<p>I do it a often and sometimes people I know will see me there and sit with me. No shame in it at all.</p>
<p>I actually prefer to eat alone than to eat with someone... When I eat alone, I usually eat pretty quickly and not waste time sitting in the cafeteria.</p>
<p>I agree with leprostaist. I take half as much time if I eat alone compared to when I eat with a group.</p>
<p>If you see someone you know sitting in the dining hall with people you have never seen is it okay if you join them? What is the person you know is sitting with his/her boyfriend or girlfriend?</p>
<p>I don't eat alone in the cafeteria, if I'm not eating with my friends (which normally I do) I just grab something to go and take it back to my room to eat and watch TV. But usually I eat with a bunch of other people, mostly swim team.</p>
<p>Nobody really cares if you eat alone in college.
I eat alone most of the time, because my schedule doesn't match with those of my friends or we're on opposite ends of campus or something.
Eating alone is actually pretty nice sometimes :)</p>
<p>My college doesn't have dining halls. We have small eateries scattered throughout the academic buildings. Most of them have different sized tables to accommodate different sized groups. I eat alone most of the time because my eating schedule is so screwed up by classes and stuff.</p>
<p>When I lived in the dorms me and my friends would always eat dinner together. Then for lunch we would find out who was around and when, then we would get a group together to go.</p>
<p>Most people eat by themselves only when they're in a hurry...I don't see too many people in restaurants/cafes/dining commons by themselves.</p>
<p>Just ask people on your floor if they want to get food. It's a great way to get to know your hallmates and let them know you're friendly.</p>
<p>Sometimes, depending on whether I'm in a hurry, don't feel like being bothered, or I'm too lazy to walk to the dining hall.</p>
<p>I don't think it really matters whether or not you choose to eat alone. I doubt other students are huddled in a corner and giggling about the kid eating a ham sandwich by himself.</p>
<p>There's nothing wrong with that. My schedule doesn't fit with other people's and now that I have no meal plan I mostly eat at home (my room) except for the occasional slice of pizza. Perfectly normal. I'd say about 80% of my meals I eat at my desk. The other 20% is split between at home with a friend, out with a friend, in bed and out alone. Sometimes I just put on a DVD and cook something up when I get depressed.</p>
<p>Just get the food to go if you really feel that uncomfortable and eat at your desk.</p>
<p>I eat alone all the time and actually prefer it. I feel a little bit intruded upon when acquaintances just come along and sit down and start chatting, actually. I like having that time to be alone. Usually I bring a book so people are less likely to talk with me. I should probably get some headphones and an MP3 player or something, too.</p>
<p>I also prefer to eat alone. I can do it on my own schedule, stay as long as I want, and not worry about what the other person wants to do. I eat lunch alone everyday with the newspaper, and dinner alone about 50% of the time, often with a textbook. I was a bit more self conscious about it was a first year but as an upperclassmen I don't care what other people think anymore.</p>
<p>It's funny to see some people who eat alone in the dining hall have to bring some major distraction so they don't appear alone, like stay on their phone the entire time they're eating. I'm thinking they aren't even on the phone that whole time!</p>
<p>I usually eat by myself for breakfast (if I eat breakfast) and lunch. Usually I eat with my suitemates for dinner.</p>
<p>i usually don't eat at the dining hall alone, but i don't mind eating at the fast food/quicker places by myself.</p>
<p>also i have no qualms about taking myself out to lunch or dinner haha</p>
<p>although one thing i don't do is go to movies alone..</p>