Lunch ideas (on a course, no fridge/reheating options)

[Spudlet]

Right, I know this a bit pathetic but I have an exam on Sunday and I’m bricking it and I don’t have any mental capacity to figure this out, so I’m hoping to outsource some brainpower please 😂

I’m on a course all this weekend, staying away at a Premier Inn (no fridge in the room, therefore). Mock exams all day on Saturday, final exam all day Sunday. We will get a lunchbreak, but there’s nowhere really within walking distance other than a petrol station with shit wraps and things, and I would rather be able to stay at the venue and do some last minute revision tbh. There is a big Sainsburys within a short drive but again, would rather not have the stress of navigating an unfamiliar city on that particular day. Also, I don’t know how long we’ll get for lunch - there may not be time to go, shop, get back and eat.

Last time I was there it was still freezing so I went at lunchtime on the Saturday and got lunch for Sunday too - it was cold enough in the car to be safe. But this weekend will not be cold enough to get away with that by the looks of it. I have to be at the venue for 9.30am so the supermarkets won’t be open to get something on the way there on the Sunday morning either.

Any ideas on how I can keep something cold enough for 12 hours not to get food poisoning? There’s no microwave at the place so can’t get a tin of soup or packet of microwave rice. Will a little cool bag stay cool enough… I’m thinking not 😬

I really don’t want a shitty wrap again; I got awful indigestion last time and it’s a 2-3 hour drive home once I’m finished… do I resign myself to a lunch composed mostly of crisps?!

I shall leave them some if I fail the exam 😏 🍤

No, no food provided, which has been fine to be fair during the rest of the course (I’ve been there for a couple of weekends now, it would just make me feel a lot happier to know I’ve got a plan sorted and don’t have to go anywhere. I don’t really know what the structure of the day will be which makes me a bit anxious anyway, plus an exam, so I’d just like to have this bit of the day under control! I think babybels, rice cakes, maybe some peanut butter on them, and some kind of fruit will be a winner - I should have thought of it myself. Thanks again everyone!

Make a sandwich at breakfast each day, take it with you. You can bring fruit, cereal bars and crisps from home. Also take a couple of muffins/pastries if you'd like to. Its really ok. It's not like you're stealing a huge meal.

Do you have freezer blocks? I have worked in hotels we would freeze it for you over night (tell them it is for medication) and get some ice from the restaurant to put in the bag over night to keep what you have cold, bring a sandwich bag to put the ice in and leave the freezer bag in the sink

Get one of those John west tuna meals that don't go in the fridge?

Croissant and fruit?

Cup a soup and bread? (Assuming there'll be hot water/kettle)

Snack a jacks, veg sticks and fruit?

Peanut butter sandwich, fruit and crisps?

Use a cool bag with freezer blocks and then most things will be fine.
Pot noodles / mug shot type meals

packet of pitta breads
multipack of mini tins of no-drain tuna
multipack of small tins of sweetcorn
handful of sachets of mayonnaise, and pepper if required, nicked from the hoppers of a service station or food court.

no fridge required and you can whip yourself up a tuna mayo pitta as and when required.

Thanks again for all the ideas - I went to the supermarket and stocked up, then didn’t get s lunch break anyway so now I have a John West tuna salad and a packet of nuts in need of a home (it’s my stomach, the home will be in my stomach). But, who cares because I passed my exam! So yay 😀 and thanks again for the excellent hive mind input!

Well done @Spudlet on passing your exam! 🥂 🥂 🥂 🥂