7 Back to School Eating Tips for College Students

Congratulations, you graduated high school, and now, here you are, about to begin campus life as a college student!! What an exciting time in your life!

I know there is a lot to think about, so I thought I would jot down just a few tips to help get you started in living and eating on campus in this next phase of school. 

Happy reading and happy to start to college for you!!

7 Back to School Eating Tips for College Students

First things first: 

1) Take some time to get acquainted with your meal plan/dining options.  

• Some things to explore:

  • What your meal plan includes and how it works. 

  • Dining options/centers available to you. 

  • Hours and locations of places where you can eat and what kinds of foods they offer(most will have an online menu).

  • For different dining locations, It may be helpful to know:

    • Can I take food out or do I need to dine in?

    • How does it work with my meal plan?

Bonus tip: Each dining center may have a different vibe, a different feel, or be known for different styles of food- grab some friends during the first few weeks, or at any time, and have some fun exploring the different dining center options available to you.

2) Plan for regular meals and snacks.

I know class schedules can get busy, so be sure to…

• Look at your class schedule and identify when and where you will eat. Be mindful of your physical location and how much time you have with transition between classes and from place to place.

• Be sure to pack some snacks in your bag or in a lunch box if you are going to be a while between meals. 

3) Make eating a social event.

• Talk to others and plan times for when you can eat together, or, invite someone new to dine with you. 

• Eating with others is a great way to connect and build relationships, it can also support our overall health and wellbeing too.

4) Have back up food on hand.

Let’s face it- getting to the dining center for breakfast, before an early morning class, or when pressed for time, may not always be a reality, plus what if you get hungry between meals, or just want an evening snack? It may be helpful to keep some food on hand just for these instances. 

Here are a few dorm room food ideas to have on hand:

• Cereal, oatmeal, bread/wraps, granola bars, whole grain crackers, tortilla chips. pretzels, popcorn, microwaveable rice/grains

• Milk, yogurt, cheese

• Canned/pouched tuna/salmon/chicken, peanut/nut butter, eggs, beans

• Fruits/veggies(all forms count here)

• Nuts, trail mix, seeds

• Some of your favorite condiments/seasonings

Be sure to work with your roommate to figure out shared refrigerator/freezer space, and have dishes, cookware, utensils, that you can prepare and eat food on, and don’t forget the sponge and soap to help with clean up too!

Also, make sure you understand the rules for cooking/appliances that are allowed in your dorm room.

5) Get creative with what is available to you.

Scan the dining hall, pair regularly available items with items from the hot line/grill/salad bar, etc. to make a customizable meal just for you. 

6) Don’t be afraid to try something new.

I feel like this one is pretty self explanatory, but being on campus, perhaps in a new town, or meeting new people, there may be a lot of opportunities to try and learn about different cultures and try different foods. Have some fun experimenting, and exploring some new-to-you foods. 

7) Utilize campus resources available to you. 

If you’re finding it challenging at school, no matter whether it’s in finding things to eat, managing time, stress, or just being somewhere new, always know that there are resources available to help support you. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to some of the following resources:

• Mental Health Counseling Center

• Campus Health Center

• Food Service Staff

• Campus Dietitian

• Your RA

If you found this guide to be helpful, drop a heart below. If there is anything you feel that that would be helpful to edit/add to this list of back-to-school eating tips for college students, or, if you'd like to see more on the topic of eating while at college, please be sure to let me know. I'd love to hear from you!