don't know how to do it.