I don't believe in twisting yourself into knots of excuses and explanations over the food you make. -Julia Child

I had Ramen noodles for the first time last semester. I don’t know why I waited so long. It seems like everyone loves them - my friends in college, the kids I babysit for, people at the local grocery store. I can see why: it’s tasty, easy to make, and barely costs a thing. When I imagined myself living in my very first apartment, Ramen dinners were not what I had in mind. Nowadays, you can find me scarfing down a bowl of noodles on pretty much any Sunday night.

I have vivid memories of my ten-year-old self riding in the backseat of my mother’s minivan after a day of running errands. We were always headed home, but of course we’d have to pass an enticing landscape of fast food restaurants to get there. I’d always ask my mom, “can we get McDonald’s?” to which she would always reply, “you got McDonald’s money?” The answer was always no.

Well, here we are, folks: it’s been almost a decade and I still don’t have McDonald’s money. As a college student, your financial situation may be complicated by time constraints, loan payments and finding a part time job. Whatever the case, living on your own can prove to be a challenge, especially if you live off campus with a limited meal plan. There’s a word for this: struggle. The good thing about your predicament is that it’s temporary, so you might as well enjoy it while it lasts. You might even find yourself enjoying some of these makeshift meals.

Use Your Noodle(s)

Ramen is cheap: so cheap, in fact, that you have to try your best to not think about what you’re eating. However, it’s also incredibly versatile. For this meal, you’re going to want to use little to none of the seasoning packet, as it would overpower the taste of the teriyaki sauce. You can also substitute teriyaki for another sauce such as soy or sweet and sour.

6-pack of ramen noodles: $1.69

Market Pantry teriyaki sauce: $1.99

Makes 6 servings at $0.61 each.

I’ll Have The Appetizer

By adding an array of flavorful and sometimes bizarre toppings, the simple cracker becomes so much more than just a crusty piece of bread. People who have more than 85 cents in their bank account call these hors d’oeuvres. This is the kind of fancy stuff they show on the sides of the boxes of, except you’re eating it as a meal. Here are some options:

SWEET AND SAVORY

Apples and cheese are an unlikely pair that tastes refreshingly tart when placed atop a plain water cracker. Try experimenting with the sizes of your slices to get that perfect flavor balance.

Archer Farms water crackers: $1.52

3-lb bag of apples: about $3 (you won’t need this many)

Kraft cheddar cheese: $2.50

Makes 4 servings at 1.75 each, plus extra apples.

PB AND...WELL, JUST PB.

Here’s an age-old classic: spread some peanut butter on a handful of saltine crackers. It fills you up. You’re good to go.

Premium saltine crackers: $2.50

Jif peanut butter: $2.49

Makes 12 servings at $0.42 each.

PIZZA’S HERE

These are kind of like Lunchables, which you will find either delightful or horrifying depending on your experience with Lunchables as a child. Lunchables sells a “pizza” meal, which consists of a premade crust, tomato sauce, and cheese. None of this is supposed to get cooked, which, if you ask me, is vile. I’ve chosen to omit the sauce element from our cracker pizzas to save you from what would most likely be a traumatizing food experience.

Ritz crackers: $2.44

Hormel Pepperoni Slices: $2.99

Kraft cheddar cheese: $2.50

Makes 6 servings at $1.32 each.

Struggle Smoothie

Some popular smoothie retailers (*cough cough* Jamba Juice) sell their drinks for 5 bucks a pop. Our struggle smoothie recipe provides you with 8 smoothies for just under 6 dollars. Disclaimer: I don’t measure my smoothie ingredients, because I don’t have my life together. If I had to guess, I would say I typically use ⅔ cups of frozen fruit, a cup of ice, a hefty tablespoon of peanut butter and half a cup of milk.

Ice (basically free if you have a freezer or live in a cold climate)

Jif peanut butter: $2.49

Frozen blueberries, strawberries or other fruit of your choice $1.99

Half gallon of milk $1.79

Makes 8 servings at $0.78 each.