Paper towel is the salad lifesaver

The easiest way to keep salad leaves crisp until lunch is to pack them dry and tuck a paper towel right into the lunch box.

Moisture is what turns leaves soggy. If you wash your greens the night before, spin or pat them as dry as you can before packing. Then put a folded paper towel on top of the leaves (or under them) inside the lunch box. That towel soaks up stray moisture and keeps the leaves from wilting.

Also, don’t add dressing until you’re ready to eat. If bringing dressing is a must, a small jar or a plastic condiment cup does the job — but if you truly can’t use a separate container, just skip the dressing or use a packet you can tear open at the table.

The paper towel trick works in any lunch box, and it’s cheap. Change it out when it gets too wet, and your salad stays crunchy.

Future lunch you deserves better than sad, wet leaves.