Food and college go hand in hand. Here, my friends and I have compiled a list of various hacks for not only the dining on campus, but around town. Enjoy the cheats to the Bean and discounts of local drive thru restaurants.

Here are 23 tips on keeping yourself well fed at Abilene Christian University:

1. Cheesy bacon fries. Okay here’s the deal. Go to the grill line and LOAD UP on them taters (curly fries are ideal, of course). Next, hop on over to the left where you will find a giant pot of straight up CHEESE SAUCE HEAVEN. Like its just a vat of melted golden goodness that just sits there all day and not a lot of people use it. Then head over to the baked potato section where you will find a wondrous tub of bacon bits. You know what to do from here.
2. The Pizza Hut by campus has an unlimited lunch buffet for only $4.99.
3. Go through the regular line and eat, then come back and use the to go line in order to save the togo meals for later. Choose from salads to wraps to sandwiches; the to go line is literally the best.
4. Rosa’s is bae; not only do you get a free bean and cheese burrito with every purchase, but there’s this super cool radical amazingly beautiful creation called “Taco Tuesday.” It is a day so holy to ACU students; a day when you can get three tacos, rice, beans and two tortillas for $4.99. DID U HEAR ME, I SAID FOUR NINETY NINE. So yeah, see you there literally every Tuesday of my life.
5. If Rosa's doesn't float your boat, you can always cross the street to Taco Bueno and hit up their Tuesday special as well; two tacos, rice, beans, chips, sour cream and guac for only $2.99. Of course, I honestly think Rosa's is 10,000x better, but you do you.
6. Always check on the cookie status. Feel free to ask the lady behind the counter too because then she’s more likely to serve you the warm ones.
7. YOU CAN USE YOUR BEAN BUCKS TO BUY MUGS AND K CUPS AND ALL SORTS OF COOL STARBUCKS STUFF.
8. There’s a student discount at Taco Bell!! Tell them you go to ACU and receive a full 10% off. That covers your tax. #turnup
9. Ask for double meat in the sandwich line of the Bean, otherwise they only give you about 3 slices of lunch meat.
10. Monday-Friday 11AM-4PM, lunch is only $5 at Fazoli's. Who doesn't love unlimited breadsticks in the middle of the day?
11. So for all you homies that are Starbucks Gold Members, don’t ask me why: but for some reason the Starbucks in the library can’t scan your free drink/food item reward. But they still count it, they just write it in their little reward drink journal thing. So that means not only do you get a free drink at the ACU Starbucks, but a second free drink at any of the official Starbucks’ around town.
12. If you buy a reusable coffee mug at Einstein's Bagels, it’s less than a dollar every time you fill up, and their coffee is SO BOMB. They always have like 5 different kinds sitting out so you can pick and choose what ya feel. Same goes for Starbucks, buy the $2 reusable mug and pay $0.87 for coffee. What a time to be alive.
13. Golden Chick is bae and has a “student meal” consisting of 5 chicken strips, a roll, a medium drink, one side and gravy for only $6.50.
14. Looking for a new drink option in the Bean? Cranberry Lemonade Sprite is your solution and new favorite. You get unlimited soda, don’t be afraid to go wild and mix things. And if you fail, don’t be afraid to get a new cup and start all over again. It’s a process.
15. If you’re feeling extra hungry and wanting an extra helping of pasta, ask for the white to go box at the front and fill that baby up instead of the normal dog sized bowls. Let’s be real, if we’re going to eat pasta, WE’RE GOING TO EAT PASTA. Also for an extra topping, stop by the pizza station to load up on parmesan cheese.
16. Late night food options are some of the best meals in the Bean. From wings, to nachos, to quesadillas, the Bean is POPPIN’ late in the night. Whenever they have extras from other meal options throughout that day, they get crazy at night and come up with all sorts of delicious recipes.
17. Bean breakfast tacos: Bacon eggs are served MWF and Sausage eggs are served TR. Hit it up. They help give you the extra motivation to wake up for your 8 am.
18. DIY Bean desserts for when you’re feeling fancy! Fill a cup with ice cream and run over to get some root beer for a homemade float. Or grab two fresh cookies and make your own ice cream sandwich. There is a world of endless possibilities to gain the Freshman 15, we gotchu covered.
19. Tuesdays and Thursdays means $0.50 wings at Buffalo Wild Wings.
20. If you see tour guides and packs of high schoolers, SPRINT TO THE BEAN. The best food is always served on campus tour days, and the Bean will be a war zone. It’s RIDICULOUSLY crowded but oh so worth it.
21. Your Bean Bucks DO roll over after the fall semester, however not after the Spring. So save your Bean Bucks for the end of the year and literally everything goes on sale, it’s great.
22. You can actually use Bean Bucks for the 1881 Food Truck when it comes to Campus. You’re welcome.
23. Mcalister's kids meals are only like $3. Plus they give you a survey on your receipt for a free cookie, so honestly you can just write 5 random numbers down, give it back to them, and then BAM! Free cookie.

Eat up, my friends.