What your uni meal says about you

“What should I make for dinner tonight?” That’s probably one of the biggest dilemmas that a university student faces after living for nearly 20 years with meals being sorted out by others. Are you an instant noodle kind of person? Or are you more of a balanced meal type? Here’s what your dinner says about you.

The 30 minute one-dish meal

The meal:  Usually balanced, with the proper ratio of protein to vegetable to carbs. Ranges between a fancy sandwich to rice, curry, and a vegetable stir fry. But these meals tend to be quite repetitive because between Netflix and a poor, slightly burnt attempt of your mum’s special lasagna, you choose Netflix. Always Netflix.

The cook: Congratulations, you can sort of cook! In uni, that really means being able to boil pasta without setting off the fire alarm but hey, it’s something. You figured out how to cook by spending time helping out in the kitchen back home so it’s likely that you’re a bit of momma’s boy.  You’re probably quite organised and have a diary with your lectures, labs and study breaks pencilled in.  You’ve never missed a 9 a.m., go to the gym regularly, and can’t relate to all the Yaks about people who have no idea what they’re doing in life. You’re the 1% of all uni students, you champion, and we’re all jealous of you.

Instant meals

The meal: Instant noodles or frozen pre-made meals, be it from Tesco or from home.

The cook: Either you can’t be bothered, you’re not well-equipped, or home is a short train ride away. Whatever it is, you like to find shortcuts in life. Some people say you’re lazy and full of excuses, but you know that they’re just jealous of your resourcefulness. If you can get a job done quicker and with less stress, then why bother with extra effort? You’re also a quick thinker and work best when you’re thrown into a situation as opposed to just discussing it.

Granola/cereal bars

The meal: Need I say more?

The cook: This could mean one of two things: either you do not  want to deal with your flatmates today and are surviving off of your emergency snacks or you’re in the library and have to finish an essay before the library closes. Socially, depending on which above situation you’re in, you’re on either extreme of the spectrum: either you’re super social and have never missed a club night or you’re a private person. Either way, it’s okay. You do you. Your mind is always filled with a million things that don’t relate to the task at hand and you daydream quite a bit. Not only about things you’d do if you won the lottery, but also imaginary arguments you’d never have.

Three course meal

The meal: like restaurant food, but with an 80 minute waiting time instead of 20.

The cook: If you did this on your own, you have an afternoon to kill and thought why not use it to have a meal that you’re completely happy with. (But, like, how do you have that time?)

The more likely option is that you’re a friendly, sociable person with equally friendly, sociable flatmates that you *gasp* get along with. (Treat them well, mate.) You’re fairly organised as well, but your organisation is geared more towards practicality than complete and absolute order.