Tag Archives: college

Eating on a Budget

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Why is money called dough? Because we all knead it! While this joke is hilarious, empty wallets and empty stomachs are not something to kid about. After our freshman year of
college, most of us lose the unlimited meal plan, so eating and cooking on a budget becomes a necessity. Lucky for you, I have
some tips and tricks that will help ease your worries and save you some money.

    ALDI is Your Best Friend

    • ALDI is a unique grocery store that has food humorously identical to the name brands you find at places like Publix and Walmart.
    • Everything is very affordable; you can get a loaf of bread for 89 cents or a gallon of milk for $3 (in comparison to Publix and Walmart’s $5).
    • There is an ALDI conveniently located on McFarland, so saving money is just around the corner.

When In Doubt, List it Out

    • Always make a grocery list, and stick to it! Try to have your meals planned out for the week so you know what you are going to need to avoid aimlessly walking up and down the aisles.
    • Check the sales ads before you shop at a store; most stores will have them posted on their websites (ex. Publix, Target, ALDI).
    • Southern Savers is an amazing website that has store ads and coupons for each week, explaining how to get the best deals.  

Bang for your Buck

There are plenty of ways to take a food item and use it in multiple recipes throughout the week. Below I shared some of my favorites:

    • One of the best ways my family makes food last is by getting a Publix rotisserie chicken to eat. Once we’ve eaten that for a day, I cut up the rest and use it to make so many other meals: chicken pot pie, chicken salad, chicken fajitas, chicken enchiladas, or even putting it in a soup.
    • Pasta is great because you can buy a package of pasta and use it with so many different sauces or recipes.
    • Potatoes are essential to keeping me happy, and you can use them more than one way. I often like to make potato skins one day, and save the insides for mashed potatoes the next night.
    • Tacos are not only delicious but also very versatile. After you eat tacos for a day, freeze your leftover meat and use it for something else later on- my personal favorite is taco soup.
    • Almost every week my mother uses our leftover food to make a pot of soup. Tacos call for taco soup, chicken is typically used in our tortellini soup, and you can even take all your leftover veggies (that I know y’all are eating to stay healthy) and add them in! Add a bouillon cube or some chicken broth and let it cook (it is best when you let it simmer in a crockpot all day!).

Bonus Bite

  • Don’t ever shop for groceries when you are hungry- you will end up with everything you are craving at that moment and will go way over budget.

Eating on a budget seems difficult, but it is actually easier than you’d think! It also challenges you to be creative with your cooking.

If you have any other tips or recipes to share feel free to leave them below!

 

 Gameday-Ready Potato Skins

  1. Wash potatoes and poke holes throughout each one
  2. Put these in the microwave, 2 minutes on each side (or until you can easily poke it with a fork)
  3. Take them out of the microwave and cut each potato in half, then let them cool for a few minutes
  4. Spoon out the insides of the potatoes (saving that for mashed potatoes later on!) **Be careful not to rip the skin
  5. Fill a skillet with a generous amount of oil on high
  6. Fry your potato skins on each side until they are brown and crisp
  7. Remove them and let the potatoes cool and drain.
  8. Fill the skins with cheese to the top and sprinkle on some bacon bits
  9. Bake for 10 minutes on 325 or microwave them for 30 seconds to 1 minute

 

 

Nutritious Restaurants Around Town

As college students, we all have those nights when you’re just not in the mood to cook, the meal at your sorority/fraternity house might not be what you’re craving, or maybe you’re just sick and tired of the dining hall food. Whatever the reason is, we all end up going out to eat sometime or another.

For most of us, we focus on choosing the cheapest yet tastiest places to eat which usually leads to deep fried foods dripping in grease and covered in salt. It all seems great until our fate lies between the 4 for 4 deal at Cookout or the buy one get one free pizza at Dominos.

Although these foods may be satisfying to our taste buds, they aren’t very kind to our health. It’s time to start including the nutritional quality as a factor when deciding where to eat. Below are a few of my favorite restaurants around Tuscaloosa that have a variety of healthy options on their menu.

