Lunch box-ing vs buying lunch

PRO: Bring your lunch save your dough

By Janeen Yusuf

yusu0023@algonquincollege.com

The lunchbox is the underdog.

While students are swiping expensive meals to their often over-drafted debit card, they moan and groan about their tight finances. “Perhaps the most costly drain on a student’s funds is lunch,” says Murray Baker, author of The Debt-Free Graduate.

An obvious reason you may buy lunch is because with your demanding school schedule it’s hard to set aside time to pack lunch. There is hope. Bringing lunch to school is much easier than you think and has tremendous benefits.

Some ideas to ponder are making a larger dinner and packing a portion for tomorrow’s lunch. Instead of paying premium prices at school, buy packaged foods in larger quantities at the grocery store and use plastic bags and containers for individual portions. Fruit, packaged snacks and vending machine foods have an incredible mark-up at school. Why are you allowing yourself to be ripped off when there are so many simple and cost-effective ways of eating well?

The Financial Aid office has a budgeting brochure with practical money saving tips, and bringing your lunch is one suggestion. In an eight-month time frame, spending $2 every school day will cost you $320. I'm not suggesting that you deprive yourself from that steaming cup of tea or coffee in the morning. But there are options.

Bring your own tea bag and purchase a cup which will cost less than 20 cents. Better yet, get a travel mug and use the cafeteria’s hot water. Your wallet will thank you and so will your taste buds as you will sip on your choice of beverage instead of settling for what the cafeteria offers.

Perhaps you enjoy hot lunches but are weary of heating that tumour-causing plastic container in the microwave? Wal-Mart, Loblaws, and other stores alike sell individual sized corning ware or glass containers with strong sealed lids. These are durable, safe, and inexpensive. A stainless steel water bottle is a good idea to keep on-hand. It cuts down on plastic in our landfills and you can enjoy refills at the water fountain in an unlimited supply.

Aside from the extra cash in your pocket, many students have diet restrictions or are taking steps to become more health conscious. If you eat only kosher, halal or vegan, the cafeteria may not be a wonderland of choices for your diet.

Empower yourself and don’t underestimate the power of a lunch box.

CON: Someone else's wok tastes way better

By Cierra Campeau

camp0469@algonquincollege.com

Food I buy isn’t by any means a lunch bag letdown. I consider it an investment – in my happiness, hunger, and health. Basically, I’m a hardcore supporter of the college’s cafeteria.

Variety is always at our convenience. The aromas, colours, and tastes are all so appealing. When my stomach is starving, the anticipation of what I might buy for my next meal reminds me of the simple things in life, and how they can be so exciting. Walking down the halls during class break towards a goldmine of food is an adventure on its own.

I don’t have a meal plan card, but if I did, I’d be dangerous. Instead, I manage my hard-earned money properly – pay as I go – and choose to spend wisely. Although it can become a little pricey, it’s worth it because food is always better when someone else makes it.

Luckily, Algonquin offers a great selection of healthy food that I actually crave. As for treats, don’t get me started on the waffle station. Now I sound addicted, but really, I’m overly impressed.

I’ve been warned about Freshman 15, and I’m aware that overindulgence, and fast food will do that to the best of us. Either way, curves are sexy. If it gets out of hand, the campus gym is conveniently around the corner.

Everything in moderation is a good motto to remind ourselves, especially at the cafeteria where the presentation makes it look so tempting. The majority of food items are imported, but I can put that thought on the backburner. Meals that the cafeteria has to offer are not what I would like to be spending time making at home. Does buying food make me a lazy person? Not one bit. It’s about time management and prioritizing.