Here at Luther College, our meal plans consist of both meal swipes and dining dollars. Meal swipes are only useful for getting into the cafeteria, but dining dollars can be used at a variety of locations on campus. There's the C-Store (short for convenience store), which has a wide assortment of snacks; Marty's, your go-to spot for greasy grub; Oneota, with ready-to-go fruit cups and made-to-order breakfast; Sunnyside Cafe, which sells hot beverages and pastries; and Nordic Brew, which sells even more hot beverages and pastries. With all the options, there are some clear favorites around campus, and I personally have some preferred purchases. Here are some of the best things you can spend your dining dollars on.

1. Energy

Without a doubt, the best thing you can get with your dining dollars is coffee. I have only recently delved into this particular aspect of college life, but the majority of my friends frequent Nordic Brew and Sunnyside to get their daily (and sometimes twice, or even thrice daily) cup of joe.

2. Gastrointestinal Distress

Just about everyone on campus agrees that Marty's food is delicious. They also will agree that there are some less-than-appealing side effects, whether you've chosen a burrito, a burger, or a walking taco. The fortunate thing is, most everyone will also say that the food is worth it.

3. Wisconsin

One item at Marty's that might not be so volatile later in the day is the cheese curds. Greasy, fried, wonderful balls of cheese that will make you feel simultaneously happy and shamed for consuming such greasy objects. Personally, this was one of the things I missed most about Luther over the summer; the first day back in Marty's was a glorious one indeed.

4. Literal heaven

Sunnyside's cinnamon rolls are the absolute best in the entire world, hands down. I have had many a cinnamon roll in my life, and without a doubt, the ruler of them all is sold at Sunnyside. You can get them with cream cheese frosting or vanilla frosting, and either one is an excellent choice.

5. Friends

Who can resist you when you have chips? No one. The C-Store has a plethora of salty snacks to choose from. My personal favorites are Tostitos and Doritos.

6. Cavities

The C-Store also has an extreme amount of sweets you can choose from; candy bars, boxes of Oreos, packets of hot chocolate, sugary drinks, etc. If all of your teeth are your sweet tooth, and you have an excess of dining dollars, it can spell trouble for your sugar intake.

With so many options on campus to choose from, it's hard to find something bad to spend your dining dollars on!