How to Spice Up Dining Hall Food

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When you first arrive to college, dining hall food can seem like a godsend and even gourmet if you’re not used to regular home cooked meals. However, a couple of weeks or months into the semester, you’re likely tired of greasy pizza, fried foods and browned lettuce. Luckily, there are a multitude of ways to put a new spin on your campus’ food.

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If you have access to a microwave in your dining hall…

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➙ Tired of pizza? Why not try Pizza Bagels? It’s only a few simple steps, according to firstwefeast.com.

Step 1: Grab a bagel from your hall’s breakfast station.

Step 2: Top the bagel with sauce from your pasta station.

Step 3: Once the sauce is spread on the bagel, top it with your choice of cheese from your salad station. If you want to add vegetables, grab those from the salad station as well.

Step 4: Pop your bagel into the microwave and warm it until the cheese is melted.

Step 5: Enjoy!

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➙ Another idea is making your own quesadillas. All you need is either tortilla shells or flatbread and the things you’d like to fill your quesadilla with.

Step 1: Grab either tortilla shells or flatbread and place one of them down on a plate.

Step 2: Top the shells or bread with cheese, protein (if you desire) or veggies.

Step 3: Add more cheese on top of your proteins and/or veggies before adding the second shell of piece of flatbread on top.

Step 4: Put your plate in the microwave and warm your food until the cheese has melted.

Step 5: Cut your shells or flatbread into triangles and enjoy.

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If you want to brighten up your breakfast…

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➙ Scrambled eggs and toast can get boring. Try making your own parfait!

Step 1: Get a clear glass and add a bit of yogurt at the bottom.

Step 2: Begin the first layer of your parfait by adding nuts or fruit from your school’s fruit station.

Step 3: Add more yogurt for the second layer.

Step 4: Add whatever you did not add in step 2 for the third layer.

Step 5: Alternate between yogurt, fruit and nuts until you are satisfied with your parfait.

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Are you tired of plain waffles? Before adding the batter to your waffle iron, place the mixture in a separate bowl and add in nuts, chocolate chips, peanut butter, or whatever your heart desires. Mix everything you add to the batter together before cooking your waffle.

Now, you instantly have loads of new types of waffles you can create!

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If you’re just stopping by in between classes…

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➙ Do you only have enough time for a quick snack? Why not make your own trail mix to take on the go?

Step 1: Grab a bowl and fill it with cereal from your cereal station.

Step 2: Add dried fruit or seeds from your school’s salad bar.

Step 3: Head to your dining hall’s dessert station and grab chocolate chips, nuts, or whatever strikes your fancy.

Step 4: Mix up all of these ingredients and it’s complete.

If you’re allowed to take food out of your hall, bring a Ziploc bag from your place and fill it up with the remaining mix.

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If you’re tired of fountain drinks…

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➙ While not totally groundbreaking, there is a way to make floats in your dining hall.

Step 1: Add ice cream to half of a drinking cup.

Step 2: Add your drink of choice (examples include Coca-Cola, root beer, or Fanta)

Step 3: Enjoy your float!

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Though growing tired of dining hall food is all but inevitable, that doesn’t mean that you have to spend all your money off campus. A few simple hacks can turn the mundane of meals into a five star dish.

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