Being a college student without a kitchen, I find myself eating in the campus dining hall for every meal of the day. Whether it be breakfast, lunch, or dinner, sometimes the dining hall hits, and other times…well…you know.
Over the past two years of eating in a dining hall, I have learned a few tips and tricks that have made those rough dining hall visits just a little bit easier and yummier!
Breakfast:
While I am not a huge fan of breakfast, I do go to the occasional dining hall brunch on the weekends. Breakfast for me usually consists of a bagel or home fries, something easy and small. Here are some of my favorite things to make for breakfast:
- Yogurt Parfait: Take your choice of yogurt, my personal favorite is vanilla, and add in the fruits of your choice! My go-to’s are grapes, strawberries, and blueberries. Sometimes I’ll put some pineapple in there too! Next, take your choice of crunch! I love a classic granola mix. If I’m in a sweet mood, I’ll finish it off with a drizzle of chocolate syrup or a drizzle of honey!
- Breakfast Sandwich: If a breakfast sandwich isn’t a usual option at your dining hall, make your own! Take two slices of bread of your choice (bagel, english muffin, white, wheat, etc.) and toast it. Take either a fried egg or scrambled eggs to put right on top with a slice of cheese! Extra points if the dining hall is serving sausage or bacon to add on ;).
Lunch:
Lunch is usually my first meal of the day. By the time lunch comes around, I’m always hungry and on the hunt for some good food. You will usually find me going on “rounds” around the dining hall to find what I’m looking for and assessing my options. But, for when the options do not suffice, feel free to make any of the following:
- Chicken Bacon Wrap: If you’re lucky, there will be chicken somewhere in the dining hall. Take the chicken and cut it up into strips. Grab a wrap of your choice, and lay down the chicken, some lettuce, cheese, and bacon pieces. Head over to where the salad dressings are and drizzle the dressing of your choice on top—my go-to’s are ranch or honey mustard!
- PB&J Bagels: Find your way to the bagels, and throw your favorite in the toaster. Once your bagel is toasted, lather on your favorite toppings—peanut butter, jelly, nutella, etc. I always spread peanut butter on each half of the bagel and spread jelly right on top. This way there is some PB and J in every bite!
Dinner:
Dinner…my favorite time of the day. By this point in the day, you’ve already gotten through the stress of classes and homework and studying for tests. You deserve to enjoy a yummy meal with your friends! When I can’t find anything that looks appealing, these are my go-tos:
- DIY Chipotle Bowl: Grab rice from any station, since every station always happens to have rice, and add in your favorite toppings too! I always mix together salsa, sour cream, shredded cheese, lettuce, chickpeas, and chicken! This is one of my favorite meals I make in the dining hall, and it always fills me up.
- Pasta Dish: When all else fails, I always find myself at the pasta station. Don’t get me wrong, I love a good bowl of pasta, but sometimes it gets repetitive. What I like to do is scoop a bowl of pasta, and mix both marinara and alfredo sauce together on top. I always add shredded parmesan too! Then, if the dining hall is serving chicken or taco meat, I put that in there too, to make my pasta just a little more exciting!
For the next time you’re in your campus dining hall, feel free to use these tips and tricks to make the experience that much better!