Goodbye ramen noodles and cheese crackers.

We finally have a new meal plan — it’s about time.

Coming into the school year all of the student-athletes, including myself, were caught off guard when we were told we would be given 166 meals for the year.

You know how many meals we previously had? Zero.

 Gone are the days we have to spend our nights starving or feeling empty.

Being a college student is hard, but being a student-athlete is harder.

We have a higher standard of excellence to uphold in a multitude of areas.

We are the university’s investment — why did it take them so long to take care of us?

How could we possibly perform to our full capacity on an empty stomach?

Most college students are broke. Some don’t have parents to call.

So, getting the help we deserved was long overdue. It was something that each athelete needed, and I’m glad that we got them.

But now that it’s happened, I can already see the change in performances at track practices.

Having more energy allows us to be more active and mentally focused when we’re sprinting at extremely high levels.

Sprinting isn’t easy. To sprint at an elite, Division I level, you need to be sound in all areas — nutrition included.

The way America is set up, the cheapest things to purchase are usually the most unhealthy.

If we are indeed broke and struggling, what do you think we will buy?

We can’t perform well on a ramen noodle-based diet.

A bag of chips doesn’t equal a well-balanced meal, professionally cooked.

The new change is good.

It’s a great option to get a nice, free breakfast after a long, hard Friday morning workout.

After Friday workouts, I often see my teammates in the Shocker Hall dining area.

We need to be able to quickly refuel our bodies or else we don’t reap the full benefits of those hard workouts.

Not only do I see track athletes, I also see other athletes.

“I’m glad we finally have a meal plan in place for the athletes,” sophomore William Isabell said. “I remember how hungry I used to be before I transferred.”

I think people don’t understand how important it is for us to be able to get the right things in our bodies so we can do the things that got us here.”

We needed this meal plan. We deserve it.

Student athletes are going to be pleased hearing this news.

It will allow them to eat a meal that can replinish them.