While the idea of packing school lunches and snacks may seem like something that shouldn’t carry over from high school, it’s actually worth considering, especially if you have to commute to college and want to save money.
I’ve been bringing my lunch since the beginning of my first year at Whittier College. I’ve found that if you pack enough food and drinks for yourself that are healthy, yet still enjoyable during the school day, you’re more likely to be motivated to try harder in your college classes.
Leftovers
Since I have to commute to Whittier College every day for classes, I have to wake up early to pack myself a small lunch so that I have enough food to last me through the day. Since my family doesn’t eat out too often, my mom or dad normally ends up making dinner. Most of the time, we have leftovers from the night before. My mom has made everything from wontons and chicken chow mein to spaghetti and other types of pasta, as well as other tasty dishes, some of which I’ve been able to take to college with me. So, if your family happens to have leftovers that will still taste good a day or two later, you may want to pack those in your lunch box.
In fact, if you’re planning to bring leftovers with you, make sure you have an insulated lunch pail, which is offered in different varieties and pretty easy to find at most stores. But if you don’t have one, you can always wrap the food in aluminum foil to keep the contents warm and place the food in either a Ziplock bag or brown paper bag to take with you. Tupperware containers may also come in handy.
However, let’s say your grandmother made Albondigas soup or something liquid the night before. You may be struggling with how to take this leftover meal to school. Well, you can always try to find your parents’ old camping thermos (you might be surprised at what you might find lying around the house) or buy a thermos from a store. A thermos will help keep your food warm or room temperature if you have no microwave, and it’s pretty handy to take your food around with you when you’re running around campus.
Start From Scratch
However, if you have to start from scratch, making yourself a sandwich is an easy way to go. Pretty much anything can be placed between two pieces of bread, so it’s really up to you what you want to put in it. I generally add tomatoes, prepackaged turkey slices and chopped onions. To go along with that sandwich, you can always pack a bag of potato chips or even cookies.
Also, if you happen to forget to pack a drink, you could always refill your water bottle or hydro flask at one of your college’s many water refill stations. Whittier College happens to have plenty of these stations and it makes it easy to get a drink of fresh water if you’re getting thirsty from eating all those dry lunch foods.
Easy Food to Go
Another inexpensive way to feed yourself during your busy college schedule is to invest in some apple, blueberry or other flavored bars, which are good for the days when you don’t have that much time to eat and just need something to keep you going throughout the school or work day. I generally like to keep some sort of health food bar, whether it’s strawberry, apple, or blueberry, in my lunch pail so that I can have a quick snack. Granola bars or trail mix are also good to have if you’re hungry and short on cash.
Packing fruits, such as bananas, apples, oranges or grapes, are also healthy, easy options for lunch. Grapes are especially refreshing and easy to snack on. Prepackaged vegetables, such as mini carrots, are also affordable and easy to eat on the go.
If you are fortunate enough to have access to a microwave or know someone on your college campus who has one, you might think about eating Cup O’Noodles. However, if you’re looking for a slightly healthier alternative, I’d like to mention that Trader Joe’s sells chicken and miso ramen, which are prepackaged and easy to heat up.
If you like eating breakfast foods for lunch or snacks, you might consider buying flavored packages of oatmeal and using a small bowl if you have one that’s microwaveable to heat it up. Oatmeal is always a healthy and fast meal for your lunch break, especially if you need something to keep your brain functioning during the middle of the day. I generally like to eat oatmeal before a big test or quiz because it’s better to go to class on a stomach full of food than one that’s empty.
So if you’re looking food that fits your wallet and your busy schedule, a good idea might be to bring a lunch with you for the day ahead.
