Sourced: Daria Shevtsova
We all know that it’s hard to eat well on a college budget while still making sure the food satisfies your taste buds. If you try and claim you never shop at Walmart, don’t be surprised if your nose grows a few inches. Often, it’s the same grind day by day – cereal, granola bar, sandwich, ramen, UC, repeat – with an occasional splurge that leaves you with the urge to look at your bank account and cry. Fortunately, there are many quick and simple ways to spice up some regular, cheap foods you might have in your own kitchen cabinet
Avocado Toast
Unless you hate avocados or have something against trends, avocado toast is something that many people have been falling over for. It’s a simple snack that provides energy and quells hunger quite well. However, for those who might be a little addicted to avocados and avocado toast, it gets a little boring after a while. Just a few taps of something called lemon pepper – pepper, but… with lemon – adds a bit of flavor to it and spices up this simple snack really well. If you’re looking to make it even a smidge more interesting, using a bagel or naan bread instead of just a plain piece of toast can add even more of that extra kick, turning your same-old college snack into a Pinterest-worthy “hack.”
Cereal
One of the most basic breakfast items in almost any house you could step into is cereal, both practical and delicious for most college students. But after so many days of eating cereal for breakfast, it’s not uncommon to get bored and want something a little more off-road. Although this may sound simple, mixing two different cereals – or however many cereals you like – might be just the thing to spice up your routine. Mixing Cheerios with Chocolate Chunk Special K adds a bit of sweetness and extra crunchy to your day. Going beyond more cereals, mix some fruit in there too. Adding strawberries gets fruit on your plate while adding more flavors to your palate. It may sound weird or simple, but it brings extra life where monotony would normally take over
Yogurt
Yogurt is something that can fit into many different categories: breakfast, dessert, snack and more. Often, it’s simplest to buy one big vat of plain or flavored yogurt, or even a pack of separate yogurts. But eating them plain can get tedious, especially if you’re the type to get in the habit of eating one regularly. Thankfully, it’s pretty easy — and cheap — to make your own parfait by adding some granola, fruit or even honey. Just by mixing in some granola and fruit, you can make your yogurt taste fresher. It certainly helps break the dull loop of school food.
Bagels
Even though we have our wonderful resident Einstein Bros right on campus, sometimes it’s nice to buy a pack of bagels and cream cheese to have a little control of your bagel creation. If you’re ready for something a little different, swap out that cream cheese for peanut butter or a fruit jelly or jam. Exchanging the normal cheesy topping for something sugary and sweet can bring a new feeling to a normal snack, giving you a boost of extra energy. On the other hand, smearing some peanut butter on top gives you the protein needed to help fuel you through your day. If you can’t have peanut butter, try almond butter instead. Though it may be less common, almond butter is just as tasty and is a great alternative. If you’re feeling adventurous or need a change, make sure to try some of these tricks out. They’re bound to help give you a little sense of fresh and new.
