Moving away from home is a huge adjustment, especially as a 18 or 19 year old who has never had to navigate food on their own before. The uncertainty around where you will eat your meals, what you will have access to, and the quality of the food can contribute to added anxieties when moving away from home. It is often normalized for college students to eat out for every meal, be confined to a dining hall, and live off of easy-access snacks or microwavable meals. As a college junior, I have been challenged to prioritize making nutritious meals for myself. I have experienced it all, from living in a dorm, to an apartment, and ultimately a sorority house. Through extensive experimentation, learning what foods makes me feel my best, and practicing flexibility, I have found that with some creativity and intentionality, preparing nourishing meals is very attainable, regardless of one’s situation.
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Challenges
Being aware of the challenges you may run into is the first step in the ability to adapt and create a plan for eating that fits with your schedule and the resources you have at hand. Common obstacles may include a lack of kitchen space, supplies, time, knowledge of cooking, and budget.
Many dorms offer a communal kitchen for all residents to share, and while this is beneficial at times, it is not the most reliable option as only so many people can make their meals in the given space at the same time. Not to mention, to cook a meal in the dorm kitchen, you need to buy all the necessary pots, pans and kitchen utensils with very little space in your room to store them.
In addition to buying pots and pans, you will also need to buy supplies and ingredients to cook for yourself. When doing so, it is important to keep cost, storage space, accessibility to a grocery store, and expiration dates in mind.
College is a busy stage of life, and I have found myself constantly on the go, especially on days when I have class. Sometimes it is not realistic to set aside time to cook a meal for yourself during the day. Not to worry, that doesn’t mean you won’t have time to eat, but there may be more accessible options that work with your schedule better than taking the time to go home and cook.
Finally, budgeting is a common priority for many college students, and finding the most affordable options is key for meal planning. It can be challenging to navigate grocery shopping, especially for one person, considering fresh products will go bad if not eaten quickly enough.
I don’t list these obstacles to scare anybody or add anxieties about moving from home, but understanding what you are working with ahead of time can be beneficial in working towards solutions.
Adapting
It will take some trial and error to figure out what works and doesn’t work, as everyone’s situation and needs are different. Purchasing a meal plan to utilize on-campus dining is a great option. Having a small fridge to store snacks and shelf stable foods can Taking advantage of a dorm kitchen, if available where you are living on campus, is an accessible and cheaper option. The key is to be flexible. Every day may not look the same, but having a game plan will help you prioritize staying fueled and properly nourishing your body. There is something for everyone, and by understanding your options, you can decide what might work best for you.
Photo by: @emory_dining on Instagram
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Navigating the Dining Hall
You will hear very mixed reviews on the dining hall when first attending college. Personally, I loved the dining hall my freshman year and was a frequent visitor, treating it like an all-day buffet. It depends on the school you attend, but often times if you sign up for your school’s meal plan, you are given a card that allows for meal swipes that can be used at the dining halls as well as a cash account that can be used instead of a swipe at any of the on-campus fast food restaurants. Within the dining hall, a student is presented with multitudes of options. Typically, there are some foods you can rely on to be offered consistently, such as the salad bar, build your own sandwiches, pizza, burgers, chicken tenders, and various desserts. Those options are often universal at all campuses, but additionally, my college, along with many others, offers different specials changing day to day that are updated online. Additionally, most schools prioritize providing students with the option to eat whole foods such as cooked vegetables and grilled proteins.
Opting to eat in the dining hall would be advantageous for a student who is worried about not having the time or means to cook, doesn’t have access to a grocery store, or cannot afford to eat out and order in food constantly. It can provide flexibility to the busiest of schedules, allowing students to take food to go, stay for long periods of time while doing schoolwork, and is an easy in and out, normally positioned in proximity to the dorms and classes.
