This time of year requires farmers to consistently stay in the fields. This means no time to come home for dinner. Every year I take meals out to the Farmer and have learned some tricks that he even finds helpful! I hope you find some of these helpful and you have a safe harvest season!
1.) Use a frozen water bottle as an ice pack. This way it keeps their food cold, but then if they need a drink later on in the day they have available too. It serves two purposes.
2.) Wrap hot food in aluminum foil. Grill up a few hamburgers, get them all prepared, and then wrap.
3.) Use hot dog buns for sandwiches. This sounds odd, but one day I was out of hamburger buns so I took the Farmer his BBQ beef in a hot dog bun. He loved it! Said that it was easy to hold and eat while operating the combine.
4.) Throw a candy bar in their cooler. They may say they don’t need sweets or like them, but sometimes they need a little extra sugar to get through the longs nights.
5.) If they have time, take a blanket out to the field and have a picnic in the field with your family. We used to do this with dad and it is one of my favorite memories.
6.) Stick with simple. They don’t need extravagant meals, they just need substance. A ham sandwich and a bag of chips (plus his candy bar) gets the Farmer through and he never complains.
7.) Keep it ‘fast’. They like meals that they can stuff down their throat as fast as possible. They don’t have time to mess around with anything fancy. Soup isn’t a good idea.
8.) Leave them a note. If you’re just dropping off their lunch/supper real quick and don’t have time to talk, throw a quick ‘I love you’ note in there. They may or may not read it, but it’s the thought that counts and lets them know you’re thinking of them.
9.) Pack him a ‘snack pack’. Not the pudding, but a few treats to eat when his belly starts growing. A few Starbursts, chex mix, skittles, or a few of his favorite treats. Put it in a separate bag. Remember, this may stay in the tractor for a few days–depending if he eats it–so make sure to only take him a new pack once the other one is gone and not to pack anything that can melt easily. aka chocolate.
Do you have any other tips? Send them my way! I would love your tips on what you do! I’ve only been doing this for a few years so I’m sure there are more seasoned farm wives that have better tips! Let me know!
Comments (10)
I would love ideas for all day in the tractor! We pack coolers with food for the 12+ hour day, and sandwiches get old fast. I am right there with my husband (in a tillage tractor) during planting and (in a grain cart) during harvest. I struggle every year!
I will absolutely do some brain storming and see if I can come up with anything!! The days I’m in the tractor I just normally skip eating, but it would be good to take something besides a sandwich!
My tip is to pre cut up meat Ex. Steak, meatloaf, chicken so the boys can eat and drive. I put all are meals in meal prep containers so if our workers don’t bring back containers I’m not upset.
Happy harvest
Janelle?
That’s a great idea!!! I couldn’t tell you how many water bottles I lost trying to save money by just taking out water! — Learned my lesson! 🙂
I make farm food for my men all the time. I absolutely adore doing it. I can switch up their sandwiches pretty easy but can you make some suggestions for sides other than chips. Or a bag of veggies. Thanks
Hi Miriam!! Let me do some thinking on the sides! I sometimes do applesauce (I buy it in those little squeeze packages, so they can eat it and drive) or I just do an apple. Then there are times that I put in some trail mix, or what my husband enjoys, is Munchies! Let me do some thinking and I will get back to you! 🙂
Homemade Chex mix keeps well in the combine, use a plastic container with a lid so it doesn’t get crushed. Grapes, apples, string cheese and individual trail mixes all travel well!
Great ideas Ange!!!! Thank you!
Use a small short thermos for hot sandwich meats-ham and cheese, sloppy joe, bacon cheeseburger etc. and put your (toasted) bread in a baggie. They can flop the thermos over the bread and have a hot sandwich in a second!
I love the frozen water bottle idea but don’t forget you can freeze orange juice bottles, juice bottles etc too! Variety. Soup is not necessarily a bad idea if your guys like it, or it’s an especially appropriate cold day, but put it in 20 ounce styrofoam cups instead! Let them drink it instead of trying to fuss with a spoon and bowl while on the go. And vice versa, we sometimes like to do orange Julius or milkshakes in a cup for dessert on hot days!
These are great ideas!
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