Whether they prefer chicken fingers, cheese and crackers or Cheerios, college students perform better when they have brain food.

Since it’s harder to think on an empty stomach, Auburn University has several eateries located on campus. They range anywhere from a quick coffee shop to an all-you-can-eat buffet. However, eating on campus on a budget can be tricky for those that have limited funds. A quick bite in between classes can easily turn into a steep cut in a student’s bank account.

There seems to be a few possible solutions to this budgeting problem. Students could pack a lunch, wait until they get home to eat or simply buy cheap snacks to hold off hunger. However, what about the student that’s on campus all day and only has a 30 minute break in between classes? What if a student woke up late and didn’t have time to pack a lunch? Or what about the students that don’t have a choice of whether or not to eat on campus?

Wynn Smiley, a freshman at Auburn University, eats on campus regularly because of the mandatory meal plan she bought. The plan, called “Tiger Club Account,” costs almost $1,000 and expires at the end of each semester. Since the money doesn’t roll over, she learned to budget it.

“I try to plan it out,” said Smiley. “Meals normally cost around $7, but I’ll set aside $10 just to be safe.”

The “Tiger Club Account” allows Smiley and other freshman at Auburn University to eat at more than 30 locations on campus. But since the prices can be high, Smiley has a few places that she eats at on a regular basis.

“Chick-fil-A is decently priced, easy and they stay open the longest,” said Smiley. “Einstein Bagels is also incredible. You can get a bagel and a drink for $2.”

Some of the more expensive campus eateries are AU Bon Pain and Chef Yan Can Cook. Smiley said a complete meal with a drink will normally cost more than $10.

If Smiley could give advice to students trying to eat on campus without having buyer’s remorse, she would tell them to eat at Chick-fil-A.

“It’s one of the cheapest places and it does fill you up,” said Smiley. “The lines are normally long but they will get you in and out in a few minutes.”

According to Smiley, the key to eating on campus on a budget involves moderation and smart choices.

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