Being in college comes with a lot of questions. Which homework assignment do I want to do first? When should I leave for class? Should I stay up and study or should I get some extra sleep before class? All these questions are important throughout your daily life in college. However, there is one question that I find myself asking more than any other: What do I want to eat? I have several different answers to this question and they each involve asking several more questions. How hungry am I? How much do I want to spend? And am I willing to get out of bed to acquire this food?
My school’s cafeteria is where I go most of the time to feed myself. I am a resident so the meals are included in my tuition. This means the cafeteria is the number one option when I don’t want to spend any extra money. I eat most of my meals in the cafeteria. I eat eggs in the morning before classes and whatever the meal of the day is for dinner. If I don’t like the meal of the day, I can go to the sandwich bar and order one of my usuals. The reason I don’t always eat at the cafeteria, however, is that it’s not always open. I go in and eat when the it’s time, but if I get hungry when the cafeteria is close, I need to find food elsewhere.
My next option for food is takeout. Typically I order a pizza, pasta, and sometimes Chinese food. This option is a bit more pricey than going to the cafeteria. I can end up spending anywhere between ten and thirty dollars when I order. While this food isn’t provided like in the cafeteria, takeout does come with the added benefit of not having to leave my dorm to get it. This gives me more time to work on anything I need to get done and allows me to enjoy my meal in the comfort of my own bed.
My last option for finding food is going out to a restaurant or store somewhere off campus. This option requires me to both leave my hall and spend extra money. While it may seem extreme, it is quite the handy last resort. I can find restaurants, fast food, convenience stores, and several other food options just a few blocks away. Eating out at a restaurant is the most expensive source of food that I use and is mostly saved for special occasions. Going out to eat opens my options tremendously as long as my wallet can keep up with my stomach.
Making sure you eat enough each day is an important thing to keep in mind while in school. Knowing all of your options helps keep yourself fed which the helps with productivity and focus. Whether it’s going to the cafeteria, ordering out, or going out to eat, I make sure I’m keeping myself fed. The one thing I almost never eat, however, is the food I buy ahead of time and keep stored in my room. That box of Ramen on my shelf is going to keep collecting dust all year and I won’t feel bad about it.
