The first few meals in a college dining hall can be interesting, exciting even, as new meals work their way into the schedule. After a while, though, it becomes boring as day after day the meals seem to get monotonous. Fear not! Cafeteria food can be fun again with a few simple tricks.

Breakfast

1. For a healthy breakfast full of fiber and protein, try adding peanut butter, honey, and banana to some freshly toasted bread.
2. If you like cottage cheese, add some slivered almonds or sunflower seeds and fresh berries to your breakfast bowl.
3. Yogurt can be improved by a spoonful of jam swirled in, some banana and granola, or simply some nuts and honey.
4. Breakfast burritos are surprisingly easy if all the ingredients are available. Grab a flour tortilla from the deli station, add scrambled eggs and veggies, meats, cheese, and any other toppings available. Be creative. This can also work with two slices of toast or a bagel.

Lunch/Dinner

1. If it’s taco day, skip the tortilla and get the fillings in a bowl. Add some rice or other grain if available, and enjoy your taco salad. Not only is it less messy, but you get more food than in a shell. Another tip: if there are hard taco shells available, ask for a few on the side and use them as tortilla chips.
2. Try adding extra cheese from the salad bar to the quesadillas. More cheese is never a bad thing.
3. Put anything and everything on salad. Want some extra fiber? Cut up an apple, pear, or strawberries and throw them on top. Try using tater tots as a substitute for croutons. Need some protein? Add whatever the meat is for the day, whether it’s a chicken breast or a hamburger. The possibilities are endless.
4. Try adding tomato slices on the grilled ham and swiss or grilled cheese. Trust me, it makes the sandwich significantly better. This could also work with other fixings like onion, lettuce, or pickles.
5. On the rare days when the dining hall has bread bowls, use them for soup! Add shredded cheese and croutons for a special touch.
6. Toast bread and add peanut butter and jelly. Nothing quite hits the spot like a warm, melty pb&j.
7. Pay attention to any special things out on certain days. For example, if there’s feta cheese, make a Mediterranean salad or put it on some red potatoes. Keep an eye out for guacamole (because it goes on everything). Be a little creative with your meals and the ingredients you have available.

Dessert

1. Put peanut butter on everything. Add a smear of it on cake, or layer it into an ice cream sundae.
2. Make a root beer float! If there’s vanilla ice cream and root beer available, why not? Try other kinds of floats as well, with different kinds of sodas.
3. Try making an ice cream sandwich. If there are cookies and ice cream, there is definitely a good chance you can make a delicious sandwich.
4. Basically, just enjoy having ice cream. Put in on everything.

Hopefully this brightens up your dining experience, or at least helps you enjoy your food a little more. Bon appetít!