Like most broke college students, ramen noodles were a safe staple in my diet. After I cut my freshmen year meal plan to save funds, those 50-cent packages kept my stomach satisfied with very little complaints. Often times, I’d get sassy and become a “ramen chef,” mixing all types of new ingredients with the cheap noodle dish, tricking myself into believing that I was one step from gourmet. Chicken, beef, pork, oriental, you name it! Ramen is ready to satisfy your unable-to-afford-meat palette and hungry desires.

But then, college ended. I got a decent paying job. And ramen no longer became necessary…until the bills started piling up. I went into the grocery store, convinced that I could return to my old college diet to save funds. However, I did not consider that my diet had changed significantly since leaving school. Not only did I stop eating meat, but also invested in more fresh fruits and vegetables for my new eating lifestyle.

I ate one pack of ramen and immediately felt my stomach do twenty back handsprings. While ramen has no meat, the 1660mg of sodium sent my stomach off the deep end. I guess we do really change post-college. And certainly, I’m not the only one that has ramen stories for days!

Share your past or ongoing experience!

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6 Comments

  1. Once I graduated I had to pretend like I didn’t like them. I was getting paid and relocated. So I thought I was big bucks. After a while, I couldn’t deny myself. I had to have them back in my life. My friends say, you would think I was still a broke college student because of my craving. I love em! They’re good snacks when I need one sans the msg!

  2. I love Ramen Noodles. I have been eating them way before my college days and I do think there will always be packets of noodles in my house. They aren’t the healthiest food, but they sure are yummy. I too play chef when making noodles adding my own chicken, veggies, seasonings, etc. I don’t think I will ever not like them. lol I cook them on the stove and in the microwave. I actually like the packets more than the cup of noodles, but I’ll eat them both just the same! My most favorite ingredient to put in them is hot sauce!! The best thing ever, which is even more unhealthy because hot sauce isn’t a healthy ingredient. But it taste good! Yes, I do enjoy noodles that much!! 😀

    Sincerely,
    A Girl In Love With Her Ramen Noodles!
    xoxo

  3. Ramen Noodles are oh so cheap and wonderful. I change it up now though. Instead of putting in the full packet of seasoning, I usually add it to taste (less than half). Also, I chop up some veggies, put them in and drop an egg in in the last minute of boiling for some protein. Add some Sriracha hot chili sauce and it’s a whole new spicy meal. Ramen is still good for the actual noodles and 1 quick serving.

  4. The way we eat Ramen in the west is waaaaay different than it is eaten in the east. They add veggies and or meat and sometimes even a raw egg to ramen. We do that with cereal too. As in eating a bowl of cereal is breakfast while even on the commercial they say “Part of a nutritious breakfast.” I try to add some green onions, cabbage and even tofu. If you are ovo-lacto add a raw egg while it is EXTREMELY hot and fix it around and you can get that egg drop soup thing going.

    Look for Ramen recipes as well.

  5. My mom and my sis have severe allergic reactions to msg and I have many allergies myself. I’m afraid one day I will develop an allergy to it so I avoid it, and it’s not too great for ya. I season my ramen with Emeril’s Cajun seasoning (I put together my own, the recipe can be found online) and cook it with stir fry veggies chicken and eggs (or if I’m in a rush, I season it with the mix in a mug… I often put too much though… which gets reaaaaaallly spicy). It tastes a lot better to me and you get to control your sodium intake 🙂

  6. What about when college isn’t over? It’s easy to say, you’re grown, go buy some real food, but I’m an overweight college student and eating healthy is a STRUGGLE! And I agree with another post on this site, it is all about choices, but when my choices are between gas money and food money…I have to get to work/school. It is way too easy to just buy the $1 frozen meals in batches of ten, than to buy fresh vegetables that cost an arm and a leg. What advice do you have for people like me?

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