Easy Lunches for College Students

100% honesty: What I pack for lunch now is what my mom packed for me when I was little because those lunches are easy to make and don't take up too much space. I'm sharing two of my favorite pinwheel wraps and some of the snacks I take to class because let me be honest, I take A LOT of snacks to class.

Note: Lighting in my kitchen is horrible so I apologize for the picture quality. This post also contains affiliate links. 

My go-to lunch: Pinwheel Wraps

Turkey + Veggie Dip + Shredded Cheese

Turkey + Dijonaise + Shredded Lettuce + Shredded Cheese

These are my favorite wraps, but you can seriously make them with anything. I buy cheese by the block from the deli and shred it at home and I also buy the turkey from the deli. I really try to avoid prepackaged deli meats and cheeses. The veggie dip I use is a family recipe, but you can use any kind of condiment that you want. 

Roll the wrap and then roll it into the Press n' Seal. 

Refrigerate overnight and cut into pinwheels the next morning.

Breakfast + Lunch today: 

muffin, clementines, pinwheels, grapes, applesauce, and SkinnyPop (Sea Salt and Pepper)

Lastly, don't forget to clean up the counter. 

I also pack peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and leftovers are also a great idea. The IU Union has a microwave in the eating area so that students can heat up food, so I'll take leftovers when I want something more than wrap or a sandwich. If you're not sure if your school has microwave for student use, try to look around your union eating hall because most schools should try to accommodate students that live off campus and that do not have meal points anymore. 

My go-to snacks:

SkinnyPop

Grapes

Trail mix 

Veggies + Dip 

Fruit (Clementines + Bananas)

Hummus + Crackers

Brie spread + Crackers 

Applesauce

Although I have braces back on, I love to pack SkinnyPop in my lunch as a quick, salty snack that also isn't as messy has other salty snacks. I switch between purchasing the Sea Salt and Pepper flavor (which is also my favorite kettle chip seasoning) and the Original. While I was shopping the other day I noticed that SkinnyPop now has Popcorn Cakes and microwave popcorn. I think the popcorn cakes would be a good snack to bring on campus because they're more compact and you could maybe even top with hummus or whatever spread to want. I'm also interested in trying their sea salt microwavable popcorn for a snack at home. I normally eat butter popcorn, but lately I've been wanting to switch it up without eating kettle corn. 

My go-to fruit choices for campus: grapes. Super easy to throw into a Ziplock bag and into my lunch bag.  I was so excited to see Cotton Candy grapes at the store today when I went to get groceries. They are so good and the season is close to its end, which also means that there are less grapes in the bag than usual. *Cue tears*. I also love to grab clementines and bananas because they're easy to peel and then just throw away instead of having to bring the trash back home. 

My favorite trail mix has white chocolate chips, Craisins, and peanuts. My nana started making this for me this summer and I made some for myself for a quick snack. Just add each ingredient to your liking and save it however you would like.

I've attached a general shopping list of things that I purchase to make lunches that can be taken to campus. All of these items can be used for dinner as well. Don't forget that you can make extra grains or pasta for dinner and use it for lunch the next day!

Shop my picks for lunch boxes and lunch storage: 


                   

        

Senior Year Apartment

Post contains affiliate links.

Bedding (Bed, Bath, and Beyond, similar) | Fuzzy pillow (T.J.Maxx) | Rug (Target, similar)  | Lamp (Target) | Shade (Target) | Macrame wall hanging (Amazon)

Photo frames ( Urban Outfitters) 

      Chicago print (Evelyn Henson) | Giraffe print (Evelyn Henson) | Indianapolis print (Evelyn Henson) | Happy Hour, Fine Art Print (Evelyn Henson) | Be Humble pennant (Gibbs Smith) 

Letter Board (Letter Board Club) | Pencil Holder (Kate Spade)

Cactus (Amazon)| Candle Holder (Bath and Body Works) 

All from T.J.Maxx (Similar)

I got this print while I was in Puerto Vallarta. The artist painted it with coffee beans and watercolor. 

