College students on the hunt for something cheap and edible

Everybody talks about the struggle of being a college student today. But nobody talks about the struggle of The Struggle Meal itself. Between the rising cost of tuition and the increasing cost of food, what’s a poor student to do? Here are some ideas.

The Syrup Sandwich

The Syrup Sandwich keeps things simple. It consists of two pieces of bread and maple syrup. As with any sandwich, you begin with the bread on the bottom, then put your insides of the sandwich on top of the aforementioned bread bottom. Drizzle however much syrup you feel necessary, just make sure it saturates the bread. Go ahead and slap that other piece of bread on top to seal the sandwich. If you feel like adding some extra sweetness to your sandwich, you can coat it in some more syrup to change the eating experience from hands on into a “cutlery required” dish. 

From my experience, there would be more than one sandwich required to sate one’s hunger; unless you’re looking for a quick, sweet treat. This is also one of those foods that you should be mindful of when you eat it, as eating it as your dinner wouldn’t be very wise considering the sugary nature of it. For waffle-enjoyers, I believe this would be a good alternative on a budget, or if you just don’t happen to have waffles at the time. Either way, this dish is something quick and easy to get you out the door and into your classes.

–Adam Blanchard

Water Cakes

When trying to save money in college with my “struggle meal,” I find myself running toward the pancake mix aisle and purchasing the cheapest possible option: Pearl Milling’s 32-ounce box of water-based pancake mix, which costs $3.39 at Target. I can typically get at least 20 cakes out of it. I add water to the powder mix and throw it on the pan to make it nice and fluffy. If I’m feeling crazy, I sneak a bit of Nutella on top. It really ties the plate together, dude. So, if you’re poor and feeling hungry, take a page from my book and try it out.

-Sydney Blake

Fish ‘n Chips

When I’m running around campus like a chicken with my head cut off, it’s commonplace for self-care to fall to the wayside. When I can’t put off mealtime any longer, I turn to a dish I call ‘Dorm Fish ’n Chips.’ It’s a perfect low-commitment meal for a college student: no frying, little time and it costs mere pennies.

All you need to do is open a can of generic-brand tuna fish (I prefer preserved-in-water and buy-in-bulk). Drain the liquid — I opt to feed it to my cat, Uma — mix in a spoonful of mayo to make a little tuna salad, cut up a pickle and drop it in and grab some Aldi brand butter crackers.

It’s not pretty, but it’s got lots of protein. I always make it in reused take-out containers, so it keeps dishes to a minimum as well.

–Michael Purtell