In our Elementary School health classes, we were taught that the recipe for a healthy, successful, and satisfying life was determined by our strict following of the classic, colorful food pyramid. This supposed guideline for life demands the following:

Very inspirational AmIRite? Over the years of grade school, our parents worked diligently to always create balanced meals that combined the many facets of the pyramid listed above to ensure that their precious, darling children went to school the next morning bright-eyed and alert.

Now that we have successfully entered the magical and unpredictable realm of college, we are no longer presented with the nutritionally-rounded meals of our youth.

Sorry, not sorry Mom; it’s safe to say that our parents would be horrified if they knew how drastically altered our food pyramids have been because of college.

With that being said, I believe our new (and improved?) college food pyramid would go a little something like this:

At the top of the college food pyramid, coffee is strategically placed; without this caffeinated beverage, pulling all-nighters during finals week would be nearly impossible. Further down the triangle, Ramen, the classic cheap and easy staple of college life is seen, having proved itself to be a necessary item throughout four-plus years of struggling financially. Placed next to Ramen, is Frozen Yogurt, on behalf of the countless times sorority girls are caught saying, “OMG let’s go get Froyo!”Next up is pizza, never failing to satisfy your #1 late-nighting desires. Taking its place next to the beloved Italian delicacy, is the South’s most popular chicken fast food restaurants; between Chick-fil-a waffle fries, Zaxby’s buttery bread and Cane’s fried chicken tenders, every dime spent here is more than worth it.

Last but DEFINTIELY not least, is perhaps the largest defining entity of college: alcohol. Between socials, pregames, and downtown adventures, an alcoholic beverage is never farther than an arms length away.

While the transcendence of our food pyramids has forced us to adapt and adjust in many ways, our new lifestyle keeps us simultaneously feeling nostalgic about Momma’s home-cooked meals while also feeling #blessed for $6 Blackout Buckets during Power Hour.