Getting creative with meals and snacks in a dorm can be tricky. It took me a while to figure out what food was actually feasible to make in my room freshman year, but I got to be a lot more creative this year since I am living in an apartment-style dorm. Some of these ideas are pretty basic, but helpful when you end up doing homework until 9 pm, far after the dining hall and food options on campus have closed. Stocking up on basic things can help solve this problem in a pinch! These are my current and past favorite dorm snacks!
- Chips and Salsa
- Chips and salsa is such an underestimated classic! It’s quick, easy, and pretty cheap. Make sure you have some chip clips or binder clips on hand to stop the chips from going stale.
- Microwavable rice packages
- My favorites are from Lidl- they’re inexpensive and easy to spruce up with some everything bagel seasoning or salt! There were several times my freshman year when I was too busy to walk across campus to the dining hall or just didn’t feel like leaving my room, and these were perfect.
- Hummus!
- I LOVE hummus. It is so versatile and is pretty filling. I love having hummus with pretzels, carrots, and bell peppers. Hummus is also a great source of protein and fiber.
- Oatmeal
- I personally love having a big container of plain oats that I can make in the microwave and add whatever I want to, but the small packets work just as well! This is a great breakfast when it’s cold outside and I like making overnight oats when it’s warm! My favorite things to add are peanut butter (you can substitute other nut butters if you’re allergic), cinnamon, honey, chia seeds, and fruits!
- Potatoes
- Surprisingly, it’s pretty easy to make potatoes in the microwave! Just poke a potato with a fork a few times and pop it in the microwave for five minutes! Dorm microwaves can be a little finicky, so it may take longer.
- Hawaiian Rolls
- Hawaiian rolls are a comfort food for me. They are wonderful with butter or plain and are so yummy after a long day of class.
- Bagels
- Toasters are allowed in all the dorms at Winthrop, and toaster ovens are allowed in the apartment style dorms! This opens up so many options for toaster snacks, like bagels. My roommate and I go through a whole pack of bagels a week and we always have them on hand. I love strawberry cream cheese, but there are so many options. Try them with peanut butter, hummus, butter, or even avocado!
- Clementines
- Clementines are a great on the go snack and help get in some vitamin C, too! It can be hard to find enough fruits and veggies on a college meal plan, so I like to keep some on hand just in case!
- Granola/protein bars
- This one is almost a given, but don’t underestimate the power of a good granola bar! They’re great to keep in your bag for a quick in-class bite and they keep up your energy all day. My favorites are Larabar and the fruit and nut granola bars from Lidl!
- Frozen meals
- This one also seems like a given, but it’s nice to have a frozen meal or two as backup on those long days. Sometimes I don’t have time to eat until I get back to my room for the night, and it’s nice to have a meal that takes little to no planning or preparation!
Obviously, these ideas are completely customizable and may not work for everyone, but I’ve had fun figuring out what works for me and what basics are best to have on hand. I hope you try something from this list or that it helps you come up with some ideas too!
