All posts by Hannah Buie

Making Your Meal Plan Count

On-Campus Dining, , ,

Do you find yourself with 100’s of leftover meal swipes at the end of the year? Most students here at the University of Alabama purchase a meal plan but don’t know how to get the most for their money. The main reason why people end up wasting meal swipes is because they aren’t sure where or when to go to dining halls. We all prefer to eat out at our restaurant of choice, but if we take a closer look, the meal plan provides great options that don’t require extra money.

Dining Halls
No two people have identical daily routines, but there are plenty of dining halls to fit into any and all schedules. Here are a few dining halls with varying hours of operation that students can choose from

• Burke Dining Hall– Burke is an all you can eat dining hall located in Burke Hall. So if you live in Burke, nearby Tutwiler, or find yourself out on the southeast side of campus, Burke’s your place. They stay open from 7am-2pm and then re-open for dinner from 5pm-9:30pm during the week. Burke offers a wide variety of food options, but always bakes their hot, cheesy pizza every day without fail

• The Fresh Food Company– Nestled in the Science and Engineering Complex area is Fresh Foods. Open weekdays from 7am to 6pm, they provide delicious food choices all day long. From gooey grilled cheeses to chocolatey cookie brownies to fresh, salty French fries, the options are endless. Although it’s sure to satisfy any student, this dining hall sits in an ideal location for students in science related majors who are out and about going to classes.


• Lakeside Dining– Obviously, if you live in Presidential dorms or Lakeside dorms this dining hall lies near you. Lakeside Dining is UA’s biggest all you care to eat restaurant. Asian cuisine, home-style meals, burgers, pastas, sandwiches are just a few of the many selections. My personal favorite is the chicken tenders, fries, and Texas toast because it tastes almost identical to Raising Cane’s. Lakeside stays open on the weekends which can be very helpful when trying to budget your money. Also, they remain open later than most dining halls closing at either midnight or 2am.
• Bryant Dining– While this hall serves only the student athletes for dinner, it serves any student during brunch. This hall offers carved meats, salad bar, and made-to-order deli and grill. Located in the Bryant Hall, this dining option stays open from 8:30am-1pm.
On the Go
Not everyone’s schedule allows them to sit down for a meal each day. Sometimes we just need to grab food and go. Bama Dining understands this too well which is why students may purchase reusable to-go boxes. Here’s how they work:
1) Go to any dining hall and purchase a container for only $5
2) Fill up your to-go box with foods of your choice and take it with you
3) Return your box to any dining hall to have it cleaned and receive a new box to repeat the process
The To-Go Box Program helps out busy students by allowing them to capitalize on their meal plan without it subtracting time from their agendas.

Fresh2Go options are also available at Julia’s Market in Tutwiler and Presidential Terrace. These fresh snacks can be purchased by a meal swipe instead of Dining Dollars which helps to knock off extra swipes if needed.

UA offers many food options on campus, and most people only know half of them. For more information on Bama Dining locations and hours of operation, check out their website.

The Right Way to Snack

Dorm-Friendly Cooking, Staying Healthy, , ,

While it’s ideal to only eat the standard three meals a day, for most college students that just isn’t realistic. Whether it’s a late night full of studying or an all-day Netflix marathon, snacks are a must. In between meals, it is too easy to find yourself reaching for a bag of greasy potato chips or a tub of Ben and Jerry’s. These processed treats taste delicious, but so many alternative snack options exist that aren’t loaded with sugar and unnecessary calories. Finding healthy snacks options keeps off that dreaded freshman fifteen and still satisfies your cravings.
Salty Snacks
When I looked at the snacks I eat on a regular basis, I realized I could replace these snacks with healthy, tastier options. For example, when you feel like eating handfuls of those greasy potato chips, choose to make your own. With a few simple ingredients, you can indulge in real potatoes sliced, salted, and cooked to a crisp in a microwave. To find out more on how to make them yourself, check out “The Dreaded Freshman Fifteen.” Another yummy snack for your salty snack craving are kale chips. All the latest diets have incorporated this leafy green that is full of nutrients. Just drizzle the kale leaves in olive oil, sprinkle with salt and pepper, and pop them in the oven for 10-15 min. You can always add salt and vinegar or grated parmesan cheese for a savorier chip. Only a few short steps to make a crunchy, nutritious snack!
Mini-Meals
Sometimes if you feel really hungry or just bored, you may want a snack with a little more substance to fill you up. Resist reaching for the Bagel Bites, Hot Pockets, or even calling Dominos because you can make something even better. On www.Pintrest.com , I found a recipe for a single serving pizza that will do the job. This homemade pizza’s costs less and makes for a healthier snack – what’s not to love? This recipe calls for an English muffin, tomato sauce, cheese and any topping you like. Just warm in the microwave, and you’ll have a mini pizza with warm melted cheese that’ll be sure to satiate your hunger.
Sweet Tooth Satisfiers
If you are like me, sweet tooth cravings occur regularly. Instead of eating candy bars or ordering Insomnia every night, try Nutella energy bites. These only take five ingredients: oats, shredded coconut, chia seeds, honey, and Nutella. Mix them all up in a bowl and then roll into one inch balls. Their benefits include easy preparation and no baking time. A fruity snack to munch on are frozen banana poppers. Slice up a banana, dip into Greek yogurt or melted chocolate, freeze, and enjoy. Freezing them makes them take on an ice cream effect that is addicting to eat. What a great way to snack without consuming excessive amounts of processed sugar.
As you can see, alternatives exist for almost all of your favorite daily snacks. With just a little effort to stock up on the necessary ingredients, you find yourself snacking the right way in no time. If you have any suggestions for snack recipes you love, please share below in the comments!

Kale Chips
• Preheat oven to 375 degrees
• Wash and dry the kale leaves by pressing them between paper towels
• Rip off the thick stems
• Using your hands, rip up the kale into smaller pieces if necessary
• Toss kale leaves with olive oil in a bowl
• Spread the leaves on a baking sheet and sprinkle with salt and pepper
• Bake for 12-15 min or until the edges of the kale curl up and turn brown
• Let cool and enjoy!

Frozen Banana Poppers
• Scoop any flavor of greek yogurt or melted bakers chocolate in a bowl
• Slice bananas up
• Dip banana slices in yogurt/chocolate
• Place coated banana slices on plate/wax paper and freeze for an hour roughly