Recipes for College Students: Lunch on the Go

If you’re like many college students, lunch is a meal all too often grabbed from the dining hall on campus or a nearby restaurant. You don’t always have time to linger over your meal, especially if you have a class coming up, a project to work on in the library or a homework assignment you need to finish. If you have a meal plan, the dining hall is fine, but if you don’t, that’s an expense that can add up fast. Instead, try a few lunch recipes for college students that you can throw in your bag and eat while you’re on the go. Just remember: If you’re not supposed to eat in the library, you should probably step outside long enough to finish your meal, or the librarians will get angry; and you don’t want to lose your favorite study spot.

Here are a few recipes for college students that can be enjoyed on the go.

Constructing a Great Salad

The odds are good that a lot of the time, when you hear “salad,” you turn your nose up. Even if you like salads, you don’t want to take them every day. However, a good salad is portable, easy to throw together and can be as cheap as you need to make it, especially toward the end of the semester, when your budget runs short. To make your salad more appealing, try these tips:

Use a variety of greens. Salads don’t have to be made out of just iceberg lettuce; and in fact, iceberg lettuce has fewer nutritional benefits than romaine, spinach and kale. Instead of using the same old lettuce in your salad all the time, mix it up to keep things interesting.

Don’t forget the protein. Filling your salad with protein will help keep you full longer as well as keep your energy levels up. Slice a grilled chicken breast, cut up a few hard boiled eggs or sprinkle on some cheese–or some combination of the three. Don’t be afraid to try nuts or seeds sprinkled on your salad.

Add some color. Its been proven that a meal that is visually attractive will taste better. Add some color to your salad, whether in the form of strips of zesty pepper, brilliant purple onions or crunchy orange carrots.

Try something different. Have you ever tried putting fruit in your salad? Strawberries, apples and mandarin oranges are all popular choices that can make your salad look enticing again. If you’re using apples, dip them in ginger ale, sprite or lemon juice to keep them from turning brown before lunch time.

Choose your dressing wisely. A heavy, cream-based dressing will add a lot of calories to your salad, but if you prefer the flavor that much, it might be worth the addition. Remember to store your dressing in a container separate from your salad so that it doesn’t make your entire salad soggy.

Winning Wraps and Sandwiches

It’s easy to fall into a rut when you’re throwing a sandwich into your lunch box every day. Instead of packing the same old peanut butter and jelly, consider mixing it up with something new. You could try a peanut butter and banana sandwich, add some marshmallow fluff to your peanut butter or try a new nut butter (though those may be a little outside your budget); or you could try something new. What about this egg salad recipe:

Not Your Grandmother’s Egg Salad

Ingredients:

• 4 eggs
• 1 tablespoon of mustard
• 1/4 tsp paprika (smoked for best flavor)
• Salt and pepper to taste

Mix all ingredients together; smooth onto a sandwich or crackers, or eat it with a spoon.

Another flavorful lunch you could try is a pizza sandwich recipe to satisfy that carb craving in the middle of the day without completely breaking your diet.

Pizza Sandwich

Ingredients:

• 2 pieces of French bread, sliced thin
• 1 spice mozzarella cheese
• Salami, pepperoni and ham
• 1 tbsp pizza sauce (optional)

Toast your French bread before you put together the sandwich. Spread one layer with pizza sauce, then top with meat toppings and enjoy. Prefer to go low carb? Use a wrap instead of the French bread.

Love wraps? Looking for a way to make your favorite chicken Caesar wrap without visiting that expensive sandwich shop on the corner? You can do it at home!

Chicken Caesar Wrap

Ingredients:

• Romaine lettuce
• Parmesan cheese
• Grilled chicken
• Dressing (optional)
• Wrap of choice

Place lettuce and chicken in wrap; sprinkle with cheese and roll up. You can drizzle the dressing into the wrap if you’re planning to eat it immediately, or put it in a cup and dip your wrap into it if you’re going to eat it later.

Other easy lunch ideas:

Never underestimate the value of leftovers. Any time you have leftovers from dinner, pack them up for lunch the next day. Don’t have anything left over? You can still grill up a couple of chicken breasts and add some vegetables for a great lunch that will leave you feeling fulfilled. Looking to shake it up? Salmon also reheats well, and fillets can be purchased for a reasonable price in the freezer section of most grocery stores.

If you’re looking for some more recipes that are quick, easy and affordable, here are a few breakfast recipes you can try to start your day off right.

What are some of your favorite lunch recipes for the student on the go? Let us know about them in the comment section below.