Packing dinner for a summer lifeguard job

[Anonymous]

I'm helping my DC pack dinners for his summer job. He'll be at a pool from the afternoon until 8pm.

Any ideas on what to pack? He already packs a lot of pasta during the school year, and it would be nice to change things up. I also want to avoid picking up fast food for dinner.

Thank you!

[Anonymous]

What does he like eating? Hot food or cold food?

[Anonymous]

If he’s old enough to lifeguard, he’s old enough to figure this out himself. I would let him.

[Anonymous]

I always make enough dinner so there are leftovers. If you did that, he could take the leftovers the next day. Otherwise, my kid would probably do sandwiches.

[Anonymous]

Black bean burritos
Ham and cheese sandwich
Tortellini with sauce

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If he’s old enough to lifeguard, he’s old enough to figure this out himself. I would let him.

This times 1000.

[Anonymous]

Will he have a refrigerator and/or a microwave available? My kids were both lifeguards. They would eat a big lunch, sandwich at work and eat again, back at our house.

[Anonymous]

My kid eats at the snack bar.

[Anonymous]

I would let him eat late dinner at home.

[Anonymous]

My dd is also a lifeguard. They have access to a fridge and microwave so she typically packs leftovers. If there are none, she’ll take a frozen meal from Trader Joe’s (we keep some on hand for “emergency” lunch/dinner).

[Anonymous]

They can't eat dinner because they would need to wait an hour afterward before they could swim.

[Anonymous]

PB&J, little charcuterie boxes, quinoa salad, whatever leftovers are in your refrigerator ...

[Anonymous]

Leftovers are the most common option. They have a minifridge and microwave so it looks a lot like my lunches at work. Casseraoles, chilli, pasta, some fruit, carrots. Always dependable fallbacks: PB&J or breakfast cereal.

[Anonymous]

If you are already cooking a meal, I would suggest packing up a portion each night for his meal the next day.

I personally would also prepack some cut up fruit and vegetables in easy to grab containers. My teen will pack his own food, but will only take and eat fruits and vegetables if they are easy to grab.

[Anonymous]

Thank you for the suggestions! Son is 15 and pretty lucky to land this job … but doesn’t drive yet so reliant on me to get groceries. He was told to bring dinner but unclear if and when they get a break. Or if there’s access to a microwave/fridge. He’ll find out today.