FRESHMAN LIFE 101

Surviving Freshman Year: Food for Thought

College was the first time I had to learn how to live on a budget.  Arriving on college with 500 bucks in my debit account reminded me really quickly that I was truly on my own.

After leaving the college book store minus 400 dollars spent on textbooks, I knew I was in trouble.  Okay, okay, I had a meal plan, at least my meals were guaranteed.  I just had to make it to Thanksgiving and I could just hit my parents up for an advance and pack up lots of doggie bags.

By the end of the first week, I knew I was in trouble.  I was starving. 
Now don’t get  me wrong, after all I did sign up for 2 nutritious meals a day ( I would rather sleep than schlep to the dining hall for cold eggs and heavy pancakes), but I really had to question whether what was served at lunch and dinner really  counted as a food group.  Seafood Newburg?…the worst…I won’t even tell you what it reminded me of. 

Well it was starve or do something about it so I set out to gain the wisdom of older, more experienced students: Sophomores, and find out how they coped.

Here is a partial list of some of my finds:

• The dollar Menu at McDonalds
  
• Lots and lots of Ramen Noodles
  
• Industrial Size boxes of Cereal…you can find them at Costco or BJ’s, Wal-Mart is also good. They are great for breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks and in the middle of the night.
  
• Good ol’ peanut butter and jelly.
  
• Pancakes anytime of day, cheap to make and very filling: Aunt Jemima Complete just needs water!
  

One guy named 3 items, bologna, cheese and bread.  His list of recipes included: bologna and cheese sandwich, bologna sandwich, cheese sandwich, grilled cheese (which you can grill wrapped in tin foil with an iron), grilled cheese with bologna, fried bologna, bologna and cheese roll ups, bologna by itself, cheese by itself and toast.

Another friend recounted taking advantage of meal specials at the local diners …all you can eat buffets, dinner specials.

Many places offer serious discounts as the day goes on…try Dunkin Donuts 2:00 AM in the morning…the donuts are real cheap then.

Pizza can go a long way if you chip in with friends. 
“Two fers” and coupons allow you to double your purchasing power.
And of course care packages from home and leftover doggie bags are a staple of every college student I met.

Some coeds admitted to a little flirting to get free food and many guys admitted picking their girl friends based on her meal plan or ability to cook.  Empty fridges were a big detractor.

Borrowing the meal card or  extra meal points from friends who went home on the weekend was an easy way of getting some free meals in and if things were really tight: Finding a job working  in the cafeteria or student center guaranteed you free meals or at least a discount.

Everyone I talked to had a word of wisdom to share and for that I was grateful.  Looking back, it was a piece of cake compared to adult struggles.  I just can’t figure out one thing.   In all the time I was in school, I never lost a pound.  Now what’s up with that?