by John Oystein

Created on: August 15, 2009

Only the most savage beasts of the jungle match the voracious appetites of the average college student. Ask anyone on any campus: if you want to bring in the crowds, bring on the food. Each incoming student also knows the most dangerous enemy they'll face is not the evil professor, the drunken rapist behind every bush, or the filthy roommate, it's the Freshman Fifteen. Pounds, that is.

Of course freshmen are especially prone to putting on a few pounds. You'll see food all over the place on a college campus. Just about every building has at least one vending machine. There are usually one or two cafeterias open all day long, and sometimes longer than that. Fast-food franchises have been entrenched on campuses for years now. Beyond that, there are eateries often within a simple distance from the campus too.

Finally, you can cook and eat within your own dorm room. Most dorms have a communal kitchen with at least an oven. Plus, you're usually allowed a small microwave and a few other little appliances, though hot plates and toasters are sometimes forbidden. Check regulations first.

College students make snacks a priority in student life. They snack because they're hungry, they snack to relieve stress, they snack because they have misplaced perception of nutrition. Of course, college dorm rooms don't have much space, but there's adequate room to store snack foods, and ones that won't create a mess or an infestation.

Take the conventional snack foods, chips, candy, and soft drinks. Yes, the dorm will probably have a vending machine, but hold on. Often, these machines sell at an inflated price. Plus, remember your budget. A pop and a bag of chips a day could cost you $1.20 a day, for a week, each day of the month, will run you almost $35 a month. Just for a few empty calories? Let's reconsider.

If you must indulge in the junk foods, get them at the grocery. Don't neglect checking out the discount stores and dollar shops. Dollar shops like Dollar Tree are great places for college students, especially for hygiene products and snacks. You may also want to consider getting a membership to a warehouse club like Sam's Club. They sell massive selections of snack foods, intended to be sold via vending machines, at a bulk price, however, sometimes better deals are available at the dollar shops.

When consuming snacks, be mindful of the mess you can make. Sweep up your crumbs, throw away

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