The dining halls at UNC, as compared to other schools, are not that bad. There are usually several appetizing options and, thankfully, a general lack of mystery meat and strangely-colored mutant-looking side dishes.
But at the beginning of last week, I got a case of the meal plan blues.
After two months of being in college, I realized that I’ve been eating basically the exact same thing in the dining hall every single day. All of a sudden, my spinach leaves salad topped with tomatoes, mushrooms, chick peas and ranch dressing that had been the staple of my lunch for weeks just looked repulsive.
Even the desserts weren’t catching my fancy.
I did some thinking. I knew cooking with stoves and ovens wasn’t really for me. Last time I tried to make a frozen pizza, I left the cardboard on the bottom of the pizza, which promptly caught fire and almost blew up the oven.
So I experimented a little with safer, microwave-only options. And I came up with a day of meals to help beat the meal plan blues.
Breakfast:
Clif Bar with peanut butter. For those who actually bother eating breakfast, this is a super tasty way to start out your day. Clif Bars can be found at the Pit Stop convenience store for $1.89 in at least 15 or 16 flavors, including but not limited to Chocolate Brownie, Cool Mint Chocolate, Carrot Cake, Blueberry Crisp, and the holiday-themed Pumpkin Pie variety. Each has tons of fiber, protein, and nutrients and tastes like a dessert. Spread a little honey-flavored peanut butter on top for an extra sweet-tasting protein kick.
Lunch:
Homemade pizza. True, Lenoir and Rams do pizza pretty well. But this is cheap, easy, and healthier. Take either a relatively thick pita or a flatbread and spread marinara sauce over it. Sprinkle cheese on top and add any toppings you’re in the mood for: pepperoni, sausage, peppers, pineapple, whatever. Stick it in the microwave for thirty seconds or until the cheese melts, and you’re good to go! This works really well for a super quick bite to eat between classes.
Dinner:
Ramen noodles with butter. When I became vegetarian, I thought my days of eating Top Ramen noodles, which all have meat-flavored seasoning and taste incredibly bland without it, were gone. But there’s a perfectly awesome flavor substitute. Cook a pack of Ramen noodles, let them sit for a few minutes and drain all the water. Then mix a little butter or margarine into the noodles. Talk about delicious. Who knew?! Add some vegetables or hot sauce if you want a little more zest.
Dessert:
Cereal cakes. Thanks to Shellygirl814 on allrecipes.com, I learned how to make my favorite cereals into delectable sweets. Can’t beat that! Cover a small pan with non-stick spray. Mix ¼ cup of butter and a small bag of miniature marshmallows in a bowl and microwave them for 1 to 2 minutes, stirring every 30 seconds. Then stir in 5 cups of cereal. Form the treats by pressing a spoonful of the marshmallow and cereal mix into the prepared pan, then let them cool for an hour or until they are firm. I did homework while waiting for them to cool, so they became a reward for at least attempting to be productive.
Like any of these? Got your own ideas you’d like to share? Comment below!
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