 

Newk’s Eatery is located on University Blvd. so it’s at a very convenient location if you don’t have time for Tuscaloosa traffic. They are known for the fresh ingredients used in their famous soups, salads and sandwiches. There are plenty of pairing options you can choose from which will ensure you leave with a full stomach. I typically choose half of the Newk’s Q sandwich and a cup of loaded potato soup, but you can pair any items you may desire. Newk’s gives you access to a Nutrition Calculator on their website so you are able to select your meal and all of its nutrition facts will appear. This is an easy and accessible way to monitor what you are feeding your body. 

 

Zoë’s Kitchen offers Mediterranean food made from scratch and it’s located right inside Bryant Denny Stadium. That’s how you know it’s good! Its menu provides options for everyone: calorie counters, gluten-free, vegetarians, vegans, and those focusing on their carb or sodium intake. My go-to meal is the Greek Chicken Pita with a side of fresh fruit. It really captures the Mediterranean taste, but at the same time it’s nothing too exotic. Not very familiar with Mediterranean food? Don’t worry, Zoë’s has a Mediterranean food pyramid available so you can be sure you are consuming the recommended amounts of food to maintain a healthy balance. 

 

Tropical Smoothie Café is a personal favorite of mine. It’s filling and refreshing so it’s a perfect choice when you’re looking for that pre/post workout meal. You can find it in Midtown Village, so if you get hungry while you’re shopping you can always stop by for one of their signature smoothies or maybe even a flatbread, wrap, or sandwich if you’ve really worked up an appetite. For those of you enjoy foods with a little kick behind it, my personal favorite is the Jamaican Jerk Chicken Wrap. I also order a Kiwi Quencher for a nice balance of sweet and spicy. If you’re struggling to decide what to order, don’t panic, they have a detailed nutrition guide at your service to help you decide what food is best for you. Their motto is “eat better, feel better” so it pretty much speaks for itself.

 

 

Juice Bar is the definition of nutritious. Just stop by Legacy Park and see for yourself. I’m always up for a good smoothie so as soon as I found out about this place I couldn’t wait to try it. The first time I went I had no idea what to order because most of the ingredients were things I would never imagine you would put in a smoothie. However, don’t be alarmed, the workers are very helpful and they will make sure you get exactly what you came for. A worker introduced me to the Coco Banana Smoothie with added blueberries and I haven’t been able to order anything else ever since (this one is for all you peanut-butter lovers out there). Juice Bar uses 100% whole fruits and vegetables and also strives to purchase directly from local farms whenever possible. It’s very evident that they go the extra mile to provide their customers with the freshest and most nutritious foods, so stop by and give it a try.

Windows with "Roll Tide" spelled out.

What We NEED in Tuscaloosa

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What we NEED in Tuscaloosa

  1. A Bagel Shop

Hangry Alabama students have been dying for a bagel shop for quite some time now. Most of us rely on places like Panera Bread or Starbucks for our bagels, and I know many of us can agree they do not always satisfy those deathly bagel cravings. Bagels are the ultimate cure for hangovers, they make you feel happy after doing poorly on your 8 AM exam, and they can satisfy sweet or savory cravings. Even if it is a chain, like Einstein Bros, we would still be happier than we are now. So, PLEASE Tuscaloosa (or even better, UA) bring on the bagels!

 

  1. Trader Joe’s

Trader Joe’s is the holy land of all things groceries. It is surprisingly inexpensive for healthy, whole foods! They sell a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables, and perfect pre-made salads that would be the ideal lunch to eat in between classes. In addition, even their unhealthy foods are higher quality than what we find in vending machines across campus. Trader Joes would be a great addition for not only students at the University, but also residents of Tuscaloosa.

 

 

  1. An Ice Cream Store

Not popsicles. Not frozen yogurt. Not dippin’ dots. Ice Cream! No one realizes we are lacking in the creamy, traditional ice cream department until they get that craving for chocolate ice cream in a waffle cone and ask themselves “Where do I go for that?!” Store bought ice cream is just fine, but nothing hits the spot like a traditional scoop of ice cream in a warm, fresh cone. Ingram Farms takes care of those creamy cravings for most, however, help all of us car-less students out and open an ice cream shop on The Strip or downtown.

