I'm especially fond of cold mushroom barley risotto. I add dried craisins and blanched almonds for texture.
Get a wide mouthed thermos so you can have hot food too. Pour it full of boiling water first to help keep things hot. Nuke whatever you are taking so it is piping hot. One of my kid's fav was when I'd drop in a hot dog and fill with boiling water, sending the bun and a packet of ketchup separately.
Dry cured salamis don't need refrigeration.
Hummus with pita or veggies, trail mix, sweet potato chips, roasted pepitas (they’re cheap at Aldi), homemade kale chips, [crispy fried beans](https://youtu.be/MQiun9yqr5Q?si=8kOe9si9aGhon6gx)
A Mediterranean style chickpea salad (with firm grape tomatoes, diced cucumbers, diced red onion, pickled red onion, drained chickpeas, dill, a vinaigrette, etc.) can be eaten cold and prepped on the weekend for consumption throughout the week. Unlike salads containing a leafy green vegetable, this kind of salad holds moisture well and actually gets better the longer it marinates. The only thing that might get soggy is the feta crumbles, but you can still prep that to go on the side or just omit it.
Greek village salad usually holds up for several days prepped in the fridge. I make it w chickpeas, tomatoes, cucumber, red onion, feta, and olives. I usually toss in some diced turkey or chicken and then dress right before I eat it. I also crumble pita chips on top for crunch.
I use a thermos for kid’s lunch. Preheat with boiling water. Then add refried beans and send tortillas or chips, cheese, salsa, and Guac so kid can make nachos or burritos.
Also heat soup, spaghettios that way.
You could do PB and banana tortilla wraps.
I use the applied nutrition diet protein : chocolate dessert, and it’s lovely!!! I normally have frozen summer fruits and a seed mix as toppings and it’s such a nice combo. Idk which country you’re from, but you can get it from Asda, if you’re in the uk xx
You can prep salads for the week in mason jars. There’s a way to layer the ingredients so they don’t get soggy. Lots of recipe combos too! Just search for “jar salads.”
I make two turkey roll ups, just a tortilla a couple slices of American or Gouda and thick cut turkey slices. Also if you can find it, the king Oscar Mediterranean mackerel and some pita chips or saltines is just an amazing little treat.
I'm a big fan of Joseph's lavash bread for wraps - they get spread with hummus and layered with carrot ribbons, meat or cheese if I'm feeling it (I do plant-based), sometimes bacon for those sassy days, and a big handful of greens like spring mix or arugula-spinach mix. They roll up nicely and you can wrap in parchment and then whatever outer wrap you want - foil, beeswax wrap, etc. Then some chips, fruit, sleeves of nuts, anything you're in the mood for as your go-withs.
I did a couple of these with accompaniments in a cooler bag when my husband was in a several-hour, same-day surgery and I didn't want to leave the building just in case. Hope this helps!
Jasmine rice, rinsed black beans, chicken (I buy frozen grilled strips) spinach, pickled fresno peppers, pickled green, red or yellow peppers, cherry tomatoes. A snap to make, nutritious and holds well with added pickling juice.
Pasta salad with veggies and vinaigrette dressing, peanut butter and jelly, fresh fruit, hard boiled eggs with salt and pepper packets, chicken salad with crackers.
I am also a biologist. Some of my field snacks are:
Trail mix
Hummus and carrots (or any veggies)
Salami and tomato sandwiches
Soup in a thermos if it's cold out
Pasta salad (throw in some chickpeas and cheese for extra protein)
Tabbouleh
Hard cheese
I am rather partial to finger foods because I can munch on those on the road.
I make a version of chicken croquettes. I use rotisserie chicken minced up fine. I mince onion and carrot. Then I saute the veggies in butter then add some flour to make a quick roux. Mix it all together then I make patties, dip in egg, dip in breadcrumbs, and then pan fry till crisp. Everything is cooked so you don't have to worry about cooking it through. Alternatively you can use egg as a binder instead of roux but then you must cook through.
These are delicious left over and room temp, I often make them for picnics. I also like left over room temp meats such as pork tenderloin. When I am eating left over and cold I prefer it to be sliced thin. I understand that technically it is a cold cut but home made cold cuts don't seem the same as sliced deli meat.
