THE KITCHEN
Often times, a BCBA's kitchen table is actually his car. A packed lunch in the front seat is a familiar sight to most BCBAs! The purpose of this page is to make mealtimes a little more enjoyable, even if they are during rush hour on 95.
SNACKS - A BCBA'S BEST FRIEND
ON-THE-GO SNACKING TIPS
Some days, you may not have the luxury of 30 minutes between clients to enjoy a deliciously prepared Coffee + Cooper approved meal (see below). On those days, snacks are your most important ally.
TIP #1: Before we get into snack ideas - we want to stress the importance of investing in good tupperware. Bringing yogurt is MUCH easier when you have tupperware that closes firmly and doesn't risk leaking all over your front seat. Having good Ziploc baggies to store snacks makes all the difference! We love The Container Store's Glasslock products, especially because they come in multiple sizes.
TIP #2: Variety is key! No one looks forward to the same bag of peanuts three days in a row. In fact, peanuts after 2 sessions in a row gets a bit boring. mix it up! Bring 3-4 snacks each day in case your afternoon appetite is different from your evening appetite. This will also help you avoid packing snacks that don't meet your cravings later in the day. And we all know how that turns out (Wendy's drive-thru anyone?).
TIP #3: Consider the temperature. Don't pack string cheese on a 90 degree day, unless you have an amazing cooler to keep it at a healthy temperature. If you're going to bring soup, put it in a thermos to make sure you don't face the disappointment of lukewarm soup after an exhausting session. In general, we like to pack snacks that work in all temperatures just to keep things simple
TIP #4: Pack at least one item you can eat on the go. Sure, there may be ample time to pull over on a side street and enjoy a nice cup of yogurt with berries and granola BUT sometimes you may find yourself unexpectedly hightailing it to another session with one hand needed for the wheel. Always pack at least one one-handed snack, just in case!
TIP #5: Try some Coffee + Cooper approved snacks below!
COFFEE + COOPER APPROVED SNACKS
FOR ON-THE-GO BCBAS
We love granola and yogurt! It's filling and feels like dessert in the middle of a long day. Top it with honey, berries, and anything else you'd like. We pack ours in a mason jar because we're basic, but a regular tupperware will do. Make sure to throw an ice pack in your lunch box to keep it cold through the morning!
YOGURT + GRANOLA
Hummus is one of our favorite snacks of all time, so it only makes sense to bring it in a to-go container. Sabra has adorable pre-packed cups, but you can always scoop your own hummus in to tupperware and bring a bag of pretzels, chips, or veggies to dip!
HUMMUS + PRETZELS
We love Noosa yogurt for a couple of reasons. First of all, it's delicious and comes in a surprisingly large variety of flavors. Second, it's huge, so you can eat half and save half for later. Third, it has a resealable lid so you can eat half for a breakfast snack, then close it back up for a second snack later in the day.
NOOSA YOGURT
Guacamole, like hummus, is a favorite overall snack, so why not bring it with you to work to brighten up your day? Easily pack it in a tupperware and bring along chips or veggies in a ziplock to dip.
GUACAMOLE
There's nothing as easy as a snack bar on the go. They're easy to eat with one hand while you speed from one client to the next and fill you up for a couple of hours.
SNACK BARS
FIND TIME TO EAT...
IT WILL FUEL YOUR DAY AND KEEP YOU FROM GETTING HANGRY DURING THOSE LONG MEETINGS!
Working in the ABA field can often cramp our lunchtime (and dinner time) styles. Whether you're a BCBA or an RBT, chances are your lunch is spent in the car or scarfing down a salad from Panera. To break this cycle, we recommend that you invest in some good tupperware and ziplocks, as well as an insulated lunchbox. Now that the weather is getting a bit colder (at least here on the East Coast), investing in a thermos for soups or rice dishes would be a great idea! These recipes below are easy to make the night before and can be eaten at a desk or in the car. None of them require microwaves and all of them receive the Coffee + Cooper stamp of approval.
HAWAIIAN BBQ CHICKEN WRAPS
This delicious wrap is easy to assemble and will allow you to savour the remaining moments of summer.
TURKEY CLUB SANDWICH
If you thought sandwiches were boring, think again. This club sandwich is packed with avocado, bacon, and turkey.
KALE SALAD WITH BUTTERNUT SQUASH, CHICKPEAS AND TAHINI DRESSING
Nothing says Fall like butternut squash! This salad is easy to throw together in the morning and will stay throughout the day. Unlike other lettuce, kale won't wilt if it sits in your car through a morning supervision.
CREAMY CILANTRO LIME SOUTHWESTERN PASTA SALAD
Without a microwave, you may have crossed pasta off your list of potential lunches. This pasta salad is here to prove that you can still have pasta during the work day!
SKINNY CHICKEN SALAD
Sometimes a quick bite is all you want before you head off to your school observation. for days like that, this chicken salad is perfect to pack up in a lunch box and enjoy for a snack.
BLUEBERRY, FETA, AND HONEY CARAMELIZED ONION NAAN PIZZA
Who said lunch has to be boring? This pizza is delicious even when it's cold and might even be a fancy break from an otherwise standard day.