How to: Survive on something besides Ramen noodles

Three minutes 'til go time. You grab your keys, your bag and your cell phone. Oh yeah, it's lunchtime.

Desperate for time (and money) you throw some ramen noodles in the microwave and call it good.

In moderation, ramen noodles are a quick, tasty meal. But most college students don't just enjoy the occasional cheap meal; many of them indulge in it two to three times a day.

That might not sound too bad to a busy college student, but consider this: each package of ramen noodles contains approximately 1960 mg of sodium.

That is more than 80 percent of the daily recommended amount of sodium.

Our bodies do not enjoy a continuous overload of sodium. In fact, there may even be a connection between high sodium intake and obesity.

I am willing to bet the need to survive off store-bought food will increase next year, especially since Sodexho has announced it will drop the "to go" option completely from its cafeteria.

If you want to enjoy something healthy and quick, try these simple tips.

TOSSED SALAD: Why buy one when you can make your own? All you need is a Tupperware container with a lid. You can add lettuce, spinach, tomatoes, ranch and cucumbers - basically whatever your heart desires. Shake and enjoy.

SPAGHETTI: Pasta is always a quick and easy meal solution. It's hard to screw up and it's cheap! You will also save on the calories and sodium.

One cup of spaghetti contains approximately 150 mg of sodium - that's 1810 mg less than a package of ramen noodles.

Add tomato sauce and vegetables to spice up the flavor.

Pasta is an excellent source of protein, especially for all you athletic Roos out there!

INVEST IN A GEORGE FOREMAN: You can take a George Foreman grill and throw in basically anything to create a delicious masterpiece in minutes.

Just make sure your place of residence has not banned them. Many apartments and living facilities do not allow hot plates or grills.

RAMEN STIMULUS PACKAGE: Large auto corporations aren't the only ones that deserve a bailout. You deserve one, too. You might want to check out some healthy and tasty ways to include ramen in your diet at www.ramenlicious.com.

This site offers simple meals for a ramen craving of any kind, even healthy options.

Personally, I like the Ramen Shrimp Salad.

Along with these tips, it is important to maintain a balanced diet.

I would certainly not suggest you pick one of these to eat two or three times a day.

These are considered to be healthy meals, but only when consumed in moderation.

You should work toward having a different type of meal concentrated around different food groups, every time you eat.

This may seem more time consuming than tossing a package of ramen noodles into the microwave, but your body will thank you in the long run.

kmcmillen@unews.com