We’re in the final stretch of classes, which means we are, as a campus body, running low on energy to finish assignments, sleep, and of course, dining dollars. When I first saw the $425 dining dollars loaded onto my account, I thought there was no way I’d run through it by the end of the semester. However, frequent trips to the Lobby Shop, Cool Beans, and Crossroads quickly changed this, and I now have a whopping $68.23 to last me through the end of the semester. In the three weeks left of school, that leaves me with about $23 a week, which means I have to be more careful with how much I spend. If you’re in the same boat as me, here’s a list of five items for under five dining dollars that will help you stretch out the dining dollars you have left.
1. egg white omlet wrap from d’agostino’s – $4
Possibly my favorite item on this list; I stumbled upon this item entirely by accident one morning. I typically get a bacon, egg, and cheese sandwich off of the meal plan menu from D’Agostinos in the morning, but I selected the retail menu by accident and found this hidden gem. The egg white omelet wrap allows you to choose three toppings (my favorites: avocado, cheese, and bacon) for a filling breakfast meal. It even includes your choice of hot or iced coffee, which is a total steal.
2. medium smoothie from cool beans – $4.50
The smoothies at Cool Beans never fail to deliver and serve as a refreshing pick-me-up when you’re looking for something other than coffee. You can choose up to two flavors amongst the options of strawberry, mango, banana, pineapple, and lemonade. I often select the strawberry lemonade, but I also love the strawberry banana.
3. mac and cheese from d’agostino’s – $4
I spend a lot of time in the science building, and with that said, I have probably eaten almost every D’Agostino sandwich. Although the sandwiches are great (especially the Panino), I sometimes find myself wanting something different. In these times, I reach for the mac and cheese. The mac and cheese has had better and worse days but is dependable for a small meal.
4. chicken tenders from crossroads main – $4.50
The chicken tenders at Crossroads are a staple, particularly when paired with a side of ranch dressing, and are filling enough for a meal. If you’re looking to splurge past the $5 budget, I’d recommend the buffalo chicken tenders, which come in at $5.25 and are one of my favorite items at crossroads.
5. blt from crossroads deli – $4.50
A BLT is an item you can practically never go wrong with. The BLT available at Crossroads Deli makes the list because it’s a solid option that is customizable, allowing you to make your choice of bread and opt for no mayo if mayo isn’t your thing. It’s even gluten-free friendly!