Paper or plastic: stocking the fridge

Whether you're a freshman on the meal plan or a senior who needs to cook, Baltimore has a wide variety of options when it comes to buying food. There are large commercial supermarkets, and also several smaller, neighborhood markets that offer different tastes and different prices.

The most immediate option for food is Eddie's Market, only a few blocks from Homewood on St. Paul Street. Keep in mind that immediate is the key word here. Not that Eddie's is bad, but it's small and relatively expensive. Then again, if you don't have a car, you may end up going there several times a week.

Eddie's doesn't sell many bulk items because it's a small store. Even their meats are only sold in one-pound packages. You won't see any "economy-size," items except for toilet paper.

Eddie's offers a convenient option when you're too busy to trek outside of Charles Village, but have enough time to cook a meal. Their produce section is small, but decent. Eddie's is known for their deli, with a variety of fresh sandwiches, including the famous "Smokin' Jay". Edddie's also recently began serving breakfast sandwiches, which are much cheaper (and in my opinion, better) than Sam's Bagels' breakfast sandwiches. Their lunch sandwiches, however, are rather pricey.

The worst thing about Eddie's is their meat section. Eddie's meats are rarely fresh and often tough. They barely offer any seafood, and only recently added fish to their meat section.

If you're looking to come home with a couple shopping carts full of groceries, head up to Hampden to Super G or Superfresh (close enough to walk, but many take the shuttle). Both stores are comparable, and much larger and much cheaper than Eddie's. Each offers your standard supermarket fare, with a huge variety of products and plenty of opportunities to buy in bulk and save.

If you're really looking to save money, head down North Charles Street, where there is a Safeway about seven blocks south of campus. The prices are incredibly cheap, but let's just say they're cheap for a reason.

For good taste and good health, Whole Foods, near Little Italy, is a good, albeit expensive, option. The hugely popular national chain of upscale food stores has set up shop in almost every major city, including Baltimore. But don't let the yuppy-health-nut image fool you.

Although Whole Foods has a variety of vegetarian and vegan products, it also has great meat and seafood departments as well. The cheese section so big that it takes up a whole corner of the store, and has at least 50 cheeses that you probably never knew existed. Their bakery is also excellent, specializing in a variety of breads and pastries, and offering exquisite gourmet cakes and pies as well.

Whole Foods prides itself on its produce section. It contains a variety of organic and non-organic products that are always fresh and often exotic. For lunch, Whole Foods is also quite the hot spot for local professionals on the go, with a huge salad bar, deli, prepared foods section, and fresh sushi bar. And one of the best things about Whole Foods is that there are always free samples throughout the store.

Unfortunately, freshness and taste come at a cost. If you're thrifty enough, buying supplies to cook a meal or two is a viable option. However, you'll be sure to max out your credit card if you buy in bulk. Not to mention the fact that you'll need at least six carts, since they're about as big as hand baskets.

But Baltimore isn't just about supermarket chains. Charm City is famous for it's various neighborhood markets, similar to many farmers markets across the country. Lexington Market is the best known. Located on Lexington Street in East Baltimore, its claim to fame is that it's "the world's largest, continuously operated market." Basically, it's big and has been operating for more than two hundred years.

The market has plenty of variety in terms of International cuisine, from Japanese to Italian to Greek to Malaysian. In addition, there's plenty of fresh produce, meats and seafood at good prices.

As for prepared food, there are also a good number of choices, although some are questionable and not very tasty. Even if you don't shop there regularly, a visit to Lexington Market is essential to being a Baltimorean. Some other markets in Baltimore that offer the same quality of products are the Cross St. Market in Federal Hill and Broadway Market in Fells Point. During the warmer weather, there are also several outdoor farmers markets throughout the city.

If you're looking for a few dozen fresh crabs, some great brie, or just some Funyuns, the numerous food markets around Baltimore offer you a chance to escape the teriyaki tofu of Wolman and eat something other than Ramen noodles.