The art of a shared fridge

September is ending, and it’s become that time of year — the start of the new school year and Isla Vista is returning to its usual liveliness. 

As everyone is moving into their apartments, we remember just how central the kitchen and meals are to our lives. Not to sound corny, but the kitchen really is the heart of a home. Every day, I look forward to running into my roommates cooking their meals, eager to steal a bite or two. 

However, that’s not to say sharing a kitchen is all sunshine and rainbows. Admittedly, sharing a fridge amongst multiple adults, each with their own tastes and preferences is never going to be easy. My fridge is shared between five of us, and figuring out how to divide the (very limited) space definitely took some trial and error. We’ve figured out a system that works for us, eventually deciding to split it so each room gets a shelf in the fridge.

Every time I look in our fridge, it’s like an insight into the individual lives of the housemates. On the top shelf we have C and W, who can always be counted on to have some kind of non-dairy milk. The resident vegetarians, it’s always interesting seeing what new plant-based protein they have (currently stocked with hickory smoked tofurkey). Whenever I want to try a new item from Trader Joe’s, it’s usually already there. 

In the middle, we have M, who has recently been the number one advocate for the Associated Students Food Bank. She spams me every time she sees my location near the University Center (UCen) to go check out the food bank. I can see why; the food bank provides “free fresh produce, pantry staples, and basic care products” to undergrad and grad students at UCSB and “aims to tackle food insecurity on campus while continually raising awareness on issues surrounding food, sustainability, and social justice.” Located on the second floor of the UCen through the Ortega side, it’s incredibly easy to access. Students may go up to once a day at no additional cost; go take advantage of your student fees!

Last, maybe even best, is mine and T’s shelf. Self-proclaimed gym bros, we are always stocked with a jarring amount of eggs (shoutout Costco!) and Oikos Triple Zero yogurts. It’s always a safe bet that T has a Yerba Madre in the fridge, whereas I like to start my day with a coffee flavored Nurri protein shake. Usually when our groceries are more stocked, there’s tupperwares full of meal prep we share. Cooking food for the people you love is truly its own love language — it’s definitely how T and I show it. After a long day where either of us have been out all day, not home until way past dinner time, we can count on each other for a yummy, warm meal. 

Sharing a fridge with someone is a surprisingly intimate way to get to know each other. I get to see how intense their day might be depending on if there’s a Celsius or a Yerba Madre in the fridge, see the dates they’ve been going on and coffee shops they’ve been frequenting. I can note their current drink of choice (almost always Diet Coke for C and I, Pepsi for M and Yerba Madre for T and W). Our fridge is a physical representation of the blend of cultures in our home, seen in the various condiments and ingredients we have. A representation of the likes and dislikes of us.

A version of this article appeared on p. 13 of the October 1st, 2026 print edition of the Daily Nexus.