Broke, Broker and Broken: The 3 Basic Food Groups of College Students

Just when college students think they have a chance to breathe from crippling gas prices, insurance rates and alarming product shortages, the price of food remains to throw their budget out of balance. Panic surrounds this phenomenon, with many questioning why high prices persist despite continued government efforts to stabilize the market.

According to AbhaBhattarai and Jeff Stein, “Grocery prices remain elevated due to a mixture of labor shortages tied to the pandemic, ongoing supply chain disruptions, droughts, avian flu, and other factors.” 

The four-dollar egg scare of 2022 can be directly correlated to an outbreak of the avian flu, reportedly the largest in American history. This issue and others have caused strain on American families, with the overall cost of groceries jumping almost 6% higher in comparison to the overall rate of inflation (19%) in recent years. 

During a recent trip to the 164th Street Neighborhood Walmart, 7 items, consisting of cereal, bread and various snacks, cost over $25. These items, which lack necessary nutritional value, still add up to a significant amount over time. Furthermore, this cost only accounted for grocery items and did not include other necessary goods college students find themselves consistently purchasing, such as laundry detergent, cleaning supplies, soap, deodorant, etc. 

Sophomore Chay Reeves said they spend around $35 to $40 a week on about “15 meals… that are nutritionally sound.”  Like many college students, Reeves attempts to maintain a sense of health and nutritional value when shopping for groceries. 

According to Scott Winstead, the average college student will spend over $250 a month on groceries during the school year. In further analysis, Winstead estimates the average college student spends about $2,352 for a full, two-semester school year. 

Here at Oklahoma Christian, this cost accounts for an entire meal plan, but instead of relatively nutritious meals (while perhaps lacking in some taste), grocery meals in this economy as a broke college student consist of crackers, ramen and goldfish.

In summary, despite signs of economic stabilization, the cost of groceries remains stubbornly high, particularly burdening college students. Factors like labor shortages, supply chain disruptions and events like the avian flu outbreak continue to drive prices up, making it difficult for students to afford nutritious meals. Despite these challenges, students’ resilience and resourcefulness in navigating tough financial situations is truly commendable, highlighting their ability to perverse and thrive in the face of adversity.