As college students and artists, there are several daily activities that SCAD Atlanta students struggle with. The major topics of discussion tend to be about lack of sleep or a lack of good food. As young adults we tend to bite off more than we can chew — school work, projects, extra-curricular activities and part-time jobs. We need to be able to find the time to have a social life, sleep for 8 hours, be physically healthy and eat right. So what do we really compromise on? How do we fit 40 hours of life in the 24 we have each day?
Some students entering their freshman year at college walk straight out of a house where they had food ready to be served. Their mom or dad might have planned meals for the day, or they gave them enough money to go out to eat. But now, here they are in dorm rooms or a first apartment. Suddenly there is nobody here to help if they really need it. So what do they turn to?
For those who have meal plans, there is a reliable food source everyday. But sometimes the Hub runs out of your favorite dish, the options are less than healthy, or the meal times don’t match our schedules. An easy option is to rely on Chipotle, Chik-Fil-A and Sweet Hut, but not only is this hurting our pockets, it’s hurting our bodies in the long run.
Diya Sachdev, a second-year interior design student, shared her struggles with not knowing how to cook.
“I have lived at home all my life,” said Sachdev. “On some occasions I’d go into the kitchen and see glimpses of what was being made, but I would never have to worry. Today, I stand in the kitchen of my apartment, completely clueless about how I’m going to go about my day with just one meal. Most days I eat some mac and cheese when I’m in a rush for class. Or if I’m lucky, a friend who does know, cooks a meal and that makes my day. But I can’t remember the last time I had three proper meals in a day.”
Sachdev also said that she could feel the negative effects of her routine on her health.
It is a challenge as a full time student to make time to cook or to cook something that’s actually nutritious. It’s important that we prioritize. It’s time we start learning how to cook, because ramen is not a solution.
