By: Solen Aref
College. It’s known for its reputation of parties, off the charts stress levels among students, and a whole lot of personal freedom. With the endless variety of choices, and freedom to have anything you, it’s hard to know how to budget your Dining Dollars responsibly. That’s what we’re here to teach you: here are five tips to help you budget your dining dollars here at PLU.
Savvy salads.
Nobody likes a sad salad, but building your own can come with a high price tag. One way to cut that almost in half is to buy your protein at the grocery store, and everything else for your salad at the Commons. You can always find canned tuna, beans or tofu for around a dollar. You can also purchase grilled chicken breasts at a great price in the frozen food isle. Simply take your choice of protein with you to the commons in a tupperware dish, and add it to your purchased salad to save money on the protein and bring down the overall price.
Free fruit.
How many times have you walked past the fruit stand on your way out of All You Care To Eat meals and not grabbed something? Taking a piece of fruit on your way out, and having it with your breakfast the next day saves you money and time. According to Livestrong.com, an online website dedicated to encouraging healthy lifestyles, “fruit provides vitamins and minerals such as Vitamin C and potassium. The vitamins and minerals help your body function properly and can help prevent certain diseases and health conditions” (Jessica Bruso). It’s one way to start your day off on a healthy foot, and helps you reach the USDA’s suggestion of five fruits and vegetables each day.
Less leftovers.
A common practice among Americans is wasting food. In fact, according to the USDA, 30-40 percent of the food supply goes to waste here in the United States. Instead of biting off more than you can chew (literally) try grabbing a smaller portion than you usually do, and going back for more if you’re still hungry. It’ll help you be a more environmentally conscious, and save you money while you’re at it.
Dressing dos and don’ts.
Dressing is amazing, but can be expensive. Here’s a tip to save you some money when you get it for a salad! Pour the dressing into one of the small containers on top of the dressing bar, so that way your dressing isn’t weighed with your salad. Basically you don’t have to pay for it this way!
Healthy H20.
Water is a vital ingredient to a healthy life and usually free on campus; you just can’t beat that! Next time you reach for a sugary beverage, consider making your health and wallet happy by going for a water instead.
Extra tips from other PLU students:
*Senior Kseniya Larsh says to refer to the meal plan chart to stay updated and see where you’re at.To view this chart, go to Campus Restaurants > Quick Links (on the right side) > Dining Dollars.
*First year Sergio Garcia says to not give into peer pressure when you make OMM runs with your friends. If they’re all getting something, you might feel like you have to get something with them, even if you have food back at your dorm-be strong and don’t give into the pressure!
