On and Off-Campus Eats
As a certified “foodie,” I love to eat, make, and take pictures of food. At Tufts, we have so many great options at our grab-and-go dining facilities, as well as our dining halls; however, now as a senior living off-campus, I cook most of my meals myself. I wanted to share a few of the meals I make most often as a busy senior who also loves to cook, as well as a few of my favorite on-campus meals that I still crave (and still get!) living and eating mostly off-campus.
Breakfast:
For breakfast, I am a certified oatmeal lover, but not in a boring way. My oatmeal is anything but flavorless. My go-to oatmeal is the Trader Joe's Organic Rolled Oats with Ancient Grains and Seeds. It is THE BEST oatmeal ever, trust me. I usually pair that with half an apple, some cinnamon and nutmeg, as well as a splash of milk and a drizzle of honey. My other favorite breakfast is Greek yoghurt with blueberries, homemade chia pudding, and a few walnuts. Both of these breakfasts are fairly quick to make, but keep me full for a while, which is super important as a busy college student. Some of my favorite breakfasts when I lived on-campus were the oatmeal bar in Dewick Dining Hall (so many toppings!), the pancakes from Carmichael Dining Hall, and the egg sandwiches from Kindlevan Café.
Coffee/Tea:
I have a coffee or tea nearly every day. Most days, I make it myself. I’ve been really enjoying making London Fogs lately (Earl Grey tea with honey, vanilla, and steamed milk!), as well as just a good cup of English breakfast tea. On campus, my favorite coffee/teas are from the Sink, our student-run coffee shop, or from Tower Café. From the sink, I love a chai latte or a Medford Fog—their take on a London Fog! From Tower, I usually get an iced vanilla latte!
Lunch:
For lunch, I almost always have leftovers, so my lunch varies from day to day; however, sometimes I will make a salad, sandwich, or some pasta for lunch. When I lived on campus, I loved grabbing a lox bagel from Pax Et Lox, our kosher deli, or a Greens n’ Grains bowl from Hodgdon Food on the Run.
Dinner:
For dinner, I try to vary my meals week-to-week. The meals I cook fairly frequently, though, include: salmon and edamame rice bowls, pasta with chicken meatballs and red sauce, chicken with roasted mini potatoes and veggies, and SO many soups, especially during the winter months. Most of the recipes I make take under an hour to cook, but I will often make more robust recipes on the weekends when I have more time. When I lived on-campus, my favorite dinners were from Hodgedon. I loved the build-your-own-burrito-bowl station, as well as Pan-Asia. Every once and I while, I still treat myself to a Hodgedon burrito bowl!
Dessert:
Dessert is, arguably, the most important meal of the day. I personally love a good sweet treat. My favorite desserts are from Trader Joe’s (there’s a clear theme here), including the dark chocolate peanut butter cups, mochi ice cream, and Scandinavian Swimmers. On campus, my favorite dessert options were the soft serve ice cream at Dewick (I still dream about it), the chocolate chip cookies from Hodgdon, and the sorbet from Carmichael.
While I do enjoy cooking for myself, I do genuinely miss Tufts’ dining food. I still eat on campus about 1-2 a week, so I am still able to have the Hodgedon bowl I crave or the Pax Et Lox bagels I love. I also wanted to add that while it can feel stressful to have to cook as well as keep up with classes, clubs, homework, and other commitments, I find cooking fairly relaxing, and I try to think of it as “me time.” At Tufts, it is totally possible to cook yummy, balanced meals while being a full-time student, but it’s comforting to know that I also have great on-campus dining options for those days when I do feel more stressed or pressed for time. I hope this article has made you excited about all the meals you can cook and eat as a student at Tufts!