Compact and home-cooked dinners
I'm currently attending evening classes at a local university after work, and I'm not able to go home for dinner before classes begin. As I've already exhausted the local Cosi and cheesesteak shop on campus, I'd like to try and bring my own dinners (both for health and economic reasons). As I am relying on public transportation and also carrying significantly heavy items for school, I'd like to make this as compact (but tasty!) as possible.
Ideas, please! :)
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16 Comments:
Cold pasta salad with a vinegar or citrus-based dressing. Use whole wheat pasta if you want to healthy it up a bit. Cheese is a good addition, along with whatever veggies you like. Maybe edamame or other beans, as well. It's decently filling, and it can stay unrefrigerated for a while as long as you don't put anything crazy perishable in there. And you can vary the flavors a lot, so it's not the same thing over and over.
dbcurrie at 12:56PM on 09/04/09
Wraps and rolls, if you're tired of the sandwich form.
You can basically wrap any entree or salad in a wrap. Added bonus, after the food is consumed, you don't have much of a container to worry about. I have a Japanese lunch mat that neatly encases my sandwich/rolls/wrap and when the food is eaten, it folds up into a neat little square that tucks easily into my backpack.
I also find those snaplock food containers to be a convenient lunchbox and I never have to worry about anything leaking.
AnnieNT at 1:00PM on 09/04/09
Depending on what time your classes begin, could you microwave something at work and eat before you set out? If you plan to eat between classes, I wonder if a wide-mouth thermos would keep soup, stew, mac-n-cheese warm from when you leave the house until when you want to eat. Perhaps you could take food to the office, heat it up there, transfer to thermos, go to class. Then a trail of dirty containers suddenly starts piling up at work, unless you use a heavy-duty freezer bag for transport, take it home the same day, wash it out, and reuse.
Are there microwaves available on campus where you could reheat a container of lasagne, rice and veggies, chicken and noodles, lentils and sausage, etc.?
I'm suggesting hot foods because it seems like you're just starting the fall semester, and you might enjoy something warm and filling in the evenings to come.
Study hard, do well!
zucchini at 3:14PM on 09/04/09
What about getting one of the short, fat thermoses? Then your options are endless. It holds heat for a very long time if you pour boiling water in it, set the lit on top (don't screw it down), dump the water, and you have a hot meal hours later.
beth1 at 3:23PM on 09/04/09
I have to say, first of all, you have my sympathy--taking night classes is one of the things I miss least about being a student. When I did that, to be honest, rather than packing a dinner, to avoid being tired with a heavy meal and to break up the night, I would have two snacks rather than a full dinner--usually fruit and nuts before class, then something during the break (usually some kind of candy bar or cookie or to be honest).
Sometimes, in a few classes, the students would chip in and buy a dinner or snack for the break or before class, like pizza or take out from the local (very good) health food store.
HeartofGlass at 7:03PM on 09/04/09
AnnieNT-
I'm with you on the wraps and rolls. Great suggestion about the sushi mat. It helps protect the wrap/roll with a little solid cover (and maybe a rubber band) Also easy things like pasta salads or sandwiches to tote too.
Small thermoses are great, but they are heavy too. If the meal is tasty it might defintely be worth the weight though. ;o)
Live strong, study hard, be good, eat well. xo C
CJ McD at 7:04PM on 09/04/09
Actually a bento box style container might be perfect for you.
Think protein, vegetable, fruit, starch. (and maybe dairy)
Nut butter or nuts, cheese cubes, cut up meats (chicken, sausage, etc.), bean salads, yogurt or hummus
Grapes, melon, citrus, apples
Raw carrots, celery, pepper strips, cucumber slices, cherry tomatoes, etc.
Pita, whole grain bread or roll, tortillas, crackers, pasta salad or peanut/sesame noodles (you get the idea)
Mustard, salsa, ranch dressing, or condiments of choice
Then things that ring your bell- cookies, brownies, pound cake, pickles, olives, tortilla chips, chocolate.....
