by Sara W.

Created on: August 03, 2009

Taco Bell or McDonald's? Mystery meat or Ramen Noodles? Your diet as a college student can seem just as complicated as your classes! But it doesn't have to be. You have enough on your plate without being overwhelmed by a smorgasbord of food choices! So don't sweat it, choosing your college meal plan can be a piece of cake. Here are a few tips to select the meal plan that is just right for you.

Know Your Habits

Most college students will not eat every single meal in their cafeteria. Are you a morning person? Then you may want to plan to eat breakfast every day. Are you a night owl, preferring to eat late meals? Then you might want to plan on ordering a pizza every so often. Do your parents live close to campus? Then you might want to take advantage of some home cooked meals. Whatever your typical habits currently are, it is not wise to change them up too much when you go to college. Many schools allow you to add meals to your plan, or add money to your meal account, so it is better to have too few meals on your plan than too many. If your school offers an all-you-can-eat style meal plan, don't stuff your face until you want to explode. Eat the same amount you would normally eat, and try to maintain as close to the same routine you've always had, or else the Freshman Fifteen will sneak up on you! Pick a modest plan, eat a modest diet, and don't sweat the selection process!

Eat Your Veggies

You couldn't wait to leave home so that you wouldn't have to hear your mother nag at you about what you eat. But watch out! If your campus has meal plans that offer fast food, it is wise not to eat the greasy stuff every single day. The cafeteria food is usually cheaper, and you can be sure to get a balanced diet of fruits and vegetables. Remember that Freshman Fifteen monster? Many students gain well over their fair share of fifteen pounds, so if you want to ward off this horrible college student's nemesis, then don't opt for a daily Big Mac.

Keep A Stash

Another reason not to max out your meal plan is that there will be days that you just don't feel like leaving your dorm. If there are two feet of snow on the ground and you are too sick to get out of bed, you are going to want plenty of edibles at hand in your room. A small microwave, refrigerator, and toaster oven are essentials for every college dorm. You can make yourself some hot soup in your microwave, and the toaster oven is great for personal sized frozen pizzas. Plan on having at least a couple of days per semester where you choose not to eat in the cafeteria at all. Whether you decided to skip school to head out for that much anticipated road trip, or because you're sicker than a dog, there will always be some reason that you won't eat on campus faithfully every day.

If you still have no idea which meal plan to choose, stick with the middle of the road. Make sure you can add on to the plan if necessary. If finances aren't a big deal, and your school lets you roll over any funds left unused, then you may decide to choose the biggest plan. Just remember to be flexible and take care of your health. If you follow these tips, you'll be sure to breeze through your meal plan selection.

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