Let’s face it, meal plans are expensive, and for some of us, not worth it. $15 day? That’s like getting five tall lattes at Starbucks every day, and it is very possible to eat three meals a day for a lot less than that. In fact, I know it is, because I’ve been at UCF for about a month and have not once stepped foot in a dining hall, and I’ve only eaten out twice. And no, I have not subsisted on ramen or hot pockets or any other stereotypical college student junk food. My days consist of meals like overnight oats, smoothies, healthy microwaveable dinners, and, if I have the energy and ingredients, homemade food. I’ve managed to eat this way all while taking six classes that demand a lot of hours outside of the actual lectures themselves. No matter how jam-packed your schedule is, I assure you you can survive (and thrive) without a meal plan as long as you plan ahead, and have access to a refrigerator and a microwave.
Here are some tips to live by:
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Buy (almost) all of your non-perishables online. It may sound sketchy, but it’s amazing how many food items you can purchase online through sites like Target and Jet.com. The key is to make a list of all the staples you could possibly need, and then determine what you can get online for a reasonable price. It will save you time and, if you plan accordingly, you’ll never run out of the basics. Some ideas include canned foods like beans or soups, dried fruits, snacks, microwave meals, and coffee.
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Not all packaged meals are unhealthy and loaded with preservatives. Tasty Bite makes a variety of Indian meals (as well as just plain brown rice, which you can use to assemble meals) that are free of preservatives and are quite cheap on Jet.com. Barilla also sells precooked microwaveable pasta and sauce dishes that you can purchase from Target online. Stock up on these so that you won’t have to resort to eating out every time you want a quick meal.
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For fresh fruit, vegetables, frozen meals, and other perishable items, aim to go grocery shopping at least once a week. If you don’t have a car, there is a grocery shuttle that goes to Publix every Tuesday, departing every 45 minutes. If that isn’t convenient for you, I’d recommend Publix’s grocery delivery service, Shipt. It cost $14 a month, and of course the prices are marked up by a few cents, but you get free delivery if your order is over $35. It’s cheaper than getting a Lyft ride back and forth from the store every week and saves a few hours of your limited time.
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If you don’t have a coffee maker, and cannot function as a normal human being without caffeine, I highly suggest buying cold brew or other packaged coffee in bulk. All of the coffee shops on campus are tempting, but you could be dropping $5 a day if you rely on midday Starbucks runs to keep you going. Brands like High Brew, Illy, Hi Ball, Cafe Bustelo (yes it tastes as good as the coffee from the shops on campus), and Starbucks sell bottled and canned coffee you can purchase by the dozen online for less than $3 a serving.
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Keep a list of things you will always need so that you can quickly replace anything that is running low. That way, you will always have something to eat that won’t cost you extra.
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Finally, remember to treat yourself! If you plan accordingly, it is very possible to get by without ever going out, and while that’d be amazing for your bank account, it will get old. So get that pumpkin spice or chile mocha at Starbucks every once in a while and grab lunch, dinner, or brunch with friends. Chances are, you’ll still be spending less than students who have meal plans.
All photos were taken by the author.