If you’re anything like me—or any other student at Amherst College—you might occasionally find yourself craving a change from the usual Val menu. Even though I’ve only been here for one semester, I’ve already started collecting some of my favorite Val hacks, whether discovered with friends or passed down by upperclassmen. With the new dining commons on the horizon, we’re hopeful these hacks will still work, and we’re excited for even more food options to explore! But for now, here is a list of our favorites!
Panini
Take your sandwich game to the next level with the panini press! Grab some bread, deli meats, and cheese from the sandwich bar, stack them up, and press them in the panini maker for a warm delicious food item. Toss in some veggies like spinach or tomatoes and drizzle on your favorite sauces—mustard, mayo, or my fav, pesto if you’re feeling fancy. Honestly, not enough people use the panini press, so it’s totally up for grabs.
Ice Cream Sandwiches
This one’s a classic and super easy. Grab two cookies from the dessert station and sandwich some ice cream in between. My favorite combo is chocolate chip cookies with cookies ’n cream ice cream—chef’s kiss! If you want to take it up a notch, roll the edges in sprinkles or crushed candy. It’s fun, delicious, and guaranteed to hit the spot.
Breakfast Sandwich
Build yourself a breakfast sandwich that’s worth waking up for. Toast an English muffin or bagel, then pile on scrambled or fried eggs, cheese, and your choice of protein—bacon, sausage, or whatever else is available. If there’s pesto or avocado out definitely add those too for some extra flavor. Quick, easy, and way better in my opinion
Breakfast Burrito
Why not kick off your morning with a homemade breakfast burrito? Grab a tortilla (if they’re out), then load it up with scrambled eggs, cheese, and whatever protein you can find, like sausage, bacon, or tofu. Add extras like salsa, avocado, or some greens from the salad bar to make it even better. Roll it all up, and boom—you’ve got a portable, tasty breakfast that’ll keep you full through those morning classes! If you want to warm up your tortilla, warm it up in the panini press
Coffee Creations
Mix and match drinks from the coffee and tea station to make lattes, mochas, or chai tea lattes. Add a scoop of hot chocolate for sweetness. This one is pretty simple! There are many syrups you can try.
These are just a few of my favorites! I will definitely start gathering more once the second semester follows through!