Lexi Hunter, a fourth-year in health sciences, made her own Mexican-inspired slop bowl. Credit: Lexi Hunter
Low-effort, reliable and affordable — the “slop bowl” has become a go-to meal for college students looking for something quick, filling and easy to customize.
Typically made with a combination of protein, vegetables, grains and sauces, the slop bowl gained popularity on TikTok alongside the rise of the “lacrosse-to-finance pipeline,” an online meme describing former college lacrosse players who trade in their jerseys for Patagonia vests and spend lunch breaks at fast-casual restaurants like Chipotle, Cava and Sweetgreen.
What originally started as an online joke became a full-fledged food trend as people began sharing their go-to orders across social media.
Ava Judy, a third-year in marketing, said she first encountered slop bowls on social media.
“I saw a lot of people posting on Instagram and TikTok [about the] completion of a finance bro starter pack, and that slop bowls, like Cava and Sweetgreen, were really popular to get,” Judy said.
Sophia Boes, a fourth-year in marketing, said she began seeing people make their own slop bowls after moving into an off-campus house her junior year.
The bowl got its name from the internet slang term “slop,” a term used to describe low-effort or low-quality content. The New York Times discussed the term’s evolution in an article, as it became associated with AI-generated content and other mass-produced online material.
Since the trend took off, the slop bowl has transitioned from a lunch break favorite to an essential part of college diets. Because bowls can be assembled from almost any combination of ingredients, they require minimal preparation and virtually no culinary expertise.
For Judy, the appeal is both about convenience and nutrition.
“I love any type of slop bowl,” Judy said. “I’m super into health and wellness, so for me, it’s getting all my macros and nutrients in for the day. I think it’s just a really convenient thing to eat.”
For college students balancing long days of classes, hours of homework and limited kitchen time, Judy said finding quick, healthy dinner options amid traditional fast-food staples can be challenging.
While Judy often prefers making her slop bowls at home, her go-to slop bowl spots include Cava, Sweetgreen and Brassica, a Columbus-based fast-casual Mediterranean restaurant known for its bowls and fresh ingredients.
As someone who prioritizes eating healthy, Judy said the growing popularity of bowl-focused restaurants have made healthy eating far more accessible.
“I always had trouble if I just wanted a quick bite to eat, because I don’t really want to go to a typical fast food place and I lean more towards eating healthier,” Judy said. “The popularity of slop bowl places like Cava and Sweetgreen really helped me find something quick to eat while also still being a cheaper option.”
Boes agreed, noting that slop bowls fit into her busy schedule.
“I eat them a lot because they are easy,” Boes said. “My ideal [slop bowl] has protein and a bunch of veggies.”
