High living costs coupled with tuition expenses have some off-campus St. Thomas students cutting back on food purchases, resulting in food insecurity—the fear of being unable to eat.

Because many costs that students face—such as rent, utilities and tuition—are non-negotiable, food is one of the first categories to be cut from a budget when money is tight, according to Wellness Center Graduate Assistant Maryse Abrahams. This sometimes results in a lack of proper nutrients and a fear of not being able to eat, and the number of students facing this issue is on the rise.

The number of food shelves on college campuses used to assist off-campus students has risen from four in 2008 to 121 in 2014, according to the Michigan State University Student Food Bank.

Sophomore Abbie Anderson canceled her meal plan after her first semester off campus, and she said food is one of the first items she can cut from her budget.

“Obviously when it comes to all my other bills like rent and utilities, you can’t shave off that. I have a set price that I have to pay, and I don’t have a choice,” Anderson said. “So if my utilities are a little higher, especially in the winter when we’re running heat and the gas bills are extremely high, food is one of the easiest budgets for me to cut. I can just spend less and get ramen noodles for the whole week.”

Abrahams said that eating healthy is important for college students, but students living off campus don’t have a lot of financial flexibility.

“College is a time when finances can be pretty tough, and I think that as one way to cut money, students cut food,” Abrahams said. “Though not the healthiest decision, I think it’s the easiest way students see to be able to save money long term.”

But the decision to opt out of a meal plan is not always about money.

Sophomore Emily DeVos said she didn’t want a meal plan. Because of health issues, DeVos has to cook for herself rather than having the university make special diet accommodations. She said that even if she could eat on campus, she probably wouldn’t get a meal plan.

“There are obviously benefits to being able to eat on campus,” DeVos said. “But I believe that there’s a huge cost advantage not to have a meal plan, and you can have a lot more variety than just going to the View and the Binz. You can make an event out of eating.”

DeVos does most of her shopping at local grocers.

“I do understand that I have to watch how much I spend, but I’m not going to not buy something that’s good for me just because of the price,” DeVos said.

Students like Anderson, however, don’t always have the freedom to choose the healthiest option.

“When I go grocery shopping, I buy the food that’s the cheapest, especially when it comes to fruits and vegetables because they are so expensive. So I don’t end up buying those a lot,” Anderson said.

Abrahams said having a balanced diet with plenty of nutrients is critical to a healthy lifestyle, especially for students.

“Nutrients help you overall with your education,” Abrahams said. “Making sure you are physically ready to take on the day, and mentally they’re going to keep you going and help you learn more in school. Food is linked to everything.”

Abrahams said that although no food-cost assistance to off-campus students is currently in the works, she could see the university taking steps to provide help.

“It’s something I could definitely see being done in the future,” Abrahams said.

For now, Abrahams encourages students to weigh out their priorities and reduce stigma around going to a food shelf. She also said the farmers market is a great opportunity for affordable healthy food.

If the university does start providing food assistance for off-campus students, even if just lowering the cost of meal plans, Anderson said it would come as a relief.

“I would definitely use it,” Anderson said. “Eating healthy is extremely important. College is that time of your life when you’re independent for the first time, so you’re starting habits that are going to carry on for the rest of your life. Your eating choices are one of your biggest attributes to a healthy lifestyle.”

Simeon Lancaster can be reached at lanc4637@stthomas.edu.