You have 15 minutes before you have to leave the dining hall for your Drugs and the Brain class. Looking around, you see a multitude of your classic stations: cereal, halal foods, oatmeal, baked goods, and glowing hot foods. But what will satisfy your early morning cravings and fuel you through the rest of the day? Here are four ways to make your dining hall breakfast Chez Panisse quality.
1. Loaded Toasts
Head on over to the bread section and grab two slices of your favorite kind of bread or bagel. Then, pop them into the toaster to add some crunch or just leave it plain. After, slather on some peanut butter and walk to the fruits section. Grab as many bananas as you desire and slice them up onto the bread. I like to garnish the toast with some sunflower seeds. Finally, drizzle some maple syrup from the waffle station or brown sugar from the oatmeal station and voila! There you have it: a mouthwatering toast with delectable add-ins. Not only is there a sweet-savory combination, but there is also a crunch from the sunflower seeds which create a party in your mouth. Although this is no Mezzo style toast, it will definitely be a tasty treat to begin your day.
2. Eggcelent
While eggs are the breakfast of champions, constantly eating a plate of scrambled eggs can become monotonous. What better way to change things up than creating an omelette? After you get your eggs, visit the salad bar and add your favorite vegetables, cheese, or other topping that entices you, and microwave it. Don’t forget to add salt and pepper, and enjoy your wonderful creation.
#SpoonTip: I personally like to combine the eggs with cheese, bell peppers, mushrooms, Sriracha, and salt and pepper. It’s guaranteed to get the entire dining hall talking.
3. Oatmeal Is the Deal
Oatmeal is considered one of the healthiest breakfast options, but what should you add to make it actually a tasty meal? First, head over to the bread station, add a scoop of peanut butter, then go to the topping station and sprinkle some chocolate chips. Next, throw in some pumpkin seeds and cranberries from the salad station, and top it off with pineapple from the salad bar. Before deciding this combination isn’t for you, I recommend trying this diverse variety of flavors first. Consider this the acai bowl of oatmeal.
4. It’s GRIT
Eggs, bacon, grits—the iconic breakfast combination. This is a savory way to switch things up for breakfast. Top your grits with tater tots, eggs, cottage cheese, salt and pepper, and Sriracha, and mix it all together to form a mouthwatering creation.
#SpoonTip: Seasoning is essential to making grits extra tasty, so make sure to add some sort of spice.
These four scrumptious meals will certainly make the most of your dining hall’s breakfast offerings and garner everyone’s attention. But this is just the tip of the iceberg: these are just a few ways to elevate your dining hall experience. Continue to develop your own recipes and satisfy your college student cravings. Now roll up your sleeves and channel your inner chef in the dining hall.