As we reach the midway point of the “First 50 Days” at Sacred Heart University, students, especially freshmen, are navigating dining situations. As having a meal plan is great, students are finding other creative ways to spice up their dining experiences outside of Sacred Heart dining.
A shot outside of the 63’s dining hall during their reopening.
| Jamie Van Der Merwe, Staff Editor |
Target is the most popular grocery option for Sacred Heart students, followed by Stop & Shop and Trader Joes. Freshman Ella Rollins said, “Normally target…I’m a very routine-oriented person, so the thought of going to a different place is spooky.”
Target is the most readily available option for students at Sacred Heart. However, the main issue with Target is the high prices.
Freshman Sidney-Brooke Bather said that she “…moderately spends about $70” at Target, which may be steep for some students. Stop & Shop offers a bit of an affordable range of $40 to $60. Despite the cost, these stores are very reliable for students to get necessities, as the university’s shuttle buses add quick conveniences without having to order an Uber!
Most Sacred Heart residential dorms lack ovens and stoves, which annoyed students. “I enjoyed living in both Roncalli and Bergoglio, but I was a little annoyed that there wasn’t somewhere I could make my own food,” said junior Devin Vasilkioti.
Similarly, in Mother Teresa Hall, freshman resident Sophia Perron highlights how she used to do meal preps. “It gave me a sense of security of what I am putting into my body.” “It bothers me that I am not allowed to do that anymore.”
Despite these restrictions, students get inventive. “Anything is possible when you’re creative,” said Rollins.
To combat this issue, many students found simple meals to prepare and stock up on. Perron has opted towards frozen kids’ meals, as they are microwavable.
Other budget-friendly and nutritious options are turkey sandwiches. Sophomore Michael Russo states, “My go-to is a simple turkey cheese sandwich with either mayo or butter on it. It’s very easy to make and tasty…” Russo noted supplies cost around $15 to $20.
A strange but fulfilling meal is rice cakes with peanut butter. Freshman Arden O’Neil says, “Rice and peanut butter, as it is very filling…has a lot of calories and is convenient plus healthy!”
Ultimately, Scared Heart dining halls can be very limiting but are available for all students no matter the preference! It is all up to how students use their creativity and efficiency to build their meals.
