College meal plans are one of the hallmarks of student life in the United States. As far as I know, most schools require students to have one, at least for their first semester. At Susquehanna University, meal plans are compulsory for everyone, but we are also given options for how our credits are distributed between meal swipes and flex spending money.
At the University of Stirling, meal plans don't exist, in any form. Student ID cards can be loaded with credits online but that isn't any different than using cash - students pay out of pocket to buy food, rather than relying on a predetermined budget from their university that is covered by their room & board payments.
While having a meal plan is convenient, they are also limiting in many ways. I have friends at Susquehanna who have lengthy lists of food allergies, which can make finding safe meals almost impossible. They end up eating buttered noodles in the caf more times a week than they should have to, because none of the dishes being served are safe. Even in our made-to-order dining locations, like the Hawk's Nest, their food has to be made separately, with extra sanitary precautions. This means they might have to wait twice as long for their food, or risk cross-contamination.
College dining services are also notorious for contributing to the Freshman 15 weight gain phenomenon. Even though Aramark, SU's food service provider, does a pretty good job of always having fruits, vegetables, vegetarian & vegan options, they also always have a table of desserts that are much more appealing. Self-control is a bigger challenge when less healthy options are placed so close to the salad bar, stocked with lettuce that has begun to brown and roasted corn served cold. I'm not saying that Aramark should take the french fries away, but having to use my personal spending money to buy potato wedges from the Student Union here at the University of Stirling has made it easier to be conscious about my food options and spending.
Grocery Shopping
In Selinsgrove, if you want to buy groceries, you have to find a friend with a car to drive you 10-15 minutes to the closest Walmart or Weis, or wait until Saturday for the free shuttle. Walking isn't a (safe) option, because the grocery stores are alongside busy roads with no sidewalks or shoulders to walk along.
Here at the University of Stirling, there is a grocery store right in the Student Union. The shop is about the size of a convenience store, without the ridiculously inflated prices. There is a small section of fruits and vegetables, freezers of pre-made meals across the back wall, a toiletries/personal care shelf, and a stock of pretty much any type of liquor you could imagine behind the registers.
Although I could probably survive an entire semester off food supplies from the Union's shop alone, I don't mind venturing off campus with friends to go to the Tesco in Stirling. Getting there is incredibly convenient. The UniLink bus ride is only £2.30 for a round trip, which is about 15 minutes each way. Tesco is only a 5 minute walk from the bus stop in the center of town.
Tesco is a large grocery store chain in the UK, similar to a Giant or Weis back home. The average amount I spend each time I go shopping is £30. Apples are 5 for £1, a box of cereal is about £3, and milk is usually £1 for 4 pints (about a half gallon). Tesco does deliver groceries, however, you must have a paid subscription to this service. There is a free 1-month trial that I had planned on using before I found out that there is a competitor delivery service that is free.
Iceland Foods will deliver for free as long as the purchase total is £35 or more. Their prices are similar to Tesco's - I struggled a bit to add enough to my cart (first world problem, I know). I've only used this service once, my first week here when I needed to buy a lot of the essentials. Now, I rely on trips to Tesco every other week or so, and I pick up milk, cereal, and whatever smaller items I run out of at the Union's shop.
Cooking
Not having a meal plan has presented the challenge of finding a balance. Whenever I stock up on frozen meals, I wish that I have more fresh ingredients to cook food for dinner. Then when I have plenty of pasta, chicken, and vegetables, I hate having to wait while my food cooks. This is especially hard on Thursdays, when I have class until 6 PM, and have to walk a mile back to my flat before I can even begin cooking.
I try to keep fresh fruit on hand to snack on while I make dinner, and save my frozen foods for when I'm really feeling lazy. Buttered noodles with chicken and tomatoes has been my go-to meal most nights because it gives the illusion that I'm checking off a few food groups and hopefully getting enough nutrients.
I've also been getting more creative with baking recipes that require a more simple list of ingredients - like biscuits, mac n' cheese, and baked apples. For quicker meals, I stir fruit into instant oatmeal (the electric kettle in my flat has become a game changer) or I fry some eggs. My flatmates and I have gotten creative with ways to make toast without a toaster. Some of them pop their slices of bread into the oven for a few minutes, but I prefer to just place one buttered-side down on the same pan as my eggs and let it brown for about one minute.
Eating On Campus
While I try to use my groceries as much as possible, it's hard to resist grabbing something from the Student Union every now and then in between meals. Because £1 and £2 are coins, it is easy to quickly spend money. I feel like I am using my loose change, but I have to remind myself that it will add up.
There is a grab-and-go shop at the entrance to the Student Union that I like to buy snacks from when I need a study break at the library. Downstairs in the Union there is a coffee shop called Underground. They serve Starbucks drinks, and homemade baked goods. I'm addicted to their pesto mozzarella paninis, so when I need a change of scenery while I work, I head there and sit at a booth with friends for hours while we try to be productive.
The Bite is a coffee shop on the main floor of the Union as well, but I haven't gone there yet because the tables are always full. The academic buildings also each have small coffee shops with Costa coffee and small snacks.
The Student Union also has 3 places to order meals. Market Street has pizzas and burgers, and Sidewalk Deli serves granola for breakfast or baguette sandwiches for lunch. For something more substantial, Studio is a sit-down restaurant/bar with a larger variety on their menu.
Overall, I'm glad I am experiencing a semester without a meal plan because it is giving me a chance to adjust to buying groceries, cooking meals, and budgeting money before graduating college. I think that this semester will make my post-graduate transition easier, and for now, I am really enjoying this independence and #adulting.