How are students getting their diets?

by BRANDON UTLEY
Co-editor

While juggling 15 credit hours, extra curricular activities, and multiple jobs finding time to make or find a healthy meal is nearly impossible. Second only to those cumulative final exams, one of the most difficult challenges college students face is how to battle away hunger?

The caf? Fast food? The pack of ramen they forgot they dropped under their bed last week?

Putting aside the debate over the quality of the dining hall food (see my article “In defense of the cafeteria: Picky eater finds appreciation for the caf”), the place that students choose to eat depends on their busy schedules, their particular taste in food, and more importantly their bank account. With the prices of the meal plan options rising, how are people who cannot afford them or choose not to get them eating.

Senior Tyler Slavens lives in his fraternity house on campus, which includes a full kitchen. “Normally I eat fast food between classes, but if I have enough time I cook in my house,” he said. 
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Other students who do not have access to a stove in their house have no choice but to resort to the cafeteria. Nate Strong stated, “I eat at the 4-5 times a day and usually at least once a day at home.”

Many students find themselves with barely any time to eat throughout the day due to their busy schedules. As a student who lives in a residence hall without a meal plan, many times I have to resort to Taco Bell or McDonald’s or else I will not have time to eat. 

Sophomore Meredith Boes says that as a commuter and a science student with several hours of labs a week, it is very difficult for her to find time to eat. “Sometimes I eat at the caf if I have enough time and other times I just forget to eat.”

Tiffin has a multitude of options when it comes to off campus sources of nutrition. A variety of fast food options, ranging in both quality and price, as well as many small scale restaurants are near the university. Some are within walking distance.

When questioned about the local restaurants, senior Jessica Hollan said, “My favorite place to eat in Tiffin is Madison Street Tavern. It is very filling, only $5, and something you cannot get anywhere else.

Tyler Slavens said that he normally resorts to Mcdonald’s or Wendy’s when picking his restaurant of choice. “It is just convenient for me to be able to go through the drive-thru and get a cheap meal in between classes.”

Other popular options around town include chain restaurants such as Arby’s, KFC, Buffalo Wild Wings, Chipotle, and Subway, as well as local business such as JT’s Bagel Bar, AJ’s Heavenly Pizza, Put-n-Pita, and Sabaidee’s Coffee. 

So next time you want to question a college student about how they are eating at school, think about the struggles that truly go into a university diet.