Our dining hall, which everyone calls the “sub" (short for the Student Union Building, which contains much more than the diner itself), is known for its "hit or miss" quality food. Since we only have one dining hall on campus (I know, yikes) dining services tries to be good about rotating in lots of different options, ranging from various types of pasta and soups, to sweet-and-sour chicken and meatball calzones. It doesn’t sound bad, but after a while everything starts to taste bland and you end up eating a bagel for every meal (yes, I admit I may have done this more than once… this month).
Anyway, as the weather gets warmer (bless) and the poor selection of fruit grows riper, the need to expand my diet beyond the tempting clutches of a stale blueberry bagel becomes clear. As such, here is a list of things to eat when there is literally nothing to eat in your dining hall. (Disclaimer: by "literally nothing to eat" I mean nothing that sounds even vaguely appealing.)
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A Salmon Salad:
I think most dining halls normally have some sort of fish, but salmon is the best for salads. Instead of plopping it next to some boring old rice, plop it on top of a nice salad! Add some garbanzo beans and croutons for crunch and BAM! You have a great meal.
Cereal:
Frosted Flakes preferably. Enough said.
A Grilled Cheese:
Always a good option especially with fries. Not the healthiest, perhaps, but if you need a comfort food and are not sure what to get, a grilled cheese is always the way to go.
Avocado Toast:
Simply ask the people at the sandwich station to toast a piece of bread for you and then to add some avocado. They might be skeptical and ask if that is really all you want on your sandwich, but if you respond with a confident “YES!” and then proceed to add some olive oil, salt and a sprinkle of lemon to your toast, you are sure to have a delightful snack.
A Thanksgiving Sandwich:
This is one of my favorites. A hot sandwich on ciabatta, with turkey, melted provolone, cranberry sauce, mayo and shredded lettuce. It’s so good and always reminds me of home.
Rice and Cheese:
I learned today that this is the best meal you can get for the least amount of money (because they can’t charge you for the cheese you sprinkle on top). Pro-tip for those of you who will be struggling with dining dollars or cash during finals. You're welcome in advance.
Soup with Toast:
Any kind of soup, any kind of toast, but preferably toasted with butter. A hearty and healthy meal.
A Chicken Tender Salad:
Go to the grill and ask for a half order of chicken tenders (normally this means three) and then go to the salad bar and get lettuce, cheddar cheese, croutons, cherry tomatoes, cucumbers (but not too many) and ranch dressing. Then tear up the chicken and toss it on top and voila! A delicious meal!
Chips and Salsa:
The C-Store, a little convenience store on campus, sells the best brand or tortilla chips. Not only are they perfect for drunchies, they taste amazing with pretty much anything. Salsa, guac, cottage cheese… the list goes on.
Greek Yogurt with Honey:
This meal is healthy and satisfies your sweet tooth so it serves as both a meal and dessert. Or if you’re anything like me, you’ll get dessert too, but you’ll still feel good about yourself because probiotics… amirite?
