packed lunch

In our busy lives, it’s often the little things that make a big difference.

One of my favorite ways to show my husband love is to pack his weekly lunchboxes. Not only does it save him time and money when I help him pack his weekly lunchboxes, but it also shows my love since food is my love language.

I’ve been packing my husband’s weekly lunchboxes for five years. It is my simple gesture to put together a week’s worth of delicious and nutritious meals so my husband has something to look forward to every day at his job.

He recently started his new job where he no longer works from home, so I am now back to packing my husband’s weekly lunchboxes.

beef enoki mushroom

I thought I’d bring you along with me if you are also looking for weekly lunchbox ideas, whether it is for your loved ones or yourself. 

I filmed a YouTube video packing my husband’s weekly lunchboxes so you can pack with me. I don’t know about you, but I love cooking while watching other people cook.

I filmed a YouTube video packing my husband’s weekly lunchbox so you can pack with me.

Let me know if you enjoy these types of longer-form videos to go alongside the blog post, and I can definitely make this a monthly series where we pack my husband’s weekly lunchboxes together! 

MONDAY: YAKIUDON – JAPANESE FRIED UDON (20 MINUTES!) 

If you’re a fan of Japanese cuisine or simply someone who enjoys NOODLES, then yaki udon is a dish you mustn’t miss out on. This delectable stir-fried noodle dish is a popular comfort food in Japan, known for its mouthwatering blend of textures and flavors.

Yaki udon is one of my favorite dishes to prepare for my husband’s weekly lunchboxes since it is easy to prepare, and you can customize it with any vegetable or protein of your choice. 

Today I am doing cabbage, carrots, onions, and mushroom for the vegetables and chicken for the protein. Quick tip, pour hot water over frozen udon; this will help prevent it from overcooking! 

Ingredients

  • 2 packs of Frozen Udon 
  • ½ cup of Pork Belly,  chicken, beef, shrimp, or tofu
  • 0.5 tbsp soy sauce 
  • 1 tbsp oyster sauce 
  • Salt and pepper 
  • 1/2 Onion sliced 
  • 1 cup of shredded Cabbage 
  • 1/2 Carrot sliced 
  • 6 Shiitake Mushroom sliced 
SAUCE 
mapo tofu

TUESDAY: MAPO TOFU (20 MINUTES!) 

When I think of comfort foods, I think of recipes that I grew up eating made by my mom and grandma; Mapo Tofu is one of the first recipes I learned to make on my own. I am sharing my family’s Mapo Tofu recipe that will have you downing bowls and bowls of rice.

Mapo Tofu is spicy tofu and pork stew that is savory, spicy, and the ultimate rice killer. Every family has its variation of Mapo Tofu, but this is my favorite since it is what I grew up eating, and it’s also fast and easy to make at home! Don’t worry if you can’t eat spicy food; just adjust the seasoning to your liking.

If you are VEGETARIAN, I also have a vegetarian mapo tofu that you can find HERE

Ingredients 

  • 1 pack of Firm/Traditional Tofu 
  • 1 cup of Ground Lean Pork (or chicken and shiitake mushroom) 
  • ¼ cup of sliced Shiitake Mushrooms 
  • 3 cloves of Garlic chopped 
  • 1 stalk of Green Onion (seperated whites and greens) 
  • 1.5 tbsp of Fermented Chilli Bean Paste
  • 2 tsp of Sugar  
  • 1.5 tbsp of Soy Sauce 
  • 1-2 cup of Chicken Stock or Water 
  • 1 tsp of Sichuan Pepper Grounded
  • 1-3 tbsp of cornstarch 
HONEY GLAZED PORK BELLY

WEDNESDAY: HONEY GLAZED PORK BELLY (AIR FRYER) AND SPICY GARLIC BOK CHOY

I’m not even trying to be DRAMATIC, but if there is only one air fryer recipe you need to try, it is my Honey Glazed Pork Belly. Savory, delicious, and easy to make at home, Air Fryer Honey Glazed Pork Belly has been one of my go-to weeknight dinner recipes.

I always make extra rice whenever I make honey-glazed pork belly for my husband’s weekly lunchboxes because, trust me, you will need it!

I am pairing my 10 Minutes ONLY Spicy Garlic Bok Choy for the side that is super delicious and easy to make at home. If you want to get more vegetables in your diet, you NEED to try this easy 10-minute recipe that you will LOVE! 

Ingredients

HONEY GLAZED PORK BELLY
SPICY GARLIC BOK CHOY
  • 2 lb of Bok Choy  
  • 1 tbsp of Oil 
  • 1.5 tsp of Salt 
Spicy Garlic Sauce 
  • 7 cloves of Garlic minced 
  • 1 stock of Green Onion chopped 
  • 2 tbsp of Vegetarian Oyster Sauce 
  • 1 tsp of Sugar
  • 2 tbsp of Korean Red Chili Flakes 
  • 1.5 tbsp of Black Vinegar 
  • 1 tbsp of Sesame Seeds 
  • 4 tbsp of Oil 

THURSDAY: BEEF ENOKI RICE BOWL (20 MINUTES!) 

If there is one recipe you NEED to try on my page, it is my 20-minute Beef Rice Bowl. A savory and delicious beef rice bowl is the perfect recipe to make for weeknight dinners.

Enoki mushroom, wrapped in thinly sliced beef, paired with a savory umami sauce, and finished off with silken eggs, every bite is the perfect bite! Don’t eat beef? Substitute with thinly sliced pork belly instead, and it will be just as delicious.

Ingredients 

  • 10 thin slices of Beef 
  • 1 enoki mushroom, separated into 10 portions 
  • 1 yellow onion, sliced 
  • 2 eggs, beaten 
  • Green onion to garnish 
Sauce

I hope you liked this blog post and got some inspiration when it comes to weekly lunchboxes.

Let me know if you want to see more husband’s weekly lunchboxes and what was your favorite lunchbox this week!