2 Pennsylvania Colleges Recognized For Best Food Options

As we get deeper into spring, many students will begin to receive college acceptance letters. Of course, numerous factors go into making such an educational decision. In this region, two Pennsylvania colleges were recognized for being among the best for college food.

This begs the question, Do dining options come into consideration when thinking about your college experience? It's fair to say this topic is certainly not at the top of this list.

Nonetheless, cuisine and nutrition should certainly be taken seriously when considering the next few years of your formative life. What dining options do you have? How healthy are your food choices? Where do you have to go to eat? Lastly, how does dining factor into your budget?

It's standard that every college, university and campus has a dining hall option. In addition, many schools based in a more metro area are filled with fast food restaurants in close proximity. Sure, spending $5 on a combo meal will save you money and allow your resources to be allocated elsewhere, but is that the best decision?

Nowadays, colleges are putting more attention and detail into the quality and delivery of their food options.

"You’ll find that certain colleges directly implement their principles into how they source their food, whether that’s via sustainability efforts or in their offerings of both local and global cuisine to support independent businesses," College Transitions says.

In fact, both College Transitions and the Princeton Review ranked Gettysburg and Muhlenberg among their top 25 colleges for food.

"Gettysburg College ranks as one of the country’s colleges with the best food due to their focus on nutrition and wellness, students’ needs and sustainability," College Transitions explained.

As for Muhlenberg, in addition to sustainability efforts being a priority, the school also likes to clearly lay out everywhere you can go for a meal. Here, you can browse the five extensive dining locations on campus. In addition, dining halls like Wood Commons update their menu daily.

Muhlenberg also operates a food membership program in terms of student meal plans.

It's also important to consider when and why you are choosing to frequent such eating establishments at school. How meals fit into your routine should be based on healthy efforts rather than what is most convenient. Understandably, that is not always as easy as it sounds for a busy college kid.

For example, if you are an athlete who has classes early in the day so that you can attend practice in the afternoon, is there a reasonable meal available in the morning to start your day? Conversely, perhaps you work a full-time job while at school and need to review your dinner choices at 8:30 p.m.

What's available eat throughout the day or even into the late night is also fair to examine when laying out all the options.

Some of us are perfectly okay with romance on a budget. But sometimes coming up with inexpensive date ideas can be a challenge. That's why we came up with a list of the perfect inexpensive date ideas.

These days, people often meet on social media, dating apps, and through friends. And more people are opting for less formal first dates. It gets pricey paying for multiple dates at an expensive restaurant. Verywell Mind, a mental health platform listed some of the common reasons people are opting for "cheap" dates. Some of the reasons include inflation taking a toll on people's monthly budgets, having bigger-than-expected housing costs, they're just saving up, and others. But the good news is that dates don't have to go on hold or be a problem for someone due to limited finances.

Collin Rutherford went viral on X, formerly known as Twitter, after sharing his inexpensive date night idea called "bottle night." He and his girlfriend lock their phones, turn off the TV, and each grab a bottle of wine and talk. This style date is something they do just to "enjoy each other's presence." Although many people just considered it "getting drunk and hanging out," the thought behind it seems lighter on the pockets than most dates.

Unlike Rutherford's date idea, there are serval date options that don't involve sitting at home. And of course, that type of date is generally best when you know each other well. But some workarounds that can help a date be more budget-friendly include using coupons or vouchers, finding a place with perks like a bar with a trivia night and prizes on the line, and searching up some free local events.

Inexpensive dates can alleviate your social anxiety on a first date and the financial stress of any date. Take a look at 6 inexpensive date ideas below.

This date is a personal favorite because it's not overly complicated. Coffee dates are casual and very low pressure. It allows you and your date to talk in a relax environment. Bonus points, if you make a local coffee shop. Local coffee shops often have a more intimate setting.

By no means are we talking about an intense hike up and down mountains and hills. But a simple nature trail will do the trick. This kind of date gives you both a chance to enjoy nature and create a memorable experience. You can even plan for a sunrise or sunset walk for added romance. Be sure to wear comfortable shoes.

There are several local breweries and wineries that offer tours throughout their establishment. These establishments usually have fun tours that break down the process of how their product is made. Sharing the experience with your partner is even better because you’ll get to talk about what you both think of the drinks. Some breweries and tours include tastings and often start at just $15 per person. Sometimes these places offer games and live music.

Picnic dates are a classic. You can get as elaborate as you want to and work it into any budget. You can have a picnic almost anywhere as long as there's a place to drop a picnic blanket or a table for eating. Other than having food on hand, it wouldn't hurt to have a card game handy or a Bluetooth speaker at hand to prevent awkward moments. Just a heads up, this date involves careful planning. If it's peak sunshine and mosquito season, be sure to pack your sunscreen and bug spray.

Volunteer dates can work really well for established couples. They can create new opportunities to meet people and make couple of friends. Obviously, a volunteer date may not be a good idea if you're separated the entire time. So, this one may require a bit of research. Unless you're looking to add a bit of adventure  or something different to your date.

Garage sales, estate sales, antiquing, thrifting, whichever you choose can make for a fun budget-friendly date. It's like a scavenger hunt where you don’t know what the items are you're supposed to find. But whatever you two may find you can always laugh and bond about it. There's even the possibility of a fashion show if you find yourself in a place with a load of vintage clothes. The same concept can also be applied to bookstores and music stores.