Someone once told me there are two types of people in the world. There are people who eat to live and there are people who live to eat. I am the latter. I am also in my second year of college which means I have no meal plan. Very quickly my roommates and I (also people who live to eat) figured out how to survive without the beloved Panda Express, Rubio's, and Daphne's while still on a budget.

Pancakes

Who said you can't eat pancakes for dinner? Of course you could eat them for breakfast, but since you're in college and don't have your mom telling you not to, go for it! Pancake mix is a fast, affordable way to whip these up when you and your roommates have a sweet tooth. Adding chocolate chips or fruit like blueberries and strawberries help mix it up (because college students tend to eat the same things over and over).

Grilled Cheese & Tomato Soup

This is my go-to meal. A can of tomato soup feeds at least two people and is less than a dollar and there are tons of ways to make grilled cheese. My favorite is sourdough bread and white cheddar (fancy, I know) but I've used everything from string cheese to Kraft American cheese and whole grain bread to the most processed bread you can imagine. Bread and cheese are necessary items in my diet so it's easy to stock up (or share with roommates).

Burritos

One of the first meals my apartment made together as roommates were bean and cheese burritos. Again, a can of refried beans is completely affordable (and easy to stock up and have on hand) and cheese and tortillas can make tons of other meals. If you want to spice it up, hoarding taco sauce packets from Taco Bell or Jack in the Box are an affordable way to always have condiments on hand. Adding jalapenos, green onions, or guacamole are other ways to get fresh food into your diet.

Taco Salad

This is probably the healthiest meal on this list, there's no doubt about it. Both my mom and my roommate's mom made taco salad at home so it is a comforting food to have while still being a healthier choice. All you need is the five dollar bin of lettuce from your local grocery store, cans of your favorite toppings (we like olives, kidney beans, and corn), cheese (see a common thread?), tortilla chips, fresh produce of your choice (tomatoes, avocados, etc) and salad dressing. My family always used Thousand Island dressing and her family used a homemade vinaigrette. You can leave it at that or add your choice of protein cooked with a packet of taco seasoning like chicken, ground beef, or even shrimp.

Cookies

Even though I can't pretend this one is a meal, this is probably the item from the list that I've made the most with my roommates. Whether we're just satisfying someone's sweet tooth, procrastinating, or stress-baking, we made cookies more times than I can count last year and we probably will this year as well. Pro tip: Making cookies also helps you make friends. If you leave your door open, the smell of warm cookies will attract college students like flies.