With the school cafeteria closing in a matter of weeks, students are now faced with fewer daily lunch options primarily consisting of fast food. While upperclassmen can leave campus for lunch, traffic in the parking garage is surely a disincentive for many. For students who wish to still eat a healthy or varied lunch each day, bringing food from home may soon become the best option. So, the Bagpipe is here to help with guidance on how to pack a healthy, school friendly lunch,

1. Invest in a good lunch box. While it may be seemingly more cost effective to use a bag already laying around the home, a good lunch box will be insulated, which greatly widens the range of foods one can bring for lunch. A real lunch box will be easier to carry and pack, with less risk of items moving around or opening in the bag, causing a mess. Additionally, a reusable lunch box is eco-friendly, which is a major plus. 

2. Life is busy, schedules are packed, research recipes that will last several days. “Meal-prepping” food has become trendy on the internet. Some people call this an amazing time saver, some call it glorifying only eating leftovers. But, there is no denying that meal-prepping food is a great way to make eating well every day more attainable.

3. Create a balanced meal. Include vegetables and fruits, healthy forms of protein and carbs. A wide range of foods is not only more interesting, but will be much healthier. Additionally, for students with earlier lunch periods, a well planned meal will keep food from being the only topic they can focus on come seventh and eighth periods as eating well is important because it enables students to focus on their education. 

4. Include snacks and small treats. Since we’ve already said the obligatory “be healthy,” bringing fun, perhaps less healthy, additions to the meal is a great way to make sure that lunch remains exciting. Bringing food from home means fewer options, and probably less exciting choices at that. Adding in something like a cookie is a great way to make sure that lunch is still enjoyable, even if it isn’t as diverse as the cafeteria options. 

5. Pack foods that seldom require reheating. Yes, there is a microwave available at school. But, there is already a daily line to use the machine, and with more students likely about to start bringing their lunches, this line will only get longer. Skip the line, save your time and pack lunches that do not require reheating. 

For the remainder of the school year, lunches in the cafeteria will look very different. Instead of a wide variety of options, with plenty of healthy choices, there will be a rotation of fast food options, supplemented slightly with some Grab-and-Go choices. So, if students are looking for a way to add some variety and efficiency to their lunch period, bringing food from home is a great option.