After a hard day's work of classes, studying, socializing, and/or Netflix bingeing, a college student deserves a great meal. Unfortunately, most college dining halls do not typically understand this. Sometimes what they are serving is just not what you are in the mood for. Here are some suggestions on delicious plates you can make with minimal time and effort. (and all the ingredients are already there for you!)
1. Grilled Cheese
This one may seem like a no-brainer, but sometimes even the classics can get overlooked! Grab some bread and cheese from the sandwich bar and head for the panini press. Bonus points for getting creative with add-ons like tomatoes or sliced chicken.
2. Pasta Salad
When you can't decide between carbs or veggies, choose both! Hunt down some plain pasta and head to the salad bar to load up on peppers, cucumbers, black olives, etc. Cut up the vegetables, add some oil, and you're all done.
3. Breakfast Burrito
This mostly applies to the weekend brunches, but is still highly satisfying. Gather up a plate of breakfast classics (eggs, bacon, tater tots) and pile it all into a tortilla with a slice of cheese on top. Then pretend you work at Chipotle, roll it up, and enjoy.
4. Actual Burrito
If tonight's menu includes some sort of meat, you are already half way there. Add lettuce, cubed tomatoes, shredded cheese, and a dollop of sour cream if you can find it. This one may take a little more effort, but will definitely be worth it.
5. Grilled Chicken Caesar Wrap
Grilled chicken is a staple in most dining halls. Cut one up into strips and add romaine lettuce with caesar dressing. Scoop your salad into your favorite type of wrap and watch your friends get jealous.
6. Make-Shift Chinese
If you can find some rice, veggies, soy sauce, and chicken or pork, then that's all you need to concoct your own version of stir-fry. See if your dining hall has brown rice to substitute for a healthier alternative.
7. Nachos
My school's dining hall always has tortilla chips available. All you need to do is add some cheese and anything else that appeals to you, microwave for 30 seconds, and try to resist a second helping!
8. And Finally...Dessert
Perhaps the finest dining hall trick of all: First, obtain a cookie or two (or three). Next, wrap the cookies in parchment paper and place in the panini press. Depending on the heat, see how long the cookies need to stay in to become warm and gooey (typically 30-45 seconds). If this doesn't satisfy your sweet tooth, add a scoop of ice cream for good measure.
Hopefully some of these suggestions can spark your creativity and prevent any more boring meals. Remember: just because they have pizza every day, doesn't mean you have to get pizza every day!
