Anonymous
Post 09/30/2025 19:11     Subject: Food for a train
You could take a pasta salad with an oil-based dressing (no mayo). Maybe something like this?
https://marisamoore.com/chickpea-pasta-salad/
I'd include the feta, but you could leave it out if you're worried about it sitting at room temperature.

Or I like the idea of a baguette, hard cheese, butter, shelf-stable package of salami, olives, and grapes/oranges. Classic picnic spread.
Anonymous
Post 09/30/2025 18:04     Subject: Food for a train
Anonymous wrote:You can buy freezable collapsible lunch bags at the container store or at Marshall's. They'll stay cold a few hours, and you can roll them up when you're done to transport back home. Freeze the bread the night before, and make sandwiches before you leave with the frozen bread. Also freeze the lunch bag the night before. Sandwiches will still be cold and fresh for lunch. Round out with fruit, snacks, drinks including something sweet.

Eating out is freaking expensive these days. I'd rather bring my own food made the way I like it than spend a ton of money on mediocre food.


And train food is particularly bad and expensive.
Anonymous
Post 09/30/2025 17:52     Subject: Food for a train
You can buy freezable collapsible lunch bags at the container store or at Marshall's. They'll stay cold a few hours, and you can roll them up when you're done to transport back home. Freeze the bread the night before, and make sandwiches before you leave with the frozen bread. Also freeze the lunch bag the night before. Sandwiches will still be cold and fresh for lunch. Round out with fruit, snacks, drinks including something sweet.

Eating out is freaking expensive these days. I'd rather bring my own food made the way I like it than spend a ton of money on mediocre food.
Anonymous
Post 09/30/2025 13:21     Subject: Food for a train
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:whole fruit and/or veggies: clementines or apples or grapes in a small container or snap peas or grape tomatoes

something with protein, peanut butter is the easiest: PB filled pretzels, bars, uncrustables or PBJ
chips or popcorn
moon cheese or whips
dried fruit or fig bars
treat: chocolate or gummies or packaged cookies

I assume you can get a drink on the train, but if not consider tea or juice frozen in the AM


Listen I absolutely love Peanut butter but I truly don’t know how it ever got the reputation of being a “high protein” food. There is typically 8 grams of protein in 2 tablespoons. Literally almost anything else you choose to put on a sandwich will have more than that. I mean it’s delicious but high protein it is not. For context, 1 single slice of cheese has 7 grams of protein and most people use 2 slices in a sandwich.


There is no world in which I would eat a warm cheese sandwich.


Cheese is so much better room temparature.
Anonymous
Post 09/30/2025 12:49     Subject: Food for a train
I avoid peanut butter in an enclosed area. Don't want to be blame for anyone's allergic reaction to it. And the reaction seem to be more severe than other foods.
Can't you just grab a free granola bars, a quiet fruit like banana. Bring a bag for your trash.
Anonymous
Post 09/30/2025 12:41     Subject: Food for a train
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:whole fruit and/or veggies: clementines or apples or grapes in a small container or snap peas or grape tomatoes

something with protein, peanut butter is the easiest: PB filled pretzels, bars, uncrustables or PBJ

chips or popcorn

moon cheese or whips

dried fruit or fig bars

treat: chocolate or gummies or packaged cookies

I assume you can get a drink on the train, but if not consider tea or juice frozen in the AM


Listen I absolutely love Peanut butter but I truly don’t know how it ever got the reputation of being a “high protein” food. There is typically 8 grams of protein in 2 tablespoons. Literally almost anything else you choose to put on a sandwich will have more than that. I mean it’s delicious but high protein it is not. For context, 1 single slice of cheese has 7 grams of protein and most people use 2 slices in a sandwich.


I think lots of people suggest peanut butter or nut butters because they travel well and are filling. Like others have said, whether it’s safe or not, I don’t care for warm or room temp cheese. OP said they prefer not to bring ice packs so people are suggesting shelf table things.
Anonymous
Post 09/30/2025 12:34     Subject: Food for a train
Honestly I'd just get a bagel before I got on the train.

But most major train stations have tons of food options, you could quickly grab just about anything.