 

 

  1. A Local Donut Shop

Okay, this one may not seem as important to some, but coming from a small town I miss my local donut shop! Krispy Kreme and Dunkin Donuts are just fine, but there is something about buying donuts on a Sunday morning from somewhere local that opened at 4 that morning to hand make them. It just can’t be beat. Plus, who doesn’t love supporting local businesses?

 

 

 

  1.  Cheesecake Factory

This too, may not have crossed all Tuscaloosa residents and UA students’ minds; however, how great would a Cheesecake Factory be? Some may argue that they would prefer to keep the restaurants in town local instead of large chains, but Cheesecake Factory has great Sunday morning brunches, awesome lunch specials, and delicious cheesecake. Get Cheesecake Factory on Crimson2Go and I can guarantee you students will be ordering cheesecake left and right. (The cookie dough cheesecake is honestly to die for if you ever find yourself at this restaurant.) Also, Cheesecake Factories seat a ton of people which would be great for keeping up with the demand of the constantly growing Tuscaloosa population.

Making Your Meal Plan Count

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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.

Array of fruits, veggies, meats, dairy, and carbs.

Taking On The Freshman 15

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Let’s face it: no one wants to gain the Freshman 15, but we’re all told about it coming into college. My family said it would come from all the junk food; my friends said it would come from an excessive amount of alcohol. While students often put on weight now that we’re away from home, we can definitely maintain our current weight if not lose weight if we stay on track.

I can already hear all the excuses.

“I don’t have the time to work out enough”

“I don’t have the money to follow a strict diet”

“Drinking is fun. I don’t want to stop drinking”

While these are all somewhat legitimate excuses, making progress really doesn’t take all that much change. What it will take is moderation. Yes, you’re going to have to work out some. Yes, you’re going to have to cut out the alcohol and junk food sometimes. But, the good news is that you’re not going to have to cut them out completely. You just need to follow some common-sense tips that I’ll talk about below, then you’ll be able to enjoy your college experience and stay in shape (get in shape for some people).

 

Exercise

The first step to not putting on weight as a freshman is some type of working out. I take advantage of lifting and running. But, if lifting heavy weights isn’t for you, it could be yoga class, riding bikes, hiking, etc. If you want a pleasant place to run, try running along the river. Here at the slice of heaven we call the University of Alabama, the choices for working out are limitless. There are even classes at the Rec Center that take the guess work out of it.  The most important part of working out isn’t necessarily the type, but the act of actually DOING IT. Find something that makes working out at least a little enjoyable and stick with it. Obviously, the more you work out, the better. But, aim for workouts that are around an hour at least 3-4 times a week to see a noticeable impact. Working out on its own will help tremendously, but like the famous quote goes, “Abs are made in the kitchen.”

 

Caloric Intake

The biggest part of not gaining the Freshman 15 is your diet. If you’re slamming beers and eating Domino’s all the time, working out is not going to have near as big of an impact. I’m not telling you to not enjoy life, but you need to exercise moderation. Enjoy all the great food Tuscaloosa offers, but limit your indulgence to one or two cheat meals a week. I like to have mine on the weekends so I can reward myself for a week of hard work. For options during the week, believe it or not our thousand-dollar meal can go a long way. The dining halls have a salad bar, vegan and vegetarian options, lean meats like chicken and turkey some days and if you’re feeling young again you can even get a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. The dining halls can work for our goals if we stick to the healthy options and control our portions.

Try to limit your drinking to once or twice a week as well. Alcohol is empty calories and can completely ruin the effects of eating well. Alcohol also amplifies the effects of junk food. When you have alcohol in your system, instead of metabolizing food and burning off the calories, it’s more focused on burning off the alcohol. Because of this change of focus, more of the large pizza you just ate will be absorbed by your body.

Final Thoughts

The Freshman 15 might sound daunting. But, if you exercise moderation and follow the tips listed above, the Freshman 15 will be reduced to an afterthought. The most important part of watching caloric intake is staying healthy. This can mean different things for different people, so make sure to listen to your own body. Whatever your goals are, with a little tweaking, these tips are sure to bring results. I have even lost almost 20 pounds since school started while maintaining most of my strength from these tips; I know they can work wonders for anyone else willing to give them a try as well!