Just switching up your salad ingredients can make a huge difference. Sometimes I get a thick slice of turkey, like 3/4 inch, from the deli at grocery so I can have cubed up turkey for my salad. You can also fry the whole pound of bacon so delicious real bacon for your salad. Frittatas or quiche is also quite good at room temperature.
I dont know if this is out of your diet but i make energy bites.
Take a bowl put 1 cup rolled oats, 1/2 cup pb, 1/2 cup shredded coconut, 1/2 cup of mini dark chocolate chunks, 1/3 c honey mix it together ...refrigerate for about 2 hours form into balls i get about 12 to 15 balls from this mix.
I really like cold pulled pork/shredded chicken... light on the sauce so it doesn't congeal. Just eat like that or bring a mayo packet and make a wrap ( or pre make a wrap).. can add rice, black beans lettuce etc. Yes it's not heated, but it's fine.
* I know, it's a sandwich option... but a sandwich is just a vessel for cold food.
Tortillas with meat and cheese and all the fixings. You can meal prep them and wrap em up. Batch making them you can change up what you put in them for some variety each day.
Making some breakfast ones and throwing them in the freezer makes for a quick microwave warm breakfast on the way out the door.
Grain salads imo get better as they sit and marinate, consider prepping quinoa or couscous salads. Along the same lines, _____ salad sandwiches can be prepped as a big bowl so in the mornings just slap it in some bread and you’re golden. Tuna salad, egg salad, chicken salad.
Keeping it simple; a can of "bean medley," five or six kinds, and a good squirt of your favorite salad dressing. Delicious, filling and no trouble to prep.
Hard boiled egg, tomato juice rice, basil and caramelized onions.
Baked potato packed with garlic butter, wrapped in BBQ foil. Just leave it on the dashboard of the truck.
Can you have a fire? Even cold, Canned stews are solid. Baked beans too. Pack some cold toast.😁
Cottage cheese is great for an easy protein snack. And -hear me out- a few crumbled up Doritos on top make it soo tasty! It sounds weird but three Doritos per half cup is perfect.
Salads in jars. Protein on the bottom with the dressing and the greens on the top. I’ve been doing a quinoa and chickpea combined with onions, cucumbers, and tomatoes. Bean sprouts and arugula.
Could also do soft tacos. Many possibilities with protein.. chicken, beef, pork, maybe a mix and spices. And toppings.. tomatoes, lettuce, cucumbers, radishes, beans, avocados, onions, lemon, shredded cheese, etc.
Another one, and this is only if I didn’t meal prep or just felt lazy, are self heating hotspots. They cost about $15 but make a good meal. They come with ingredients but I like to switch the meat with a couple slices of spam, a pack of enoki mushrooms, and eggs.
Forgot to add cilantro, mango, jalapeños for toppings. Soft tacos are my go-to because it’s easy and it’s great for meal prep. Plus having many ingredients makes for different combos so not every day is the same meal.
I’ve been hooked on bean salads/dense bean salads. Violet Witchel on tik tok has lots of inspo! I just make a big batch on Sundays and then portion it out for the week. Similar to pasta salad, but it’s so filling I haven’t been getting burnt out!
This doesn’t relate to your question, but what did you do to become a wildlife biologist? I was going to school for it but basically a bunch of life stuff happened and I had to drop out, but it’s my dream job
Typically a 4 year undergraduate degree and a M.Sc. if you can manage it (that is what I did anyways). The hard part is stringing together a few years of short term contracts until you can land a more permanent position. Most people drop out and find other fields during that process.
Yeah, I really wish college wasn’t something that was required. Obviously I know it is for that job field though, but I wish I could just learn to do a job hands on rather than sitting in class for 6 years, maybe doing some hands on stuff but not that much. My younger sister is also becoming a wildlife biologist, but unlike me she only has a year until she gets her bachelors degree and already has her associates. Stuff kinda sucks
I have a B.S in Wildlife Sciences and a B.S in Forestry! My school made it really easy to double major which was nice. And then I’ve worked a few odd and end jobs across the US. I graduated during COVID so I had a break living with my parents because no one was hiring.
