Many college students face a serious dilemma when they move into their first apartment: What’s for dinner? No matter if students decide to cook or eat out, their habits are easy to recognize and are evident in universities around the country.
There are 10 top meals that people have eaten for years and that millions of students enjoy every day. The meal suggestions are adapted from those listed in “10 Affordable Meal Ideas for College Students,” an article posted at the Web site Educationportal.com, and “Top Five College Foods,” an article posted at hubpages.com.

1Ramen Noodles: These are the college student’s stereotypical “go-to” meal. Not only are they ridiculously cheap and easy to make, Ramen noodles are also delicious.
However, the famous soup or pasta dish should not be the main staple in a student’s diet. A single serving of the instant noodle dish is high in carbohydrates but low in fiber, vitamins, and minerals.

2Pizza: Pizza is a relatively cheap and efficient way to eat while at college. If you order a large pizza for $10 one night and you cannot finish it, you instantly have leftovers for the next two days. Pizza is a versatile food with variations for everyone.
D.J. Novotniak, a corporate communication major at Clarion, said, “I love pizza because it’s easy. I usually get frozen DiGiorno pizzas from Wal-Mart.”

3Frozen Meals: These can offer the typical American college student an extensive amount of choices and varieties. One can purchase low-calorie meals, low-carb meals, or a Hungry Man meal with no restrictions at all.
Frozen meals can include any meat imaginable, any vegetable one may crave, and sometimes even include a fun dessert! Students can also get frozen meals made by mom sent from home. Amanda Perrotte, an advertising major at Clarion, said, “I love frozen chicken and scalloped potatoes sent from home.”

4Hot dogs: Hot dogs are a cheap and easy meal to make in a dorm or even on a grill at an apartment. They are delicious whether they are grilled, microwaved, or baked in the oven wrapped in a crescent roll. The sky is the limit when adding toppings to this all-American meat. Ketchup, relish, mustard, sauerkraut, and more can be found atop this No. 4 favorite college food.

5Spaghetti: Spaghetti is a relatively cheap and easy to make meal. Pasta is an affordable dish that paired with a store-bought sauce can make a wonderfully tasty meal at home.
This is a great meal idea for any student looking to make a romantic meal for their significant other (a cheaper alternative to a date night out).

6Hot Pockets: These are microwavable turnovers that usually contain favorite meat, cheese and vegetable combinations. They were introduced in the 1970s and have been popular with college students and busy families ever since.
This meal is fairly cheap and impossibly easy to make, ranking it in the top 10 favorite college foods ever.

7SpaghettiO’s: This is a fun and easy meal that reminds students of their childhood. Introduced by Campbell’s Soup Co. in 1965, SpaghettiO’s became a staple of children’s’ diets everywhere. Now that these kids are in college, they still turn to the memorable can of SpaghettiO’s to find comfort.

8Macaroni and Cheese: This is most popular when it comes in a familiar blue box with an orange label, in other words Kraft Instant Mac & Cheese. Another childhood treat remains popular with college students everywhere. This is a cheap and easy meal that brings back memories of helping mom make it after school.
Senior public relations major, Liz Strasbaugh, says, “Mac & Cheese is great, but they have to be the spiral noodles, because they just taste better.”

9Grilled Cheese Sandwiches: These are a cold-weather favorite when paired with the traditional tomato soup.
This meal brings comfort on a cool evening or after shoveling multiple inches of snow dumped on Clarion each year. There are several variations to this sandwich, and that makes it fun to experiment with combinations.

10Caffeine: Even though caffeine is not technically a food, it is indeed a staple in most college students’ diets. With enough caffeine, college life is said to be made possible in more ways than one.
Pepsi, Mountain Dew, coffee and energy drinks are what fuels America’s students when the dreaded finals week approaches.
Students trying to get homework done on time may grab an energy drink from the local convenience store.