Frame (T.J.Maxx)

My room is finally done and I'm so excited to share it with you. I would have to say that my favorite space in my room is my desk corner. I study a lot so I knew that I wanted to get a quality desk with drawers and surround it with inspiring decor.  I love all of my prints that I have surrounding my desk. I chose to get Evelyn Henson prints because I've been eyeing them for awhile, but I knew that it wasn't a good idea to get them for my room at the sorority house. So, when it came to ordering wall decor for my apartment, these prints were my first choice. I am obsessed with this letter board. I think I may put a new quote up on there every two weeks or somewhere around that timeline. If you have any quote ideas, comment below.

All of my bedroom furniture (mattress, mattress frame, headboard, nightstand, and desk) were purchased at a local discount furniture store in my hometown while I had to purchase a small, moveable set of drawers from Bed, Bath, and Beyond for my TV and my t-shirts. The pieces I purchased from the discount store are all very sturdy and are sure to last a few more years. I also got my bar stools for the kitchen nook and my living room chairs from the same place.

When furnishing your college apartment, think about getting pieces that can make it through the year or however long you're going to stay there. Since I'll only be living here a year, I wanted to get pieces that could easily carry on into my post-grad apartment next year. I can already picture my desk in a cute little nook in my next apartment.

For finding decor for your apartment, I recommend looking at Target and T.J.Maxx as well as looking on Amazon for some cute, affordable finds. I personalized my decor by painting some coasters at my local paint your own pottery place to put on my desk and my night stand. Another inexpensive solution to personalizing your decor is to by some canvases from your local craft store and paint some quotes or designs on there. I have to canvases up in my room (not shown above) on the wall across from my closet. Having a little color in an otherwise gloomy area (due to horrible lighting), makes the area more enjoyable.

Before you think I'm crazy, here's why I have a  twin bed in my senior year apartment :

I used my bedding, mattress, bed frame, and rug when I stayed in Bloomington for the summer last summer so I decided not to buy a bigger bed when I already have one. What's the point of buying something new when you already have a perfectly good one sitting in storage? My mattress frame is one of those that you can store under and it is easy to transport because it just folds up.  I have a queen bed at home so if I'm every craving more space, I can just take a weekend trip home. Plus, after being crammed into a small room with three other girls for two years, I wanted to be able to have some space to breathe in my room and having a twin bed allows for that.

Reno Travel Guide

Today's post is going to be the first guest post I've shared. My friend Eric spent the summer in Reno for an internship so I asked him to share some of his favorite places to visit in a guest post.

______________________________________________________________________

Hi everyone!

My name is Eric, and I’m a hometown friend of Mal’s. After spending my summer in Reno for an internship she has asked me to write on my experiences, my favorite places, and any recommendations that I may have. So here goes nothing.

Kings Beach

Reno was an ideal location for an internship for many reasons. It is conveniently located to other cities and it is home to University of Nevada Reno (about 25,000 students), so it was very easy to make friends and gives Reno a very ‘young-adult vibe’.

First off, TAHOE. Lake Tahoe is an easy 45-minute drive from Reno and where I spent most weekends. There are several cities around the lake, so it’s important to either enter from the north or the south. The north route takes you over Mt. Rose, which is beautiful in itself, into Incline Village, and the south route will take you through Carson City into Stateline/South Lake Tahoe.

Emerald Bay on the south shore

Because Tahoe is a popular winter destination, a lot of the towns around the lake are aimed at the skiing/snowboarding tourist populations. For that reason, the focus of the summer season is obviously the lake.

One beach that I would recommend is Zephyr Cove. It is a popular destination on holidays and weekends, especially for college students. Although alcohol and glass containers are prohibited, the scene is similar to a Florida party beach (especially during the 4^th of July). Another great beach is Chimney Beach. It’s on the east side of the lake and it is both family friendly and pet friendly. It is notorious for a standing chimney that remains from an old house. My favorite beach on Tahoe is certainly Kiva Beach. It is a popular dog beach and has the most beautiful view of Tahoe.

Sand Harbor

Kiva Beach 

Sand Harbor

Regardless of what beach you choose to visit I would definitely recommend researching parking options. Parking fills up very fast at beaches with lots, so having alternatives is necessary.

