Over in The 5 Minute Healthy Lunchbox System eCourse Facebook group there is quite often discussions around how getting hubby’s and partners to eat healthy is more of a challenge than the kids. This post is the second part of a blog addressing the issue of getting your partner to eat healthier. This second post is designed to give you tips and options on getting partners to eat a variety for lunch.
In case you haven’t read the first part – 5 Ways To Get Your Partner Eating Healthier, it gives you different ways to tackle the problem with the aim of defusing the frustration and anger you maybe feeling.
Tips For Introducing Variety
1. Understand The Why
Why is it your partner relies on sandwiches? Is it because that’s all they’ve known for lunch? Is it because they are easy to eat? Is it because lunch is eaten on the run?
Answering these questions will give you an insight into the type options you can start to introduce. For instance, if they like something that’s easy to eat or lunch is eaten on the run, then packing something which needs a knife, fork or spoon probably isn’t going to work.
2. Start Slowly
For many, sandwiches have been their staple lunch for years, probably since being a kid. It’s rare for people to like change, so introduce non sandwich alternatives slowly.
Choose one day a week, and pop something else in. Then over a month or two, start increasing the number of days from one to two, then from two to three etc. You may also like to change from a sandwich to a wrap before changing to a non bread/wrap option.
You know your partner better than I, so go at a speed that works for them.
3. Choose Wisely
When introducing variety, choose wisely. I recommend thinking about what they like to eat for dinner. How can that be used as a lunch option?
Don’t underestimate how easy leftovers from dinner can be as a lunch option. If it fits with their why (they eat sandwiches), then cook extra and pack it for lunch the next day.
Make a list of about 5 -10 different options you know they would eat. Once you’ve started introducing alternatives slowly and they are use to not having sandwiches, you can have these options on rotation each week if you wish.
Sandwich alternatives
Many women I talk to express concern that the only thing their partners will eat for lunch is sandwiches. They tell me needs to be simple to eat. Here are some finger food alternatives which make them simple and quick to eat. These are also great alternatives for kids, especially those who like to have maximum play time.
- Chicken Strips / Nuggets
- Balls / Rissoles – meat, chicken, chick pea – so many choices
- Sausages
- Quiches
- Frittata
- Chicken drummers
- Mini pies
- Sausage rolls
- Fritters
- Muffins
- Boiled eggs
- Pizza Slices or Fingers
- Sushi
- Rice Paper Rolls
Of course, there are many other options if you’re not looking for easy to eat food. Foods like soups, curries, spaghetti bolognaise etc, lettuce cups and more.
If you’re looking for ideas, check out The 5 Minute Healthy Lunchbox System eCourse. It includes 12 weeks of menu plans, shopping lists and recipes. Plus you’ll also learn a system of how to pack healthy additive and preservative free lunchboxes in about 5 minutes each day.