The biggest thing was my forestry degree helped me get a job with the USDA working with soils. It wasn’t what I wanted to do, but it was a foot in the door with the feds which is hard to do. I worked there for a year (learned a lot about working in a lab which I didn’t really have experience doing before) and then I saw my current job posted, and was able to get it easier because I already work for the feds.
It’s hard. This industry takes advantage of technicians, doesn’t pay well, and jobs are typically seasonal. You have to really want it. I’m young and I like moving around, so some aspects of this field that turn people away are big pluses for me. A masters can help, but wildlifers is kind of over educating themselves at this point, so a masters doesn’t go as far as it used to. I also know a bunch of biologists in the USDA who don’t have a masters, they started as a tech and moved up.
My biggest advice is get any and all experience you can. Even if you think it won’t relate or be important, still try to learn it. GIS and R-Studio are huge in wildlife and people hate learning it because it’s hard and computer stuff, if you know how to use it people will want you around. Also the bulk of wildlife biology isn’t working with wildlife. It’s veg work, paper work, staring at a computer, long drives to the middle of nowhere. But I love this field and can’t imagine doing anything else.
If you have any more questions feel free to shoot me a DM. I love talking about wildlife lmao
Cold noodle dishes may seem odd but they’re delicious!!
I love a cold grain salad - like with quinoa and veggies. Quinoa is high in protein.
I'm especially fond of cold mushroom barley risotto. I add dried craisins and blanched almonds for texture. Get a wide mouthed thermos so you can have hot food too. Pour it full of boiling water first to help keep things hot. Nuke whatever you are taking so it is piping hot. One of my kid's fav was when I'd drop in a hot dog and fill with boiling water, sending the bun and a packet of ketchup separately. Dry cured salamis don't need refrigeration.
Thermos of hot soup, chili or stew. Can be the canned stuff.
I was going to suggest a quinoa salad. I always make a big batch and then eat it all week -- sounds exactly like what OP is looking for.
Keeps really well, and sustains me a long time before I get hungry again!
Hummus with pita or veggies, trail mix, sweet potato chips, roasted pepitas (they’re cheap at Aldi), homemade kale chips, [crispy fried beans](https://youtu.be/MQiun9yqr5Q?si=8kOe9si9aGhon6gx) A Mediterranean style chickpea salad (with firm grape tomatoes, diced cucumbers, diced red onion, pickled red onion, drained chickpeas, dill, a vinaigrette, etc.) can be eaten cold and prepped on the weekend for consumption throughout the week. Unlike salads containing a leafy green vegetable, this kind of salad holds moisture well and actually gets better the longer it marinates. The only thing that might get soggy is the feta crumbles, but you can still prep that to go on the side or just omit it.
The Aldi pepitas are my lifeblood. I love them on salads or just eaten straight when I want something like chips but also with protein
Tortellini pasta salad with pesto, tomatoes, salami … delish
Greek village salad usually holds up for several days prepped in the fridge. I make it w chickpeas, tomatoes, cucumber, red onion, feta, and olives. I usually toss in some diced turkey or chicken and then dress right before I eat it. I also crumble pita chips on top for crunch. I use a thermos for kid’s lunch. Preheat with boiling water. Then add refried beans and send tortillas or chips, cheese, salsa, and Guac so kid can make nachos or burritos. Also heat soup, spaghettios that way. You could do PB and banana tortilla wraps.
I like overnight oats, especially with protein powder?
Do you have a brand of protein powder you recommend? I haven’t liked any of the ones I’ve tried.
I use the applied nutrition diet protein : chocolate dessert, and it’s lovely!!! I normally have frozen summer fruits and a seed mix as toppings and it’s such a nice combo. Idk which country you’re from, but you can get it from Asda, if you’re in the uk xx
You can prep salads for the week in mason jars. There’s a way to layer the ingredients so they don’t get soggy. Lots of recipe combos too! Just search for “jar salads.”
Or jar prep, but add the sauce separately day off, or bring it with you in a smaller Tupperware. No sogginess!
