Five days a week, I get up extra early to commute across eight miles of highway to get to campus for my long days of classes and work.
Between taking notes in class, working on campus, organizing events for my club and finishing upcoming assignments, my day is jam-packed. There is little time to find food in between on-campus responsibilities, and there is little room in my college student budget to get takeout every day. This is the reality for many other commuters.
For those who commute and don’t want to spend double digits on a single meal on-campus, finding an easy and affordable lunch is vital. Throughout the year, I will be providing new recipes to try. Today I offer three easy wrap recipes.
I am using three criteria for a good lunch: affordability (under $15 for multiple servings), nutritionally significant (over 15 grams of protein), and lastability (if it will survive in a lunchbox all day without getting gross).
The beauty of these recipes below is in their simplicity. No cooking necessary, minimal cleanup and no headache involved.
The Basic Wrap
This recipe costs under $15 and makes at least six wraps. The assembly takes less than five minutes and requires less than three dishes.
There are only five ingredients required for this recipe: a tortilla, mayo, a green, a deli meat and sliced cheese. For my version of the recipe, I use spinach as my green, ham as my deli meat, and Swiss cheese.
This recipe contains approximately 20 grams of protein and 540 calories in total.
To assemble this wrap, begin by laying out the tortilla base on a plate or paper towel before spreading a thin layer of mayo on one side of the tortilla surface. Next, rip up the slices of cheese so they fit spread out across the surface of the tortilla. Then, layer the ham the same way over the cheese. Finally, place the greens on top and roll up the wrap with all the ingredients inside.
This recipe was the first commuter lunch I ever packed, and it has been my tried-and-true go-to since. I like to pair it with chips for an added crunch.
Pepperoni Pizza Wrap
This recipe costs under $13 and makes at least five wraps. This wrap takes less than five minutes to assemble and requires no more than three small containers.
There are four ingredients required for this recipe: a tortilla, pepperoni, pizza sauce and mozzarella cheese.
This recipe contains approximately 16 grams of protein and 265 calories total.
To make this wrap, lay out the tortilla and spread a thin layer of pizza sauce. Next, place the pepperoni across the surface of the tortilla. Then, sprinkle the cheese on top. Finally, roll up the wrap with all the ingredients inside.
An old family tradition inspired this recipe. When my dad made pizza at home, I would always steal some pepperoni, put a bit of pizza sauce on top and sprinkle mozzarella cheese on it. I would eat that over the actual pizza.
Chicken Caesar Wrap
This recipe costs under $14 and makes about five wraps. This wrap takes less than five minutes to be assembled with minimal dishes needed.
There are four ingredients required for this recipe: a tortilla, chicken nuggets, a green, and Caesar dressing.
This recipe contains approximately 18 grams of protein and 520 calories total.
To make this wrap, spread a thin layer of Caesar dressing on the tortilla. Next, microwave or air-fry the chicken nuggets and put the heated chicken on top in the center of the wrap. Layer lettuce next to the chicken. Finally, roll up the wrap with all the ingredients inside.
This recipe also pairs well with a side of chips for a crunch. The wrap can be unrolled and chips added directly into the tortilla for a more interesting texture.
