The glory days of freshman year are over. The appeal of 3 a.m. Pizza Days has worn off, you've mastered the Joey schedule and - gasp - your unlimited meal plan is a thing of the past. You are suddenly thrown into a world without mountains of scrambled eggs, Tuesday stir-fry and the constant flow of Hodgdon coffee. When the tummy grumbles take over, you are faced with the harsh reality of fending for yourself.
You spend the first few weeks without the beloved meal plan wandering around in search of free sustenance. Any on-campus event or group that provides Dave's Fresh sandwiches is on your radar. Overnight, you become miraculously involved in a handful of campus groups, suddenly taking an interest in events you would not have otherwise checked out if it were not for the appeal of free snacks.
After a few weeks of such "grazing," it begins to dawn on you that eating for free is both impractical and unnecessary. You gave up that meal plan to save money, but it is certainly possible to get enough to eat on a budget smaller than the cost of the 400 Dewick meals. The challenge is sticking to a low budget without draining your time and energy spent on grocery shopping, cooking and scavenging.
I'll start addressing this challenge with an examination of the almighty Market Basket. The establishment boasts the slogan "More for Your Dollar," which is certainly true. The prices are the best around and the food quality is impressive given the low price ranges. In my opinion, a block of New York Extra Sharp Cheddar Cheese of the Market Basket brand tastes better than the same product from Stop and Shop's store brand, and the Market Basket one is significantly cheaper. Spark Notes: Market Basket really does provide more for your dollar.
But value is not all that the Market Basket provides. Shopping there is both a physical endeavor and a cultural experience. I'll start with parking. Even first thing on a Monday morning, it is nearly impossible to find a parking spot, and I hope your car has a small radius lest you risk smashing it on other vehicles or carts sprinkled throughout the lot. You should expect to spend at least three minutes doing laps in the parking lot while you wait for somebody to pull out and clear a spot for you.
Once you've successfully parked and entered the establishment, the cultural experience begins. In the produce section alone, you are guaranteed to overhear at least 12 different languages spoken while attempting to fit your cart through masses of people hoping to access fresh fruit. The store provides a snapshot of diversity and makes me appreciate the exciting place where we live and learn.
When Market Basket cannot provide adequate items for your shopping list, there are, of course, other options. Navigating the parking lot at Shaw's in Porter Square is marginally easier. The new Stop and Shop on the Alewife Brook Parkway is close and convenient, especially for a quick bike trip. Whole Foods - better known as "Whole Paycheck" - provides gourmet options.
When all else fails, we without meal plans turn to the age-old strategy of befriending freshmen. Whether they are members of the orientation group you led, rookies on your team or your lab partners, it is usually not so hard to find an excuse to use one of their guest meals. And once you enter into the glorified building that is a dining hall, you eat and eat and eat until you cannot possibly consider eating again for at least a week. Better stock up on calories while you can!
Eloise Libre is a senior who is majoring in history. She can be reached at Eloise.Libre@tufts.edu