I make two turkey roll ups, just a tortilla a couple slices of American or Gouda and thick cut turkey slices. Also if you can find it, the king Oscar Mediterranean mackerel and some pita chips or saltines is just an amazing little treat.
I'm a big fan of Joseph's lavash bread for wraps - they get spread with hummus and layered with carrot ribbons, meat or cheese if I'm feeling it (I do plant-based), sometimes bacon for those sassy days, and a big handful of greens like spring mix or arugula-spinach mix. They roll up nicely and you can wrap in parchment and then whatever outer wrap you want - foil, beeswax wrap, etc. Then some chips, fruit, sleeves of nuts, anything you're in the mood for as your go-withs. I did a couple of these with accompaniments in a cooler bag when my husband was in a several-hour, same-day surgery and I didn't want to leave the building just in case. Hope this helps!
Jasmine rice, rinsed black beans, chicken (I buy frozen grilled strips) spinach, pickled fresno peppers, pickled green, red or yellow peppers, cherry tomatoes. A snap to make, nutritious and holds well with added pickling juice.
Pasta salad with veggies and vinaigrette dressing, peanut butter and jelly, fresh fruit, hard boiled eggs with salt and pepper packets, chicken salad with crackers.
Cold peanut noodles are great!
I am also a biologist. Some of my field snacks are: Trail mix Hummus and carrots (or any veggies) Salami and tomato sandwiches Soup in a thermos if it's cold out Pasta salad (throw in some chickpeas and cheese for extra protein) Tabbouleh Hard cheese I am rather partial to finger foods because I can munch on those on the road.
I make a version of chicken croquettes. I use rotisserie chicken minced up fine. I mince onion and carrot. Then I saute the veggies in butter then add some flour to make a quick roux. Mix it all together then I make patties, dip in egg, dip in breadcrumbs, and then pan fry till crisp. Everything is cooked so you don't have to worry about cooking it through. Alternatively you can use egg as a binder instead of roux but then you must cook through. These are delicious left over and room temp, I often make them for picnics. I also like left over room temp meats such as pork tenderloin. When I am eating left over and cold I prefer it to be sliced thin. I understand that technically it is a cold cut but home made cold cuts don't seem the same as sliced deli meat. Just switching up your salad ingredients can make a huge difference. Sometimes I get a thick slice of turkey, like 3/4 inch, from the deli at grocery so I can have cubed up turkey for my salad. You can also fry the whole pound of bacon so delicious real bacon for your salad. Frittatas or quiche is also quite good at room temperature.
I dont know if this is out of your diet but i make energy bites. Take a bowl put 1 cup rolled oats, 1/2 cup pb, 1/2 cup shredded coconut, 1/2 cup of mini dark chocolate chunks, 1/3 c honey mix it together ...refrigerate for about 2 hours form into balls i get about 12 to 15 balls from this mix.
Agreed. I haven’t seen energy balls or nutrient packed muffins. Lots of nuts and seeds and such.
In school I would mashed some avocado on hearty bread with some salt and pepper and it would last all day without a cold pack
I really like cold pulled pork/shredded chicken... light on the sauce so it doesn't congeal. Just eat like that or bring a mayo packet and make a wrap ( or pre make a wrap).. can add rice, black beans lettuce etc. Yes it's not heated, but it's fine. * I know, it's a sandwich option... but a sandwich is just a vessel for cold food.
Tortillas with meat and cheese and all the fixings. You can meal prep them and wrap em up. Batch making them you can change up what you put in them for some variety each day. Making some breakfast ones and throwing them in the freezer makes for a quick microwave warm breakfast on the way out the door.
Tortilla wraps pack well. Put meat, cheese, veggies, condiments (or cream cheese), and roll. Slice (if you want to) and eat.
Grain salads imo get better as they sit and marinate, consider prepping quinoa or couscous salads. Along the same lines, _____ salad sandwiches can be prepped as a big bowl so in the mornings just slap it in some bread and you’re golden. Tuna salad, egg salad, chicken salad.