Within Reno there are several hiking trails, including my favorite, Hunter Creek Trail. It is a six mile (roundtrip) hike that ends at a beautiful waterfall! In the city I would also recommend visiting University Ridge Park, which overlooks the entire city. Every building downtown is illuminated with bright, colorful lights, making it a spectacular view.

Hunter Creek Trail 

One of the most appealing aspects of Reno is the nightlife. It is the main draw for tourists, considering the large amount of casinos and clubs. I’m glad to say that throughout my nightlife experiences in Reno I always felt safe and never had a reason to feel uneasy, although I can’t speak for everyone. I am not interested in gambling, so I cannot give advice on casinos, but the Peppermill Casino has a nightclub called EDGE, which is a higher-end club. Overall, I preferred to stay downtown. My favorite bars downtown are The Rack, Faces, Lincoln Lounge, Imperial, Five Star Saloon, and Our Bar. If you decide to go out, I’d certainly recommend taking Uber everywhere you go. Some streets are poorly lit, especially when you get further from downtown.

I didn’t broaden my palette too much this summer, but I definitely have a few food recommendations. First, I highly recommend brunch at chez louie. It is a small French bistro located in the first floor foyer in the Nevada Museum of Art. You can enjoy a nice breakfast, a few mimosas or Bloody Mary’s, and finish your afternoon exploring the museum. My favorite lunch locations were various Vietnamese restaurants. I’m a huge fan of pho, so Pho Cali and Golden Flower were two of my favorite lunch locations. An amazing dinner/evening location is The Eddy. It is an outdoor space with three bars and rotating food trucks. It’s an amazing location for socializing, and you can play jumbo Jenga, cornhole, or bocce with your friends. For late night options, I’d suggest either In-n-Out (duh) or Roberto’s, which is a 24-hour taco shop (perfect for late nights).

As I stated earlier, Reno is very conveniently located to other cities. This summer I was able to visit San Francisco a few times, Sacramento, and Los Angeles. I first went to San Francisco for SF Pride, and it is an easy 3-hour trip from Reno on I-80, which takes you through Sacramento. Not only is the drive to San Fran beautiful, but San Fran itself is spectacular. If you find yourself in Reno, make the drive to SF, even if it’s only for the day.

In addition, flights out of Reno to California cities are very affordable. I visited a friend in Los Angeles for five days, and my last minute plane ticket was about $200 on American Airlines. The flights from Reno to both Las Vegas and Los Angeles are only about an hour each, so it’s a very easy commute and well worth it.

At Griffith Observatory 

At the Getty 

Thanks for reading and comment down below if you have any Reno or Tahoe suggestions or recommendations. I'll be sharing another guest post with tips on obtaining internships and scholarships soon!

Eric

Dear College Freshman

Dear college freshman,


By now you've probably finished your first week of classes and you're probably thinking that you've entered the best time of your life. Well, you have. In a way, I'm so jealous of you because you have so much time left to live your best college life.  You have four years ahead of you, full of tailgates, night outs, and basketball games. You still have the opportunity to make new friends that you'll still have as a senior and hopefully after you graduate. So, I thought that I would write down a few words of advice for you. If you want any advice from a senior wishing she had more time on campus, keep reading.

Talk to those people next to you in class

I recommend sitting down in lecture and talking to at least one person next to you. This way, if you have to miss a class, you'll have someone to ask for the notes that you missed. Discussion sections may seem like the bane existence of your week, but trust me, if you make the effort to talk to those people sitting next you, you'll still be friends with them senior year. I met two of my closest friends in my freshman chemistry discussion, and I will never forget all of the good times we've had since then. (Plus you'll have friends  to study with when you really need someone to study with). Plus, the friends that I've made from class are the friends that I hang out with the most. Having friends that understand your need to study all of the time for exams and that also want to succeed will make your social life fuller because you'll probably be available at the same time.

Do not go home every weekend

Seriously, please don't be that person. If you live in-state or in the surrounding year, and you go home every weekend your freshman year, I guarantee your friends will probably have more fun than you. You'll be missing out on making new memories with friends and eventually you'll realize that those trips home every weekend were not worth it. If anything, make the most of your time in college.

