Easy and delicious

Tired of Tesco meal deals or Greggs sausage rolls between lectures and seminars? In the mood for something cheaper, healthier and easy to make from your flat? We’re here to help! This post is full of ideas for super simple, portable lunches for you to take with you to your university building and enjoy whilst you study or socialise.

• Salad

Salad doesn’t have to be boring leaves and greens – you can add whatever fun toppings you like to a green salad to make it more filling and exciting to eat. Salad is also quick to make and easy to carry around with you, provided you have space for cutlery and an appropriate container.

Need inspiration? Try this 5-minute tuna and sweetcorn salad!

You will need:

½ a tin of tuna

2 tbsp mayonnaise

½ a tin of sweetcorn

¼ of an iceburg lettuce

1 medium tomato

½ cucumber

A handful of mixed seeds (optional)

The method is simple – drain your tuna, add it to a bowl and mix with mayonnaise and sweetcorn. Chop your lettuce, tomato and cucumber to form your salad, combine with the tuna mixture and serve! If you fancy an extra crunch, sprinkle a handful of mixed seeds on top to add a little more texture to your lunchtime salad.

• Wraps

The simplest and most versatile lunch option, you can add nearly all of your favourite foods to a wrap and eat it for a simple lunchtime treat.

Need inspiration? Try this healthy carrot and hummus wrap!

You will need:

½ 200g pot hummus

2 wraps

1 shredded carrot

Handful of rocket leaves (optional)

Simply spread your hummus on the bottom of your wrap, add the carrot and rocket and wrap it up. It doesn’t get easier than that!

• Rice Bowls

Despite taking a little more preparation, rice bowls are easy to make the night before and can be cooked in bulk, serving you for days in a row! This could save you a lot of time in the long run, making you easy lecture lunches for almost the whole week.

Need inspiration? Try this Mexican-style rice bowl!

Serves 4

You will need: 

½ a finely chopped onion

6 bacon rashers

1 pepper (colour of your choice!)

2 garlic cloves, crushed

½ tbsp tomato puree

Small pinch of smoked paprika

125g basmati rice

225ml vegetable stock

Sliced spring onions and chopped coriander to serve (optional)

Heat the onion, pepper, garlic and bacon in a pan with oil for 8-10 mins until the bacon is cooked and the vegetables are golden brown. Then, stir in the tomato puree and paprika, cook for a further 1 minute, then stir in the rice. Immediately pour over the hot vegetable stock, cover and bring to the boil. Once boiling, stir again and place on a low heat, simmering for 10 minutes. After these 10 minutes, turn off the heat and leave covered for another 10 minutes. Finally, add the spring onions and coriander to enjoy! 

This can be eaten hot or cold – if you want to take this to lectures throughout the week, empty the rice into several containers once cold and keep them in the fridge.

• Pasta

Much like a rice bowl, a cold pasta salad can be prepared in bulk and serve you on-the-go lunches for days on end. It’s also delicious, filling and makes a pleasant change from more simple food such as sandwiches or wraps.

Need inspiration? Try this pesto pasta salad!

Serves 3

You will need:

200g penne pasta

1.5 tbsp olive oil

2.5 tbsp pesto

5 basil leaves

½ lemon, zested and juiced

25g parmesan cheese

Cherry tomatoes (as many as you like!) halved

50g frozen peas

Cook your pasta and frozen peas. Drain, combine and toss in the olive oil. Set aside to cool and, once cooled, toss the remaining ingredients through and add to your chosen containers. Keep your pasta chilled in the fridge and enjoy it throughout the week!