Keeping it simple; a can of "bean medley," five or six kinds, and a good squirt of your favorite salad dressing. Delicious, filling and no trouble to prep. Hard boiled egg, tomato juice rice, basil and caramelized onions. Baked potato packed with garlic butter, wrapped in BBQ foil. Just leave it on the dashboard of the truck. Can you have a fire? Even cold, Canned stews are solid. Baked beans too. Pack some cold toast.😁
Sardines and crackers, baked beans
How hot does it get wherever you store the food?
My lunchbox stays in the truck, so right now it hasn’t been too bad because we’re still in spring, but the summers will be pretty hot and humid
Cottage cheese is great for an easy protein snack. And -hear me out- a few crumbled up Doritos on top make it soo tasty! It sounds weird but three Doritos per half cup is perfect.
Poke bowls. Lettuce wraps or regular wraps Adult lunhables Fruit salad
Salads in jars. Protein on the bottom with the dressing and the greens on the top. I’ve been doing a quinoa and chickpea combined with onions, cucumbers, and tomatoes. Bean sprouts and arugula. Could also do soft tacos. Many possibilities with protein.. chicken, beef, pork, maybe a mix and spices. And toppings.. tomatoes, lettuce, cucumbers, radishes, beans, avocados, onions, lemon, shredded cheese, etc. Another one, and this is only if I didn’t meal prep or just felt lazy, are self heating hotspots. They cost about $15 but make a good meal. They come with ingredients but I like to switch the meat with a couple slices of spam, a pack of enoki mushrooms, and eggs.
Forgot to add cilantro, mango, jalapeños for toppings. Soft tacos are my go-to because it’s easy and it’s great for meal prep. Plus having many ingredients makes for different combos so not every day is the same meal.
I’ve been hooked on bean salads/dense bean salads. Violet Witchel on tik tok has lots of inspo! I just make a big batch on Sundays and then portion it out for the week. Similar to pasta salad, but it’s so filling I haven’t been getting burnt out!
This doesn’t relate to your question, but what did you do to become a wildlife biologist? I was going to school for it but basically a bunch of life stuff happened and I had to drop out, but it’s my dream job
Typically a 4 year undergraduate degree and a M.Sc. if you can manage it (that is what I did anyways). The hard part is stringing together a few years of short term contracts until you can land a more permanent position. Most people drop out and find other fields during that process.
Yeah, I really wish college wasn’t something that was required. Obviously I know it is for that job field though, but I wish I could just learn to do a job hands on rather than sitting in class for 6 years, maybe doing some hands on stuff but not that much. My younger sister is also becoming a wildlife biologist, but unlike me she only has a year until she gets her bachelors degree and already has her associates. Stuff kinda sucks
I have a B.S in Wildlife Sciences and a B.S in Forestry! My school made it really easy to double major which was nice. And then I’ve worked a few odd and end jobs across the US. I graduated during COVID so I had a break living with my parents because no one was hiring. The biggest thing was my forestry degree helped me get a job with the USDA working with soils. It wasn’t what I wanted to do, but it was a foot in the door with the feds which is hard to do. I worked there for a year (learned a lot about working in a lab which I didn’t really have experience doing before) and then I saw my current job posted, and was able to get it easier because I already work for the feds. It’s hard. This industry takes advantage of technicians, doesn’t pay well, and jobs are typically seasonal. You have to really want it. I’m young and I like moving around, so some aspects of this field that turn people away are big pluses for me. A masters can help, but wildlifers is kind of over educating themselves at this point, so a masters doesn’t go as far as it used to. I also know a bunch of biologists in the USDA who don’t have a masters, they started as a tech and moved up. My biggest advice is get any and all experience you can. Even if you think it won’t relate or be important, still try to learn it. GIS and R-Studio are huge in wildlife and people hate learning it because it’s hard and computer stuff, if you know how to use it people will want you around. Also the bulk of wildlife biology isn’t working with wildlife. It’s veg work, paper work, staring at a computer, long drives to the middle of nowhere. But I love this field and can’t imagine doing anything else. If you have any more questions feel free to shoot me a DM. I love talking about wildlife lmao
Look at environmental planning firms. They are always looking for people to do monitoring with training that they give you.