The transition from home life to college life can be a very difficult transition in many respects. This holds especially true when it comes to meals and eating habits.

Just the week before you arrived, you probably had your mom's cooking, and even if you did your own cooking, you likely had a stocked pantry, oven, stovetop, stocked refrigerator and freezer, blender, and basically a mini-Food-Network-set at your disposal, 24/7. Not so anymore. You may have a mini-fridge, microwave, and if you're lucky, your own sink. Freshman dorms are a far cry from the perfect kitchen you not so long ago knew. Ergo, most college students must choose between two options: a) A diet of Ramen noodles, cereal, and popcorn, or b) Utilizing the meal plan.

Whether you are an incoming freshman seeking some tips and tricks, a commuter less familiar with on-campus options, or a seasoned upperclassman stuck in a mealtime rut, this article is for you. This is the insider's guide to "shopping" with your meal plan. Although my experiences and locations referenced will be specific to JSU, I have heard that there are similarities across campuses, likely due to the same food service provider at many universities.

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The cafeteria (or café, or caf, whatever you prefer to call it) is a grand smorgasbord of food options. Here at JSU, we have several stations: Pizza, Entrée, International, Salads, Grill, Deli, and Desserts.

There are new options each day, especially at Entrée and International, typically boasting an exciting balance of grains, protein, veggies, possibly dairy and fruit. (Think back to the MyPyramid or MyPlate you probably learned about in school - yep, those good food groups.) After a while, though, you may find yourself changing your food groups to pizza, fries, and fried chicken, and those veggies and fruits from so long ago make fewer and fewer appearances on the plate.

In addition, the cafeteria may be a good walk from the dorm, you can't carry food out of the building, and their hours do not change for your Tuesday/Thursday schedule and how hungry you may or may not be at the moment. Therefore, your food groups may evolve into chicken nuggets and waffle fries. I don't know.

Is this all there is? Wouldn't it just be easier if Mom could deliver meals like she used to make to the dorm room? Where are you supposed to get vegetables besides potatoes and fruit beside ketchup? (Not a fruit, by the way)

Vegetables

Depending on the day, our diner-style eatery - the Gamecock Diner - can offer broccoli, pinto beans, turnip greens, corn, baby carrots, potato salad, peas, squash, zucchini, green beans (in several varieties), mashed potatoes, black eyed peas, mixed vegetables, and more. Keep your eyes peeled - there are 18 rotating meals, so don't miss your favorite veggies (and bring your to-go box)! Chick-fil-A offers more vegetables than just fried potatoes and pickles. You can add tomato and lettuce to your sandwiches, but they also have a Grilled Chicken Cool Wrap with lettuce, cabbage, and carrots, and a Grilled Market Salad with lettuce, cabbage, carrots, (as well as strawberries, blueberries, blue cheese, grilled chicken, and an optional granola packet). Baja Fresh is comparable to Chipotle in that you can add whatever you like to your burritos or tacos or salads, and offers guacamole, onions, cilantro, lettuce, pico de gallo, salsa (multiple varieties), jalapenos, pinto beans, black beans, and more. Freshens also offers a variety of veggies for their salads and rice bowls, including lettuce, spinach, kale, cucumber, carrots, tomatoes, onions, corn, red peppers, olives, salsa, AND MORE. If you are not a big vegetable fan, many of their smoothies sneak some vegetables in as well (like my favorite, the Super Red). Lastly, check out the Simply-to-Go offerings in the TMB or Jazzman's (Library first floor) for offerings like salads, wraps, etc., and Jazzman's also features soups that frequently contain vegetables. These options change every day!

Fruits

Sometimes, fruits can be the hardest to find on campus (especially when they run out and take a couple days to re-stock) but typically you can find a wide assortment, especially at the TMB. There are often whole fruits like apples (granny smith and red delicious are most common) and bananas. Freshens has strawberries, blueberries, apples, dried cranberries, pineapple chunks, and coconut that can be added to salads or yogurt. Their smoothies can also contain mango, peaches, raspberries, kiwi, bananas, and they even have a new acai bowl. Simply-to-Go in the TMB and library have been known to have fruit cups with cantaloupe, honeydew, pineapple, strawberries, apple slices, grapes, and more. The dinner salad bar often contains pineapple, peaches, or similar fruit that can be added to salads or eaten alone (dine-in only). Also, the caf typically has apples, bananas, oranges, and occasionally others. Almost every location has orange and apple juice and the refrigerators at the TMB and library often contain Minute Maid and possibly other brand juices.

Dairy

Most places on campus offer cheese in one form or another, whether shredded on salads or in the dish itself. However, the TMB and the Library typically have Yoplait yogurt, bottles of milk, fruit/yogurt parfaits, and sometimes cheese cubes. The fro-yo at Freshens is an alternative to plain ice cream, and many of the salads offer fun alternatives to just cheddar such as blue cheese, gorgonzola, feta, mozzarella, and parmesan.

Protein

I used to think the main protein source on campus was fried chicken, but I have since discovered other sources. Freshens offers turkey in addition to chicken, as well as some nuts. Baja Fresh offers chicken, pork carnitas, steak, black beans, and pinto beans. Cocky Q in the TMB offers pulled pork sandwiches. The Gamecock Diner serves chicken (in several forms), omelets (for your breakfast or egg or ham cravings), beef nachos, catfish, shrimp and sausage, chili and hot dogs, baked beans, black eyed peas, pinto beans (pinto beans + cornbread make a complete protein!) refried beans (beans + rice also make a complete protein!), meatball subs, hamburgers, turkey, pork chops, country fried steak and more. Simply to Go usually has PB&J sandwiches (peanut butter + bread make a complete protein!), and the caf typically has ham either at the deli or the entrée station.

Whole Grains

Whole grains are super important for thinking minds, and they can also be scarce on a college campus. However, the sandwiches in the Simply-to-Go fridge sometimes use whole grain bread. The caf usually has whole grain bread also, either at the deli station or by the desserts. You have to ask, but Chick-fil-A also makes grilled chicken sandwiches (which are served on a multigrain bun). The crepes at Freshens are sometimes multigrain. Lastly, the TMB and Jazzman's typically have cereals and/or oatmeal in little cups, many of which include whole grains as the first ingredient, and are often a good source of added vitamins.

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In conclusion, college eating will never be the same as home-cooked meals, but there are ways to eat balanced on campus. Try to limit the fried foods and to incorporate a healthy variety at each meal - being especially on the lookout for opportunities to add fresh fruits and veggies, and whole grains. Healthy options are out there, and a little creativity can go a long way - especially if you know what to look for and where to find it.