One of the most challenging non-academic feats for first-year students is learning to fashion dining hall food into delectable meals. If you’re struggling on this front, these dorm snacks make the perfect solution. Here is a compilation of sweet and salty inventions that my friends and I enjoy — all from the comfort of our dorms.
1. Morning oats — with some O’Hill add-ons
This nutritious oatmeal recipe is a perfect combination of store-bought food and dining hall ingredients. In pre-packaged cups featuring a variety of flavors, Kodiak Cakes provides balanced, energizing and, above all else, delicious oatmeal that can be paired with peanut butter and bananas from the dining hall. Top it off with frozen berries from your freezer, and you have a flavorful, protein-packed breakfast to start your day.
2. A spoonful of sugar makes the Newcomb yogurt go down
Nothing combats an afternoon slump quite like a loaded yogurt bowl. While my favorite base is Chobani Greek yogurt — available at Crossroads convenience store — dining hall yogurt makes for a great alternative. I often scoop yogurt into a takeout cup and bring it back to my dorm, where I can add sweet toppings such as frozen berries, bananas and granola. The berries thaw quickly in the yogurt, creating an unparalleled fusion of sweet granola and sour fruit. This chilled snack will boost your energy and leave you feeling refreshed in the middle of the day.
3. Ultimate apple nachos
One of my pandemic staples from 2020, this TikTok recipe taught me how to make do with the ingredients you have. After slicing apples from the dining hall, I melt peanut butter in the microwave and drizzle it over the fresh slices. Sprinkle on some toppings from the O’Hill soft-serve station, such as chocolate chips and crushed Oreos, and you have a treat that will undoubtedly satisfy a sweet tooth.
4. Mix and match with a mezze plate
This snack calls for some creativity. An assembly of Mediterranean foods and vegetables, a mezze plate makes snacking as nutritious as it is satiating. To create your own mezze plate, make use of the O’Hill salad bar and assemble carrots, celery, olives, pita slices and a scoop of hummus. You can elevate your plate by adding bell peppers, pickles and an olive oil or balsamic vinaigrette dipping. This dish may even encourage you to continue experimenting with the large variety of produce and toppings the salad bar offers.
5. Trail mix, featuring Catalina Crunch
One thing about us college students is that we’re always on the go — which means our snacks have to be as well. When I don’t have time to return to my dorm during the day, a Ziploc bag of trail mix is an ideal portable option. In my preferred mix, the star of the show is Catalina Crunch, a vegan protein cereal that can be purchased on Amazon or at a local grocery store. Granola can also substitute this cereal for anyone sensitive to its stevia taste. To top the trail mix off, I add almonds and peanuts from my dorm, as well as raisins from the dining hall. With a variety of cereal, nuts and dried fruit, this mix will become a staple to keep in your backpack.
6. Imitation Insomnia
For first-year students daunted by the long trek to the Corner, the dining halls can bring Insomnia-like cookies to you. If you sandwich a thick slab of vanilla ice cream between two chocolate chip cookies, you can recreate Insomnia’s decadent “Cookie’wich” nearly perfectly. A bonus to concocting this dining hall delicacy is that you can add the toppings of your choice, from chocolate chips to sprinkles. This ice cream sandwich is the perfect way to end a long day of classes.
7. One-minute nuked nachos
Heating up nachos only takes one minute, but the assembly of this customizable recipe requires two trips. The first is a visit to Crossroads to get tortilla chips and salsa. The second is a visit to the dining hall salad bar to load your desired toppings — shredded cheese, peppers and olives — into a takeout box. Back in your dorm, lay the chips flat on a paper plate, sprinkle on the toppings and microwave on high for 60 seconds. All the walking might seem costly, but the end result is worth it.
8. A protein plate a day keeps the study slumps away
Whether plant-based or meat, a savory protein snack should be a priority in your diet. I function best when I am fueled by the long-lasting energy derived from protein sources. From the Newcomb salad bar, I like to gather chickpeas, black beans and balsamic vinegar in a cup, then add frozen edamame from my dorm to build my own hearty, handheld salad. You can find other protein sources at the burger and stir fry stations in the dining halls. Newcomb’s Wing Wednesdays and Rib Fridays are especially helpful when you need something to tide you over in between classes.
9. Indecisive dessert
If you are as indecisive as me when it comes to choosing a dessert, this bowl ensures you can taste a little bit of everything. For your next movie night snack, fill a dining hall takeout box with your favorite sweets, such as chocolate chips, Golden Grahams cereal and crushed-up cookies. While not offered in dining halls, popcorn from Crossroads is also a hidden gem, adding a salty base to balance out the sugary components.
10. A college kid’s comfort food
I firmly believe that no matter how old you are, you can always enjoy a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Portable peanut butter cups and jelly packets from the ever-reliable Runk allow you to make this nostalgic meal on the go. Elevate the classic sandwich in a few simple steps — I like to use store-bought chocolate rice cakes as the base, smothering one cake with peanut butter and the other with jelly before layering slices of banana in between. While you can get creative with this sandwich, there is also nothing wrong with sticking to the basics. As you try new foods in college, it is important to listen to your cravings, fueling your body with the food that brings you comfort.
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