Commuting can be tough between the traffic and parking alone. Combined that with the need to find something to eat on campus that's relatively good for you and inexpensive and it can get extremely difficult. One can only eat Sbarro and Dunkin' so many times a week before you start to feel sick and, let’s face it, pizza and breakfast sandwiches aren’t the best source of energy for college students. After buying a shiny new lunchbox, I was motivated to make a few things in a week to fill it with. Here are a few easy recipes to whip up before you head out to class.

Randi Hardy

Pasta Salad with Italian Dressing

  • Prep Time:15 mins
  • Cook Time:7 mins
  • Total Time:22 mins
  • Servings:3
  • Easy

    Ingredients

  • 8 oz. 1/2 lb Pasta your choice
  • 1/4 Red onion
  • 1/4 Red Pepper
  • 1/2 c Sliced Pepperoni
  • 1/2 c Broccoli
  • 1/2 c Italian Dressing
  • Salt and Pepper to taste
tomato, pasta, pepper, salad, vegetable
Randi Hardy
  • Step 1

    Boil pasta until al-dente and then drain. While the pasta is boiling, chop the veggies and place into a bowl.

    sweet, candy
    Randi Hardy
  • Step 2

    Let the pasta cool and then pour into the bowl with the veggies. Mix with the Italian dressing and then refrigerate for about an hour or make the night before so you can throw it in your lunchbox and head out.

    pepper, salad, pasta, vegetable
    Randi Hardy

Make it your own by adding your favorite veggies and trying out different variations.

Sweet Potato Spinach Salad

  • Prep Time:5 mins
  • Cook Time:40 mins
  • Total Time:45 mins
  • Servings:1
  • Easy

    Ingredients

  • 4 c Baby Spinach
  • 1 Sweet potato
  • 1/4 Red onion
  • 1/4 Red Pepper
avocado, spinach, salad
Randi Hardy
  • Step 1

    Peel, cube, and roast the sweet potato in the oven at 425° for forty minutes with extra virgin olive oil, salt, and pepper.

    sweet, tofu
    Wallis Linker
  • Step 2

    Put the spinach in your favorite take out container and set aside. Chop the veggies and toss with the spinach. Add the cubed sweet potato and mix with your favorite dressing, I prefer a honey balsamic with this salad. Add protein or other toppings to make it your own.

    spinach, vegetable, salad, basil, lettuce, relish, herb
    Kristine Mahan

Peanut Butter Apple Sandwiches

  • Prep Time:2 mins
  • Cook Time:3 mins
  • Total Time:5 mins
  • Servings:1
  • Easy

    Ingredients

  • 1 Apple
  • 1/4 c Peanut Butter
jam, cider, sweet, juice, apple
Randi Hardy
  • Step 1

    Slice the apple horizontally.

    apple sauce, sweet, apple
    Randi Hardy
  • Step 2

    Slather the PB on a slice, or both, and make a sandwich.

    juice, sweet, apple
    Randi Hardy

Pita Pocket Caesar Salad

  • Prep Time:5 mins
  • Cook Time:1 min
  • Total Time:6 mins
  • Servings:1
  • Easy

    Ingredients

  • 4 cups Romaine
  • 4 tbs Caesar dressing
  • 1 tbs Parmesan Cheese
  • 1 Pita pocket cut in half
bread, chicken, salad, vegetable, sandwich, cheese, lettuce
Randi Hardy
  • Step 1

    Toss romaine in a large bowl with the Caesar dressing and Parmesan cheese. Chop the salad and then scoop into both sides of the pita.

    salad, vegetable, lettuce, caesar salad, spinach, cheese, chicken
    Tess Tarantino

This is great if you're constantly on the move between classes since you won't have to worry about utensils or sitting down. Add some chicken for protein.