A UT Student's Guide to Groceries and Support

Written by Arushi Nath

Most days in West Campus, everything you need is just a short walk away — except a real grocery store. Without a car or reliable transportation, a simple grocery run becomes a full-blown expedition. You have to rely on bus timing, costly rideshares, or settling for limited options at Target and corner stores. This constant calculation adds up in stress and expense. When you’re juggling student life and all the responsibilities that come with it, getting a meal shouldn't be the hardest part of your day.

The problem is low access. The USDA’s map calls an urban area low access when a big chunk of residents live more than 1/2–1 mile from a supermarket. In practice, that mile can mean 30–50 minutes each way on buses and carrying four heavy bags in 100-degree heat. That’s the gap students feel every week. At UT, many students face few full-service options within an easy walk and higher prices at nearby convenience stores.

UT has tried to shrink the gap. The PTS Shop Shuttle runs select Saturdays and Sundays, 10 a.m.–2 p.m., with pickups at 2400 Nueces, Duren, East Campus, and Moore-Hill and a direct drop-off at the Hancock Center H-E-B. Seats are first-come via the reservation form. If the shuttle isn’t running, your UT ID rides CapMetro free, and the PTS page lists which routes hit Trader Joe’s, Central Market, Wheatsville, and more. It may not be a perfect solution, but it turns “I can’t go” into “I can plan it.”

UT Outpost (food pantry + career closet) is an amazing resource. It is free for all enrolled students, and all you have to bring is your UT ID (and a bag for your groceries). Check the current hours before you go. They’re open multiple days a week and often on Saturdays. There are also satellite locations for specific needs (such as parenting students). Don't wait until your pantry is empty. Utilizing the Outpost consistently can help you stretch your resources and your budget.

A UT Student Government report found that about one-third of UT students experience food insecurity. That could be the person you sit next to in lecture, your roommate, or maybe even you. At the same time, campus support is working hard. UT Outpost distributed 43 tons of food last academic year, and demand has climbed so much that the pantry adjusted its per-visit limits this spring to stretch supply. Food isn’t just fuel. When I’m under-eating or living on vending machines, I quickly succumb to brain fog in lecture and that 3 p.m. crash that wrecks my study schedule. Consistent, balanced meals, such as carbs for energy and fiber/micros from fruits and veggies, make life as a student much more productive.

Listed below are some pantry meals that can easily be made from materials found at UT Outpost that are both fulfilling and nutritious.

Breakfast: Overnight Oats

Ingredients: Oats (1 cup), Any type of milk substitute (3/4 cup), Sugar/Sugar substitute (1 tbsp or to taste), Peanut Butter, and Honey/Fruits (if available), Spices such as cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, allspice) to garnish.

Instructions: Combine the oats and milk substitute in a container, mix well, and store in the refrigerator overnight. For more of a sweet taste, add the sugar into the mixture. To serve, top with a spoonful of peanut butter and/or fruit for a high-protein, satisfying start. It really does take at least 12 hours to get the right texture. If you don’t give the oats enough time, they won’t properly absorb all of the milk

Key Nutritional Benefits: This meal provides a great base of complex carbohydrates from the oats for sustained energy, and it's high in fiber (especially soluble fiber) for digestive health. The milk substitute and peanut butter add approximately 15-20 grams of protein and healthy fats, keeping you full through your morning classes. (Estimated Calories: ≈350−450 per serving).

Lunch: Sweet Potato & Bean Power Bowl

Ingredients: 1 Sweet Potato, 1 can of Black Beans, 1 can of Salsa (or substitute with 1/2 can corn + 1/2 can tomatoes), Shredded Cheese (or plain yogurt), Salt, Paprika, and Tortilla Chips (optional), 1 cup of rice (optional).

Instructions: Microwave the sweet potato until soft. Split it open and top with rinsed black beans. Add your flavor, a spoonful of salsa, and a scoop of yogurt or shredded cheese. Season with salt and paprika. For extra crunch, add crushed tortilla chips. For more substance, you can serve with a bed of rice.

Key Nutritional Benefits: The Sweet Potato is rich in Vitamin A (good for vision and immunity). The Black Beans are a powerhouse of plant-based protein and fiber (totaling ≈15−20 grams of fiber per serving), which stabilizes blood sugar and helps prevent the 3 p.m. energy crash. The yogurt or cheese adds a boost of calcium. (Estimated Calories: ≈400−500 per serving).

Dinner: Pan-Fried Bean Quesadillas

This is an easy, satisfying, and customizable dinner that requires only a skillet or toaster oven.

Ingredients: Tortillas, Canned Beans (refried or black beans), Salsa, Shredded Cheese, Plain Yogurt (optional, for dipping), and Taco Seasoning/Salt (optional).

Instructions: In a small bowl, mix a large spoonful of refried beans (or mashed black beans) with a spoonful of salsa and a pinch of seasoning/salt. Spread the mix onto half of a tortilla. Top with shredded cheese. Fold the tortilla in half and cook in a lightly-oiled skillet for 2−3 minutes per side until the tortilla is golden brown and the cheese is melted. Serve with a dollop of plain yogurt for dipping.

Key Nutritional Benefits: This meal is an excellent source of plant-based protein and fiber from the beans, making it incredibly filling and great for budget-conscious students. The tortilla provides energy-boosting carbohydrates, and the cheese offers essential calcium and protein. (Estimated Calories: ≈350−450 per quesadilla, depending on the amount of cheese and beans).

CITATIONS

Manning, Joy. “Princess Diana’s Go-to Overnight Oats Are a Classic.” EatingWell, EatingWell, 2 Sept. 2025, www.eatingwell.com/princess-diana-overnight-oats-11798752.

“Fried Bean Quesadillas.” Open Hand, www.openhandatlanta.org/food-is-medicine/nutrition-resources/fried-bean-quesadillas/. Accessed 29 Sept. 2025.

Christina. “Sweet Potato and Black Bean Burrito Bowl.” Create. Nourish. Love., 8 Apr. 2020, www.createnourishlove.com/2019/05/03/sweet-potato-and-black-bean-burrito-bowl/.