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Meal Plans
Another option providing easy, affordable, and consistently nutritious meals is to join an off-campus meal plan. I have found that there are meal plans not affiliated with the school, offered to students near campus. One business in particular, Clean Eatz, has over 100 locations across numerous states, and many locations within only a couple of miles from college campuses. Note that this possibility typically requires having access to a car or someone willing to drive you to pick up your meals for the week. Additionally, but possibly less cost-effective, there are online services that offer prepared meals delivered straight to your dorm. In my experience, they charge a set price like a subscription and a student would select their weekly meal preferences online. They would then pick up or have delivered a frozen, fully cooked meal to enjoy at their convenience, only needing access to a freezer to store them in and a microwave to warm them. This is a good solution for the student who likes to have the macros and ingredients of their meals listed out for them, doesn’t want to rely on what the dining hall is serving, and who has the time in their schedule to return to their room throughout the day to warm up their meals.
Grocery Shopping Guide
When I lived at home, my mom always did the grocery shopping. The extent of my grocery experience entailed picking up specifics that mom asked me to grab or going with her to throw fun things I found into the cart. Doing it alone in college was a whole different ball game. Although intimidating at first, taking on grocery shopping for yourself is much simpler when you go in with a plan.
Making a grocery list ahead of time makes the experience more efficient, prevents you from grabbing too many unnecessary items, and helps you stick to a specific budget. What I put on my list is different every week, but I stick to a consistent framework, sectioning the shopping list into categories. For example, I love to have berries on hand, but with limited space and only one mouth to feed, I only purchase one container, and I rotate the type of berry weekly. The same goes for proteins, vegetables, snacks, and breakfast food items. This keeps me from overbuying, which saves me money and prevents food waste.
Another strategy that could potentially save money and space, prevent food waste, and allow for purchasing more variety is to split groceries and the cost of those groceries with a roommate or friend. Although for some this is more complicated and has the potential to cause disagreements, though it has been a beneficial solution for many of my friends. Note that freezing food can also be helpful to allow fresh products to last longer.
Living in a dorm, you may not need to buy a surplus of groceries or ingredients to cook a whole meal, but it is always nice to have things on hand, allowing for flexibility and a quick alternative to your usual routine.
Bowls, Bowls, Bowls!
The concept of the bowl is now trending all over social media. Inspired by restaurants like Cava, Chipotle, Bolay, Surcheros, and Fresh Kitchen, people have begun creating their own masterpieces from home. Bowls were my favorite concoctions to make while living in the dorms because they are simple, efficient, and include various ingredients that make them nutritious, personalizable, and fun.
When choosing the various ingredients to include in your bowl, you are the artist and the bowl is your canvas. The fun comes with the creative freedom behind having no recipe, but including things that fit your nutritional needs and preferences. While there are no rules in making bowls, when I incorporate a protein, fat, and carb, I am most satisfied and fueled to take on the day. I then add my toppings for added color, flavor, and nutritional benefit. The following are some favorites that I eat on the regular, whether assembled in the dorm or out and about.
Tuna Bowl
- Canned tuna
- Microwavable rice
- Sliced Avocado
- Microgreens
Mediterranean Bowl
- Chicken (canned, precooked, or frozen)
- Microwavable couscous
- Hummus
- Diced cucumber
- Diced tomatoes
Making a bowl is a great option if time permits and you want a nutritious meal in the dorm. Although, keep in mind you will often find that having items on hand that are more grab-and-go is very beneficial. Luckily, college comes with flexibility. Sometimes that looks like grabbing a snack or having a protein bar for breakfast. Some of my favorite dorm snacks are:
- Protein bars
- Cheese sticks
- Popcorn
- Beef Jerky
- Hummus with baby carrots or crackers
- Trail mix
- Freeze-dried fruits
- Guacamole and pretzel packets
- Apples and Bananas
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Eating is Not Supposed to be Perfect, Especially as a Full-Time Student
Despite the typically, less glamorous living situation for the average college student, it is still very doable to find nourishing food. Don’t stress it, and above all, be gentle with yourself and understand that there is no right or wrong when it comes to food. Eat to feel your best but also to enjoy all the little moments with your friends.
Sources
Emory Dining. [emory_dining]. (2026, January 5). Wellness isn’t all kale, yoga, and meal prepping. [Instagram photograph]. Instagram. https://www.instagram.com/p/DTIbGi6jJNY/?img_index=5
Sally Kuzemchak, M. (2023, August 28). 45+ healthy dorm food ideas to nourish your hungry college kid. Real Mom Nutrition. https://www.realmomnutrition.com/dorm-food/
