Many students can't find time to enjoy home cooking or fine dining once the semester begins. Whether it is because of a lack of time, a lack of money, or both, students don't often find themselves eating extravagant meals.
However, it is possible to enjoy a seven-course meal without having to go to a five-star restaurant.
Many cooking forums and blogs disagree on the exact formula for the seven-course meal. However, most versions agree on the inclusion and order of these particular seven.
The first few courses are intended to be light in order to prepare the body for the main courses, which are typically heavier and more protein-oriented, according to a forum on www.cheftalk.com.
The first element is the appetizer. Some of the ordinary foods students gorge on during study time and between classes can function as appetizers.
"Cookies and French fries," said alumna Emily Peterson. "That's all I would go out for."
The second course, a soup, can follow the appetizer. Soup is a very versatile dish.
There are various traditional soups, such as chicken noodle and tomato bisque. But most soups can be improvised using any variation of vegetables, pasta and meat, according to www.souphoopla.com.
The third course, the salad, is a variable course. It can be served early with the appetizers and soup, or it can sometimes be served after the main course in order to aid digestion, according to www.wisegeek.com.
Sophomore sociology major Rachel Hausdorff said she enjoys a nice, simple Caesar salad. But some students are more ambitious when it comes to their salad course.
"I enjoy taco salad," said sophomore journalism major Melissa Major. "I like the fact that it's a taco, but I get to pretend like I'm eating something healthy."
The fourth course is a palate cleanser. According to www.SmartCook.com, it is good, if possible, to use any flavored sorbet. Water and crackers can also be used to cleanse the palate between courses, according to www.eHow.com.
The fifth course is typically poultry and the sixth course is another meat course, either red meat or seafood. Both should be filling.
The purpose of these courses, according to wisegeek.com, is "to get the guests to taste a wide assortment of dishes, not to stuff or overwhelm them with food."
"I'm a big fan of tuna from deli-style sandwiches," senior economics major Haval Salih said. "I eat so much, they call me ‘seafood lover.'"
While some like a course that can be served in a can, others opt for a course served fresh.
"I crave sushi. I've always had it since I was born," said freshman animal sciences major Anne Penna.
The seventh course, dessert, goes beyond baked goods and can actually include fruit or cheese, according to wisegeek.com.
"I always crave Oreo milkshakes," senior chemistry major Aisha Alizai said.
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