Learn how to cook

If you don't know how to cook, you'll be living off of ramen, delivery, and mac and cheese once you have an apartment. Trust me, you don't want that. During the summer after your freshman year, ask your mom or grandma, or whoever cooks in your house to teach you a few things if you don't already know how. If you learn how to cook, your wallet will thank you for not going out every meal and your body will thank you for nourishing it with healthy food.

Get tickets for sports events

 At IU, basically all of the sporting events are free except for basketball and football. I usually buy a basketball/football ticket package when registering for fall classes so that I know I'll have seats for the home games. Especially if you love going to sporting events, I recommend looking into your school's ticket prices. However, only get the tickets if you plan on going to the games. Most student sections only have a certain amount of seats and if you purchase tickets and then don't go, there is someone else that could've had your seats if you hadn't purchased them. Also, check to see if your student section has group seating. If so, keep up to date on when the group seating opens and then create a group for all of your friends to join. This way you will all be sitting together.

Do not skip class

 I know that sometimes it is really rough to get out of bed and go to class, but I promise you, that you can make it to class. "I woke up later than expected" or "My alarm didn't go off" are not excuses when you have a phone with an alarm on it as well as access to stores that sell alarm clocks. If you want your professors and your peers to respect you, go to class. I also promise you that your professors notice when you don't show up, even when you think they don't. Set your alarm for every day during the weekend and don't turn it off. That way, if you have a long night out, or at the library, you can still make it to class on time.

Sit in the "T-zone"

Want to stay focused in class? Sit in the "T-zone". This zone includes the first few rows of the lecture hall and the middle of the lecture hall. The closer you sit to the front of the class, the less distracted you will be, and if you sit in the T-zone, your professor is more likely to see that you come to class. Plus, if you introduce yourself to your professor in either office hours or at the end of a lecture your professor may bump your grade up at the end of the year if he or she noticed that you were in lecture regularly. 

Attend office hours

Office hours are set times during the week that professors set aside so that students can come into their office or wherever they hold their office hours without having to make an appointment. These times are for your benefit. You can go in, meet your professor, ask questions about homework, tests, quizzes etc. Plus, if you get to know your professors through office hours, they are more likely to write you a letter of recommendation when you ask them. 

Do not wear a lanyard around your neck

Are you currently doing that on your way to class? If so, immediately take it off and put it in your backpack. This is not high school and you're not going to get detention from not wearing your ID on you. I guarantee everyone thinks you are nuts as you walk around campus.

Don't forget to workout

It is possible to avoid the freshman 15, and I wish I had avoided it. Odds are your school offers you free access to your campus rec center in your tuition. For example, I think about $77 of my tuition at IU goes to access to our campus cardio and strength gyms, group exercises, pools, and tracks. I didn't take advantage of this freshman year and I gained at least 15 pounds. So, take advantage of something that you already pay for.

Join clubs

Please, if you do one thing, join at least two clubs. Maybe join a sport club and a professional club or maybe a club for helping care for dogs. Grab some friends and join some clubs. Plus, most call out meetings have free pizza, which is always a bonus. If you haven't gone through recruitment yet, start thinking about whether you want to join Greek life. I'm personally in Phi Mu, Physical Therapy Club,   CHAARG, and Future of Human Biology.

Lastly, I've collected list of things that I want to tell you that I think don't need to be explained:

1. Tailgate, but tailgate safely. 
2. Do not walk in front of a campus vehicle even if you really want your tuition paid for.
3. Study a little bit everyday so that you're not behind when it comes to exam time. 
4. Explore your college town with friends.
5. Call or FaceTime your family and friends from home.
6. Actually visit the health center when you're sick.
7. Do carry pepper spray if you're walking alone at night.
8. Do not listen to your music if you're walking alone at night.
9. Don't just hang out with the same three people.
10. Get numbers from at least one person in a class for when you miss class and need notes.
11. Go to local concerts.
12. Go to the local farmers markets.
13. Realize that you've started the best four years of your life.

Sincerely, 

A senior that's jealous that you still have four years left  

If you have any other advice for college freshman comment below!