Ok we are packing 9-12 lunches a week that need to be cold (no access to a microwave).

Any ideas? they are sick of sandwiches and wraps.

I thought about packing stew and such in a thermos but so far have not found one that really keeps the food hot. It's usually lukewarm at best by lunchtime. So suggestions on a good thermos would be welcome as well.

Thanks in advance,

Char

Pasta salad?  Leftovers?  Lettuce/spinach salads?

Put a water bottle in the freezer the night before and include it with the lunch.  It'll keep the food chilled and be a ready to go drink.  :)

I'll second the pasta salad suggestion- there are many ways to make pasta salad a good meal.  Use an oil/vinegar based dressing instead of a mayonnaise-based dressing, to avoid risk of food poisoning.  Add veggies, beans, cheese, and/or meat according to whatever your tastes are.  You can have fun with this- for example, make an Italian pasta salad, with penne pasta (I like to use the whole wheat kind), some bottled Italian dressing, olives, onions, tomatoes, diced zucchini, cubed mozzarella cheese, and diced salami.  Greek chicken pasta salad- pasta, Italian dressing, tomatoes, olives, cucumber, red onion, crumbled feta cheese, and diced cooked chicken (the kind in the can works great).  Mexican- pasta, black beans, corn, sliced olives, sliced green onion, chopped bell pepper and tomatoes, add some meat if you want, and either buy a bottled dressing, or here's one I make: combine some green taco sauce, red wine vinegar, lime juice, garlic, chili powder, and vegetable oil and whisk together.  You get the idea- be creative and come up with your own combinations, and you'll never get bored, because there are so many possibilities!

I used to bring soups/stews/canned pasta in a thermos. Mine was wide-mouthed and made for food. The trick with them is to fill them with boiling water to preheat them. I filled it with the hot water, put the cover on and let it sit while I was heating up the food. I noticed a difference in the temperature of my food on days that I skipped the preheating.

Pasta salads are a great idea too. Like Lesley said, there are so many combinations that it would be hard to get bored with them. You could also use pita bread instead of regular bread or wraps for a sandwich change-of-pace.

thanks all !

Tuna salad cups. They have all the stuff in presealed packets. Its got a little relish packet a mayo packed a packet of tuna some crackers and the package becomes the bowl. I used to carry those to work all the time. Add some cut up green apples (sprinkled with lemon juice to keep it from browning) and you have a totally different tuna salad.