Every weekday around noon many students find themselves stuck in lecture halls listening to the sounds of their grumbling stomachs that won’t be fed until later that evening.

Hectic schedules that consist of meetings, class or work can often prevent a student from having time to sit down to a midday meal.

“Last year I was a resident advisor at Bromley and my classes were too far from where I lived to be able to eat,” said Dennis Owusu Jr., a fifth year student in Engineering. “I was also really involved with the National Society of Black Engineers and there was always some work I had to do, so I would forego lunch to get my work done.”

While skipping lunch may not seem like a dire problem, doing so can take a toll on academics as well as health.

In Owusu’s case, he at times found it difficult to concentrate during class, focusing instead on the different things he wanted to eat later on.

Jeanette Andrade, a graduate assistant at McKinley and a registered dietician, said that even small snacks and fruit during the day can really help students keep their blood sugar levels up.

“If blood sugar levels drop too low, students will often feel very weak and can experience dizzy episodes,” Andrade said. “If students just go through the day off of a small bowl of cereal that they had in the morning, they could potentially pass out. It’s also important to keep hydrated and to carry a water or Gatorade around with you.”

Listed below are several quick and inexpensive food options that students can have either in between or during classes.

*Derald’s Catering*

For almost 30 years, an old school food truck has sat parked along Matthews Street outside of the medical sciences building. From inside the metal truck, owner Eric Seeds can whip up a fried fish sandwich or cheeseburger that leave customers coming back for more.

Seeds took over the business from his uncle ten years ago and has expanded it to include a café in the law building and a diner at the corner of First and Green streets.

Derald’s menu includes hot breakfast sandwiches, chips, donuts as well as combo meals such as a double bacon cheeseburger and drink for $5.

*University Dining Halls*

Often students do not have time to wait in the dining hall lines and sit down to eat before their next class. In situations like these, the University dining services offer sack lunches and dinners to those with a University meal plan.

Students can request a sack lunch by either notifying the dining hall check by 9 a.m., or emailing or calling the kitchen ahead of time.

Each sack meal is customized to a student’s preference but generally consist of one or two sandwiches, chips, fruit, a dessert and a drink.

*Bevier Café*

Located in room 298 of Bevier Hall on Goodwin Avenue, Bevier Café is a unique campus eatery that is operated by students of the FSHN 340 (Quantity Food Preparation and Service) class.

Each student learns the basics of restaurant staffing and management and then works throughout the semester for 10 hours per week.

Jill N. Craft, instructor of hospitality management, said that Bevier Café provides students with on-the-job training and offers customers healthy and reasonably priced meal alternatives.

“For lunch we have a 3-week menu cycle so everyday is something a little bit different,” Craft said. “We have a selection of meat and vegetarian entrees, vegetable and starch sides as well as a couple of desserts. Most of what we have is homemade and it’s always fresh.”

Bevier Café features breakfast and lunch menus with items that are all $5 or less. Selections include English muffin sandwiches, coffee, chipotle chicken and tortellini.

The café’s hours are hot breakfast from 8-11 a.m., lunch from 11:30-1 p.m. and after hours with drinks and snacks from 1-2:30 p.m.

*From Home*

Those who do not want to spend money daily can make lunches or snacks at home and bring them to class. Students can also purchase meals from the prepared foods sections of grocery stores.