If I had a place I could microwave the sky would be the limit. Something easy-- bean burrito.
CJ McD at 7:14PM on 09/04/09
I'm with CJ McD, a bento box is such an awesome way to pack a meal along. If you've never put one together, my two fave sites are
1) http://lunchinabox.net/
2) http://justbento.com/
Both are amazing resources with tons of ideas. One of my fave things to include in a bento are onigiri (Japanese rice balls) because they're filling, easy to make, wrapped individually, and can be filled with a variety of different ingredients.
fujimama at 9:29PM on 09/04/09
@zucchini -- hehe, you must have read my mind about the dirty containers piling up at work! On class nights, I've ended up bringing a gigantic amount of food to work and eaten before heading to school, leaving the containers behind at work for the next day to bring home. Unfortunately, I have a significant portion of time between then and when I finally get home, and I'm usually ravenous by that point.
@fujimama -- I used to have the Chinese-style rice balls (fan tuan) for breakfast when I was a child, and your mention of onigiri brought that wonderful memory back for me.
Thank you so far for the suggestions and kind encouragement about school. Sympathy helps towards evening class :)
avaryne at 11:20PM on 09/04/09
@avaryne: I'd just do cheese and crackers or cheese, peanut butter and crackers as often as I could stand it. Dense calories, and the protein and fat will satisfy your hunger for longer than you'd think, even if you don't eat much.
I've rediscovered saltines. They're better than I remembered, and a lot cheaper than the stoned wheat thins I'd eaten all these years. I'd use a cheddar because it's actually better at room temperature. Add an apple and you might not even need the crackers, as cheddar and peanut butter both go well with apple slices.
lemonfair at 6:38AM on 09/05/09
@avaryne: Thinking about it, I guess I'd branch out a little bit more, since you're doing this so often. (But this is tasty enough to serve guests as an appetizer, so why not you?) i.e., I'd vary the crackers and the cheese (smoked gouda, brie, havarti with dill) and add nutella or honey to the pb now and then. wasabrod with peanut butter is divine. Could also do some dried fruits (apricots, pineapple, papaya)
lemonfair at 7:07AM on 09/05/09
I'd go with a whole wheat wrap of some sorts - my local grocer sells the oval, tortilla-like breads that are made for wrapping. That way you can customize the inside - chicken salad one day, a salad wrap the next, the possibilities with those things are endless. Also, I perused by the sushi maker at my grocer, and they actually sell flavored "cones" for making your own sushi. I've gotta admit that I don't like the taste of nori, and prefer soybean paper wrapped sushi, so this was of some appeal to me. Best of luck and hope this helps!
prncs79 at 9:47AM on 09/05/09
When all else fails, there's always Cliff bars and trail mixes....
CJ McD at 2:29PM on 09/05/09
Don't forget totable fresh fruit and vegetables- oranges, tangerines have their own carrying case. Bananas too, but need bumper protection. Apples- moderate protection but hold up pretty well to travel.
Cool thing about bento boxes are they are compact and hold any variety of things. (Think of them as fancy, compartmentalized tupperware)
CJ McD at 2:36PM on 09/05/09
I like the wrap idea. There are tons and tons of things to fill the wraps up with and you can wrap it up in foil to prevent leaks. There are so many different varieties of wraps and sizes as well.
pjracz10 at 4:57PM on 09/07/09
Playing on the multiple snacks idea - think of breaking down meals into various different "snack" items:
Nuts
Cheese
HB Eggs
Pasta, bean or rice salads
Crackers
Granola Bars
Yogurt cups (don't forget a spoon!)
Fruit and veg (with hummus if you wish)
If you get a small thermos, think really hearty - soups, stews, chili - they are all easy to make a big batch of and they usually taste better a day or two after they're made anyways, making them perfect leftovers.
thinkingincrayons at 5:42PM on 09/07/09