Students are always on the go, and maintaining a balanced diet while keeping all the work up to date can be difficult. Sometimes, getting food on campus is easier for students than worrying about what and when to cook.
Buying groceries may be the healthiest option, but not the most convenient one. Dining dollars work efficiently since students can easily keep track of the amount of money they spend on food.
Auburn University has many on-campus options for its students to choose from if they need to get meals. Going to the closest restaurant can be a way to save time.
“It gives people an opportunity to, like, go eat between classes and whatnot. Sometimes people live in a place where they don't have a kitchen, so it's just easier to go to a dining hall eat rather than go home, make food [or] buy groceries,” said Moses González, junior in neuroscience.
The price of food is another key factor, especially given students' tight budgets. Having good quality food at a reasonable price is a common desire.
"They [on campus options] all have different price ranges, and they all have different qualities. So, we have cheap stuff, like War Eagle Supply Co.— that's just like something cheap you can grab on the go. But, then you can go to Panera, which is kind of nicer, a little bit more expensive. Then you have dining halls, which is kind of like a buffet and you can eat as much as you want,” González said.
Dining halls on campus have several options and frequently change their menus, which benefits students who enjoy variety. However, they also offer similar options every day so that people can plan their weekly meals or get their comfort food.
“I think the food is good. I think it's, like, pretty standard. Like, you kind of know what you're going to get walking in,” said Mary Edwards, freshman in supply chain management.
One positive side of eating on campus is that it is easy for students to plan lunch with friends. There are many spots to eat surrounded by friends and for students to get some rest during a busy day.
“I go to the dining halls, I like to see all my friends. I feel like it's a place where I kind of recenter myself and gather. It's really fun,” Edwards said.
Eating provides the essential energy that fuels busy students. Having a good, quality diet is also important for students.
“I just feel like there should be some more healthier options than there are. Personally, I feel like students would perform better if there were better options than you going to The Edge, getting a greasy hamburger or chicken fingers,” said Carter Dress, a sophomore in biochemistry and a student with alimentary limitations.
While campus dining offers various choices, some students opt to purchase their own groceries, often seeking healthier alternatives and control over what they eat.
“For anybody that does have a condition similar to mine where they need to bring their food, I highly recommend a crock pot that makes, like, a little mini lunch tote and it'll keep your food warm for you. You can just plug it into the wall when you get into class, and then leave it there, and it'll be hot by the time you need to eat it for lunch,” Dress said.
Different options for on-campus dining allow the students to choose what they want to eat and how much they want to spend. Even for those who enjoy cooking and prefer to bring their own food, there are many spots on campus for everyone to gather and enjoy their meals in the middle of a hectic class day.
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