The cafeteria food is not the most popular option when it comes to lunch at the Mendocino High School. Senior Liam Robins describes it as “bland, but affordable.” Besides the occasional parent-sponsored lunch or bringing a bagged lunch from home, the majority of students spend their forty-five minute break off campus. Although you can find many more options in town than you do at school, the off-campus life can be detrimental to your wallet. Consequently, it becomes tiring to constantly ration out your money in order to nourish your body throughout the week. For those who don’t plan ahead and pack a lunch, or just don’t want anything to do with the cafeteria food, I have come up with the top five foods to buy for under eight dollars.

1. French Toast

If you skipped breakfast in the morning and are still craving a maple-syrup-smothered meal, then look no further than the Sunrise Cafe. Here you can order two pieces of french toast with powdered sugar and syrup for $6.95. You also have the option of adding whip cream and seasonal fruit. It’s great for killing two birds with one stone, crushing your hunger while satisfying your sweet tooth.            

2. Rice and Beans

The second meal is a half or full order of rice and beans from The Goodlife Cafe. This alone may seem boring, but with a starting price of five dollars, it leaves room to spruce things up. To this half order you can add either chicken tinga or the combination of avocado and cheese, which gives you a good variety of flavor. If you are picky and crave only simple meals, then the full order is made just for you. It is $7.50, and with the student discount, it is even more affordable at $7.00.  Besides who doesn’t enjoy the classic mix of black beans and Spanish rice? On the side it is served with salsa made fresh every morning, and of course sour cream.

3. Pesto Veggie Sandwich

The third meal is a pesto veggie sandwich from the Mendocino Market. This is the perfect option for all the vegetarians out there. It is served on your choice of bread (gluten free options included) and comes with homemade pesto, smoked gouda, avocado, and veggies. If you are looking for a full body explosion of flavors, then this is the sandwich for you! The starting price is $6.75, so you can add more to it if the original contents aren’t satisfying enough.

4. Granola, yogurt, and hummus wrap

The next meal is the most convenient if you are short on time. All you have to do is stop into Mendosa’s and pick up a few items, the first being your choice of  granola, next a small yogurt, then finally a hummus wrap. This meal is very open-ended because you can choose the type of yogurt, granola, and hummus wrap. The key is to not go overboard when selecting the amount of desired granola because it can get pricey.

5. Pizza

The final meal is a slice of pizza from Frankies. You can never go wrong with a simple slice of cheesy goodness for $3.95. Although appetizing, cheese and dough is not the most fulfilling meal, so looking to the special is always a healthier option. The special often contains veggies and other goods that provide for a more wholesome lunch, giving you more bang for your buck. If you are concerned that you will still be hungry afterwards, then stop by Mendosas and pick up a cheap snack with the remaining $4.

These five meals are a good variety to switch between when choosing lunch options throughout the week. Each one provides a nutritious meal that will fill you right up. If you eat each item once a week, you will be spending forty dollars per week. Considering the ridiculously expensive tendencies of our small town, this is a fairly reasonable amount to spend. If this is still too expensive, I recommend bringing a bagged lunch from home. Another great options is heading over to your local Costco and picking up lunch food in bulk. Try these five meals, or practice bringing your own food, and see the difference it makes on your wallet!

by Malia Rees