The Not-So-Perfect Menu of a College Student

Eating well in college isn’t always a perfectly portioned meal with sprigs of parsley and a mason jar of infused water. Most days, I’m balancing deadlines, a busy brain, and trying to listen to my body. Here’s a look at one of those not-so-perfect but still nourishing days of eating shaped by budget, time, and my experience managing PCOS. ✨

🌞 Breakfast – Protein & Color

Time: 7:30 AM (cafe opens @ 7am)
What I Ate: Veggie omelet with strawberries and oranges

Quick and colorful: this breakfast kept me full without slowing me down.

This was one of those mornings when I made it to the cafe with time to sit and enjoy something warm. I went with a veggie-packed omelet and a mix of fresh fruit to get in some fiber and antioxidants. Protein + color = a solid win for managing blood sugar early in the day. I usually don’t make breakfast, but when I do, it’s either the omelet bar or oatmeal and yogurt! However, if I see the biscuits, there is no stopping me.

🥗 Midday Bite – Not Quite Lunch

Time: 1:30 PM
What I Ate: A peanut butter cup or fruit from the café

Truthfully, I don’t always eat a full lunch. Some days, I’m just not that hungry, other days, I’m running between work or study sessions, and lunch kind of slips away. I usually grab a little something sweet, like dark chocolate or a peanut butter cup, or I’ll snack on fruit I picked up earlier in the day from the café (hello, bananas and apples!).

It’s not conventional, but it works for me. My goal is to listen to eat when I’m hungry and eat enough throughout the day, even if it doesn’t always happen in the traditional “meal” form.

🍽 Dinner – When the Cafe Hits

Time: 7:30 PM
What I Ate: Shrimp tortellini with scallops, salmon, and sautéed green beans

💚 Optional Bite – Light & Fresh

Time: 8:00 PM (same meal period as dinner)
What I Ate: Greens, edamame, grape tomatoes, olive oil w salt & pepper

It’s refreshing, crunchy, and a little green moment in the day.

🥣 Honorary Mention: Another Day, Another Bowl

What I Ate: Fried plantains, stir-fried cabbage, rice, mango sweet sauce

The bowl I reach for every time I get to the cafe! Either this or a stir-fry station.

💻 Dessert – If I Feel Like It

Time: 10:00 PM
What I Ate: Mango sticky rice

Okay, this was a treat… but life’s short.

Mango Sticky Rice and Thai Iced Tea have become my latest obsession… (Uber Eats hates to see me coming) besides, honoring cravings is part of balanced eating, too.

Some days I eat balanced bowls with protein and fiber, and some days I eat what’s available, what’s comforting, or what I have time for. That’s college life. That’s life with PCOS. And honestly, that’s life, period.

What matters most to me is tuning into what feels good, learning from what doesn’t, and letting go of the idea that every meal has to be perfect to be worthy.