Packing a Lunch without Making a Mess

In my last post about how to survive as a broke college vegan I mentioned saving money by stashing healthy snacks. But there are definitely some foods that travel better than others. Packing a college-style backpack lunch is all about strategy, and I´m here to tell you how to play the game.

1. Pack according to how long you´ll be out. I would usually back a 200 calorie snack for every 3 hours I would be out. If you know you´ll be missing lunch then pack food that´s a little more substantial than carrot sticks.
2. Avoid messes in advance. The best foods are the one´s that will stay pretty much in tact throughout your day. Foods like apples, carrot sticks, and almonds are a good choice.
   Foods to Avoid:
    -Plums and other soft skinned juicy fruits
    -Bananas (unless you´re eating on your walk) 
    -Foods with thin sauces
    -Excessive jelly 
    -Oily food (super gross) 
3. Don´t stink up the classroom. Garlic is one of the tastiest flavors but it´s best not to eat it in class. Offensive smells are the worst especially when you´re not the one enjoying them.
4. Heat sensitive foods are a bummer. Packing food that needs to either be hot or cold are difficult especially when you aren´t sure when you´ll be back home. Try packing foods that are good at room temperature.
5. Get a reusable sandwich bag. (Photo Above) I have a small and large snack taxi bag and I love them! They´re an $8 investment but well worth the money. You never have to buy plastic sandwich bags again, you can put them through the dishwasher or washing machine, and they are pretty good at keeping even messy foods from spilling all over your bag. Not to mention they´re good for the environment. The sandwich size bag can fit big foods too. Often times the sandwich bags leave enough room for 2 or 3 snacks so you can pack both your apple slices and your carrot sticks in 1 bag.
6. Re-use old bags. If you don´t have a snack taxi use old shopping bags for your lunch. Save old produce bags and use them as sandwich bags or use the paper bag from baguettes for sandwiches.
7. Bring necessary cutlery and napkins. Think ahead to what you´re going to need and how you will bring it back home. Maybe you brought a metal fork but now you have to carry it around for 8 hours without washing it. Try to think about inconveniences before they happen and work around them.
8. Dips can be tamed. Don´t think you can´t bring hummus just because it´s inconvenient. Packing a small teacup sized tupperware for dips like hummus, peanut butter, etc. is an easy way to bring those foods. Just be careful not to bring dips that are too watery or you could have a mess on your hands.
9. Bring quiet foods. How much do you hate the guy with potato chips in a quiet room? Don´t be that guy. Both your food and your containers make noise. Think ahead.
10. Pack the night before. You know you´ll be late if you have to make a whole lunch that morning. At least I know I will. Make sure to pack the night before to reduce stress.

How to Save Money on Your Next Beach Day

Going to the beach for the the weekend gets really expensive. Between tolls, gas, parking, and beer, you can rack up a hefty bill. Here are some tips on snacks you can bring to the beach to save some money on eating out.

1. PB&B - While a PB&J is one of my favorite foods, just 1 tbsp of grape jelly has 16 grams of sugar! On an average PB&J I would usually use between 2 & 3 tbsp of jelly, equaling out to 32 to 48 grams of sugar! Using a banana instead of jelly is a great option. It’s also super cheap. A banana costs about 54 cents a pound. Buy a big jar of peanut butter and a loaf of bread, and you have about 10 meals. Plus, this is easy to tote in a cooler or backpack. AND best of all, it’s not sticky!
   Check out this quick PB&B “taco” recipe.
2. Hummus and Veggies - It’s easy to snack on the wrong stuff at the beach. When you’re just laying around in the sun, it’s hard to put down the pretzels. So bring out the garbanzo and veggies instead. This low mess snack food is filling and nutritious. Plus eating foods with a lot of water in them like cucumbers, bell pepper, or celery keeps you hydrated.
3. Frozen Grapes - Freeze your grapes for a cool refreshing snack. Grapes don’t turn rock hard when frozen. In fact, they are surprisingly easy to eat. Freezing grapes also helps them last longer making it a great way to save the grapes that are starting to soften. Grapes also help level out our pH/blood sugar levels and are full of water. Making them another hydrating summer snack.
4. Tomato Pie - This may be a regional snack, but it’s great on the go and you can buy it by the lice. Tomato pie (image here) is simply a Sicilian pizza without cheese served cool. You can buy a whole pie or a slice from the bakery, pizzeria, or make your own before coming.
5. 3 Bean Salad - combine 3 types of beans with chopped vegetables such as onions, bell pepper, and celery. Then add red wine vinegar and seasoning of choice. (suggested: parsley, oregano, garlic, etc)
   Put salad in a big tupperware and enjoy a hearty salad full of protein.