I love food. Most college students do. However, most college students also tend to have trouble maintaining a good diet and obtaining the nutrients they need to get through the week. Luckily for Obies, we have DeCafe. DeCafe (pronounced DAY-caf for any incoming first-years) is the student grocery store in the basement of Wilder Hall. It has all your basic conveniences such as snacks, fresh fruit, and bottled beverages, but it also carries wraps, sandwiches, breakfast items, and sushi from Umami. The main selling point of DeCafe is the fact that you don’t have to spend actual money, as the market takes meal swipes and flex points, which is great for those of us living off of money our parents send us and cash we find on the ground in Tappan Square.
As an Obie, I frequent DeCafe many times a day. You might see me there after my 9am Psychology lecture, in between my afternoon classes, and before late night rehearsals. Regardless of your schedule, DeCafe understands that all Obies are often busy and need quick bites now and then. With that, I will now introduce to you my personal top five favorite things to purchase from DeCafe (and why I think you should try them as well!).
5. Fresh-To-Go Fruit Cups
One college stereotype that I have definitely fallen victim to is that students don’t eat enough fruit. Although fruit is arguably a bodily necessity, it is incredibly hard to keep fresh in a rented mini fridge. Enter your new best friend, the Fresh-To-Go fruit cups. It may be due to the fact that this is the only fruit I have consumed while at college, but I truly believe that this is the best fruit cup ever created. It features all the classics--honeydew, cantaloupe, and pineapple--and is the perfect size for bringing to class or eating on the go. Not only is the fruit fresh (as the name suggests) but it also gives me some comfort knowing that I'm not just eating junk food at Oberlin. Bonus: you can also get individual fruit cups, and the watermelon one makes life worth living.
4. Forager Yogurt
Another one of my breakfast staples, this yogurt comes in so many flavors, and each one is absolutely delicious. I’m cursed with lactose intolerance, so finding a yogurt that doesn’t make my stomach upset is rare, but this brand is completely dairy free, made from organic cashews, coconut, and rice milk. My personal favorite flavors are blueberry and peach, and my professors can confirm I always pull up to my morning classes with one of these babies in hand. I’d definitely recommend trying this yogurt if you want a quick, filling breakfast (and don’t wanna have to pop a Lactaid!).
3. Umami Poke Bowl
My addiction to these bowls has gotten out of hand, and I shamelessly eat at least one every single day. You can purchase these at Umami (the sushi place located inside DeCafe) with a meal swipe, and even find them inside the freezers after Umami closes at 8pm. Sadly for my vegetarian friends, these bowls include raw tuna, salmon, and crab, and also feature seaweed, iceberg lettuce, and white rice. Poke bowls are perfect for lunch or dinner, and contain great sources of protein to get you through your day. My biggest fear coming to college and trying the sushi was that the fish would give me food poisoning, but the Umami workers make these bowls by hand every day using fresh fish, making the taste and quality a 10/10.
2. CHOMPS Meat Sticks
Before I started college, I was proudly anti-meat stick. Never liked Slim Jims, detested Jack Links, and don't even get me started on the sketchy gas station ones. However, I have always liked the idea of a high-protein snack that is easy to take on the go. CHOMPS at DeCafe changed my life, and I’d consider myself a much healthier person because of it. Okay, that might be an exaggeration, but CHOMPS are really good. At DeCafe, you can get beef, jalapeno beef, and venison (venison is my personal favorite). I participate in a lot of extracurriculars at Oberlin that require a lot of stamina, and these meat sticks are perfect for giving my body quick, on-the-go protein. For Obies who are too busy to cook a meal or go to a dining hall, I’d highly recommend grabbing one of these from DeCafe to save some time and give you a protein-filled energy boost.
1. Bagels
When I die, don’t put flowers on my grave. Put DeCafe bagels. These are my personal favorites to purchase, and they’re great for any time of day. Sourced from Cleveland, you can actually find these bagels other places on campus like Azzie's (the coffee shop in Mudd Center) and at Stevenson dining hall during breakfast hours. DeCafe allows a quick and easy way to prepare your bagel, providing user-friendly bagel slicers and two toasters. Additionally, cream cheese and butter are conveniently located in the freezer right next to the bagel prep station. I couldn’t recommend these bagels more, especially in between classes when time is tight and dining hall visits aren't easy.
One of the biggest shifts from high school to college is the food. Not having a set time for meals every day can be stressful, but DeCafe makes it easy, offering students a variety of quick, healthy, on-the-go options. If you have yet to try any of the foods on this list, I couldn't recommend them more!
