The Lunchbox: common pitfalls & how to avoid them

In the perfect world, a lunchbox means a fresh, delicious and cheap alternative to the sometimes heavy and expensive dining options on campus. In reality however, a packed lunch all too often means soggy bread, wilted salad, or your laptop soaked in dressing.

But don’t despair! Here are five rules of thumb for how to make an awesome packed lunch:

Rule 1: Sack the soggy bread. There is a reason why even the ancient Romans considered bread their packed lunch of choice. Satisfying and simple – zero fuss required. The problem is, if you pack a sandwich in a plastic bag, it gets soggy! Solution: Do separate containers. Keep your bread in a paper bag, and use a small container for the cheese, hummus, baba ganoush, sliced cucumber or egg salad. Bring a spoon or a knife. Assemble when you’re ready to eat!

Rule 2. Choose dishes that age gracefully. And by that I dont mean stinky cheeses or fermented cabbage. (I mean, I love kimchi—but my office mates may not appreciate the smell!) While lots of food should be eaten fresh and steaming hot off the stove, there are plenty of dishes that actually taste better after being left to sit for a day or two. To that list, add all things roasted or baked—such as quiches, casseroles, and lasagnas. Stews and curries will almost always taste better the next day. And if you really want salad, think hardy greens like kale or Swiss chard, mixed with roasted root vegetables, nuts and grains. And go easy on the dressing!

Rule 3. Don’t package your food while it’s hot. The condensation that forms in the container will make even the most lunchbox-friendly quiche turn soggy. Easy fix—keep it cool!

Rule 4. Let the oven do the work. There are meals that are worth spending hours preparing. Something you’re going to wolf down in ten minutes between classes is not one of them. Even taking 20 minutes in the morning to prepare lunch can seem daunting. Solution: take an hour or so on Sunday afternoon for some productive procrastination. Sauté a bit of broccoli, beat a couple of eggs and mix with cheese. Add to a pie crust. Then sit back, chillax, and let your week’s lunch make itself while you watch the game—I mean, write your dissertation! Plus, the sorts of dishes that are easily made ahead are generally also the ones that taste the best a day or two later (see rule 2).

While you’re at it, let the oven multitask and throw in some veg for a side. (Or cookie dough for dessert!)

Rule 5. Invest in good Tupperware. This can never be emphasized enough.

Happy lunch break!
-Kajsa Djarv

Photo credit: Elena Crouch