JW Convention Lunches: 8 Simple Meals That Hold Up in the Cooler

We’re all trying to be a little more careful with money this year, and honestly one of the easiest ways to do that at the convention is to pack your own lunch instead of running out to eat. The trouble is, by noon the ice is half melted, the bread is soggy, and that sandwich you assembled the night before is not what it used to be.

So here are eight simple, easy meals that actually taste good at lunchtime, won’t feel gross sitting in a cooler all morning, and won’t stain anyone’s nice convention clothes. That last part really matters when you have little ones with you.

Made before sandwich rolls

Pick a sturdy roll, layer your fillings in the morning, and wrap them tightly in parchment or foil. Sturdy bread is the secret. A roll holds up where a soft slice of sandwich bread just gives up after an hour in the cooler.

Chicken salad

Toast the bread before you leave so it has some structure, then pack the chicken salad in its own container and don’t spread it until you’re ready to eat. This is the simple little trick that keeps everything from going sad and soggy. Assembling at lunchtime takes about thirty seconds and the difference is huge.

Italian sub sandwiches (packed smart)

The trick is layering. Put the cheese directly against the bread on both sides so it acts as a moisture barrier, then the meats in the middle, then the veggies, and keep the dressing in a tiny container to add right before you eat. A sub made this way at 9 p.m. the night before will still taste fresh at 12:30 p.m. the next day. Before our family figured this out, we used to just keep everything separate and build the sandwiches at the lunch break, which also works perfectly fine if you’d rather skip the layering altogether.

Cold sesame noodles with chicken

Make these the night before with a peanut and sesame sauce, shredded rotisserie chicken, and chopped carrots. They are genuinely satisfying cold and somehow even tastier on day two of the convention. Pack plastic utensils or chopsticks for fun if you have them.

Carrot and celery sticks with ranch

A classic for a reason. They stay crunchy in the cooler all morning, they’re easy for kids, and they’re the healthy little side that balances out everything else in your lunch.

Italian pasta salad

Rotini holds dressing really well, and the salami, mozzarella, olives, and bell peppers all hold up in a cooler for hours. Make it the night before so the flavors have time to soak in. Use a vinaigrette rather than a creamy dressing if you have any worry about little hands and convention clothes.

Greek tomato, cucumber, and feta salad

This is my favorite lunch to make. Chopped tomatoes, cucumber, red onion, feta, a drizzle of olive oil, a squeeze of lemon, and a sprinkle of oregano. It tastes like summer and it’s almost embarrassingly easy. Pack the dressing separate if you’re making it a day ahead.

Charcuterie style lunch box with hummus

Cubed cheese, turkey or salami roll-ups, grapes, dried apricots, almonds, pretzels, a few olives, and a little container of hummus with cut veggies. Everything in this lunch is happy at cooler temperature for hours, and this is the one little kids will be excited about all morning during the program.

A few other  things that make any cooler lunch better:

• Pre-chill the cooler the night before, and use a mix of block ice and cube ice together. Block ice lasts much longer, and the cubes fill in the gaps.
• Only pack food that’s already cold or frozen, never anything room temperature, and keep the cooler closed as much as you can during the day.
• Pack it in layers. Meat at the bottom if you have any, then meals and dairy in the middle, then grab-and-go snacks like fruit and crackers right on top so you’re not digging around. Use leak-proof containers and keep everything sealed.
• And one little reminder for the families. Avoid anything that can stain clothes, especially for the little ones. Tomato-heavy sauces, mustard, anything bright and runny. The kids look so sweet in their convention clothes and a stain at lunch can really put a damper on the afternoon.

Packing your own lunch saves real money over three days, and with a little planning the night before, you can sit down at the break to a meal that actually tastes good and gets you ready for the afternoon program. Which of these do you think you’ll try at this year’s convention?