As a student, I understand the struggle of being crunched on time at open lunch. With travel time, there is not much time left to craft a delicious meal that satisfies your craving. Unless there are leftovers in the fridge from the night before ready to be heated up, finding food can be a struggle. After encountering this dilemma for the last semester, I have found some solutions. Here are a few quick and easy foods to make/meal prep in a time crunch that will satisfy your open lunch cravings and supply you with energy for the rest of the school day. 

While many may see overnight oats as a breakfast food, they can definitely be eaten for a tasty lunch as well. Overnight oats are a great option because they are quick and easy to prepare the night before, they are very customizable to your preferences and they take almost no time to prepare when you are ready to eat them. There are countless ways one could customize this flavorful meal. My personal favorite is oats, milk, chia seeds, berries and strawberry cheesecake Jell-O powder. Mix these together, and you will have an appetizing and easy lunch the next day!

Protein pancake/muffin power cups called “Kodiak Cakes” are another great option when you are especially low on time. They are quick, delicious and can easily be squeezed into your lunch hour with time to spare. These Power Cups are an especially great option if you are involved in sports or very active. They are packed with protein and a great alternative to other quick, microwave options. Pair this with a fruit or veggie and you have a quick, easy and delicious meal!

Another appetizing and simple meal to make at open lunch is a breakfast sandwich. This has limited ingredients and is delicious! There are many ways to make a breakfast sandwich, but here is an example of one you could make in a time crunch. The ingredients are eggs, bacon, cheese and bread or a bagel of your choice (along with any other toppings you wish to add). Fry up the egg, microwave the bacon, pop your bread in the toaster, put them together and you have a tasty ten-minute meal to relax and eat during your break.