When I tell people that I don’t have a meal plan and that I am not in an eating house (Davidson’s version of sororities) their first reaction is, “So, what do you eat?” Although I don’t find it strange that I am competent enough to shop for and feed myself, evidently some of my friends and peers do. For all of those doubters and students who don’t think they could do it, let me just say that you could. I happen to be passionate about food and about eating healthy, minimally processed food so honestly you couldn’t pay me to go back to a 19 meal plan. I love the gratification that comes from making a delicious concoction, even if it is totally random or not the most visually appealing (like that one time I mixed together tuna, guacamole, and Sriracha).
In case you are interested, here are some of the things I eat. I would hope that you might just learn something or find some inspiration to try to cook for yourself.
Breakfast
0% fat Fage with Trader Joe’s cranberry sauce mixed in
Whole grains with almond milk (unsweetened vanilla), dried fruit (right now I love apples and cranberries), and nuts (walnuts and almonds are my favorites!)
Oatmeal (made with water in the microwave) with Greek Yogurt (for creaminess) and something delicious mixed in (caramelized pears, baked sweet potatoes, and sweet potato butter are all delicious!)
Waffle stacker (this one made with pumpkin puree, agave nectar, and cinnamon + cranberry sauce+ spiced almonds, buckwheat waffle base)
Overnight oats with almond milk, peanut or almond butter, and dried fruit
Go to: anything with peanut butter and bananas, peanut butter on toast
Lunch/Dinner
Waffle sandwich (with organic freshly ground peanut butter, local NC apples, and chia seeds on buckwheat waffles) [yep, this could be breakfast too, but many of the meals I eat blur the line between lunch/dinner and breakfast]
Carrots with peanut butter or yogurt dip (dijon mustard, Greek yogurt, and Trader Joe’s 21 Seasoning Salute)
Apples with peanut or almond butter
Hummus wrap
Egg mugs (egg, milk or water, and veggies, heat in the microwave)
Go to: Whole grains (brown rice, farro, wheat berries, quinoa) with falafel balls, tempeh, or veggies (and usually Sriracha) [I have a rice cooker in my room that makes this super convenient]
Hot Drinks
Mum tea (the dried blossoms unfold in the hot water and make it turn a beautiful pale yellow color)
Almond milk with spicy fair trade hot chocolate mix
Almond milk with sweet potato butter and cinnamon
Organic chai tea or white tea with roses (loose-leaf)
When I am feeling gourmet (or just want to procrastinate):
Whole wheat bread bowls from How Sweet It Is, the one on the left with leftover veggie chili (mine) and the decidedly carb-loaded one on the right with white cheddar macaroni and cheese (Jerry’s)
Egg poached in the microwave (crack an egg in a mug with 1/2 cup water and a tablespoon or white vinegar, microwave for a minute)
A fried egg on anything (toast, eggs, roasted vegetables)
Tuna burger (canned tuna, egg, peppers, Sriracha, wheat germ, cook in a frying pan)
Noodle dishes (mainly with peanut butter and veggies)
Pancakes!
Cake in a mug
Honestly, the main principles I follow for feeding myself are simple:
1) Take advantage of free food, especially if it is ethnic or healthy (this is easy for college students)
2) Don’t waste food, eat food that are will go bad soon first (Duh!)
3) Embrace leftovers (they can be just as good as the original but allow for more experimentation)
4) Be creative!
