Josh Fortmann | Contributing Writer

As devoted as we all are to our beloved servery, there comes days when we all take a look at the menu for the day and can’t find a single thing that sounds appealing to our stomachs; or we get the late night rumbles with no options. So what are we supposed to do? What options are available to a poor, starving college student in dire need of a snack? Have no fear, myself and a few other students on campus have found affordable (and delicious) ways to eat outside of the servery.

My own personal favorite meal of late is both cheap and delectable. Fresh pork chops from behind the Hy-Vee meat counter, pan seared in just a little bit of butter and some garlic salt. Pair that with some fettuccine alfredo, and you’ve got yourself a delightful dinner for two for less than five dollars.

Another favorite I’ve enjoyed lately is the classic hot ham n’ cheese, if you can make a grilled cheese than you can handle this. Just add a little ham and a slice of Swiss cheese between two pieces of buttered bread and fry it up in a skillet.

Enough about my own culinary pursuits though, let’s hear about what other people are cooking up around campus.

Over in the suites, junior Liz Fay and her friends are preparing an interesting late night snack. During her time studying abroad in New Zealand, she encountered a tantalizing creation known simply as “the toastie”. The toastie is similar in creation to a grilled cheese, except that instead of a few slices of Velveeta inside, there are slices of mozzarella and pineapple. While this may seem unusual, the resultant sandwich is reportedly delicious and nutritious.

Sophomore Shaylia Barber and junior Jake Goeser are big fans of the breakfast sandwich. Another simple and cheap and meal, it consists of a cooked egg patty, some cheese, and whatever meat you like, inside of a toasted English muffin. While the name of this dish may be the breakfast sandwich, these two say it’s delicious no matter what time of day you make it.

Representing the vegetarians on campus, sophomore Carolyn McDermott’s meal of choice is chicken parmesan. While she swaps out the breaded chicken breast for a vegetarian patty, this dish consisting of tomato sauce, mozzarella, and basil is a great and easy dinner for any hungry student to devour.

So my fellow students, never fear, with a little ingenuity (and a lot of recipe Googling) you too can overcome your munchies. These are just a few of the thousands of great ideas that exist for hungry college students. So next time you get the cravings that the servery can’t satisfy, try one of these great ideas, or hop on the internet and find the next snack sensation to hit campus!

Photo by Meghan Harmening