Column by Jessica McMillan, Staff Writer

When going to the campus store, you’re probably not thinking about ‘what I am making today?’ Like most students, you are trying to find that sugary snack for a momentary boost or just looking for something quick to grab. However, if we take the time to observe all the options offered then one can be surprised by how many there are. So today I am going to show you how to take a simple tuna packet and elevate it into a sour and savory tuna salad.  

Now, for many who have been to the campus store, you would know that there is a tuna salad kit with everything you need. That would be including the mayo, sweet relish, crackers and of course tuna. However, I find that kit doesn’t always match a person’s craving. For example, some people do not like the sweet relish and prefer mustard or there isn’t enough mayo in the kit. Overall, the kit does prove the foundation for a simple tuna salad though it may not fit everyone’s desire.

During my trip into the campus store within the Student Union, I looked around for what was available during that day and time. As I walk through the small store, I grab myself one packet of lemon pepper tuna and then a small box of saltines. I moved over to the refrigerated section where they keep the salads, cheese sticks and premade meals. I was originally hoping for any vegetable cups that could have contained celery and/or carrots. Sadly they did not have those, but I saw the small bag of “OH SNAP!” pickles which I have never tried before. After grabbing those items and doing one more walk through the store, I went to the counter to check out.  

As I was at the counter, I grabbed a few more items to help complete this salad or snack depending on the person. I asked the cashier if I could have three mayo and two mustard packets. Plus she gave me plastic utensils which also came with the little salt and pepper packs.  The total of everything was $7.27, which is a little more than the tuna kit. However, a person may not realize that the box of saltines can be good for another few tuna salads, and depending on how much you like pickles, they can last quite a while too. So all together you are getting more and planning for the next few snacks.

The end result of this experiment was a delightful one. The mixture of chopped up pickles with the creaminess of the mayo and finally the firm texture of the tuna made this my favorite snack so far. My only real criticism is with the flavor of tuna and choice of crackers. I thought the tuna would have more of a lemony taste but you do get the slight spice of the pepper. As for the crackers, they were too brittle and didn’t taste as good with the tuna salad. Although that can be fixed with another kind of crackers the store has or just grabbing a few packs from the Cafe (do not know its name). Overall, I feel this is a successful snack that is adaptable for any person craving. though, I will let you be the judge on that.

Categories: Life