Eating is very important and can easily be omitted from the schedule during hectic days. Buy plenty of food you can eat on the run (such as energy bars or granola). Also know the rules for the locations you are visiting ahead of time. Eating and drinking are arrestable offenses on the Metro trains and in all the stations. You also will not be allowed to bring any food or drinks inside the Capitol Building until after your internships begin (and then only people working on the Hill will be allowed to).

WISH Woodley Park apartments each have their own kitchen with full-sized fridge, stove/oven, microwave, sink, and dishwasher. Some plates and cookware are provided with the apartment, so cooking is an option. On the other hand, some students have survived the program on PB&J and chinese take-out.

Preparing your own meals a tWISH Woodley Park is one of the cheapest ways to eat in DC, but there are also high-quality options for eating out on a budget. Plus, you might as well explore the city in your spare time.

In the Woodley Park neighborhood where you live, there are restaurants ranging from McDonald's and Chipotle to the Lebanese Tavern and higher-end italian dining. When you arrive at WISH Woodley Park, your introduction packets will include some menus and ads for local restaurants and carry-out; explore the area and try a little bit of everything.

More good retaurants, and the local bar/pub scene, are a 15 minute walk away in Adam's Morgan. Many college students live in and around this neighborhood, so there are more businesses catering to younger audiences here. Take advantage of Happy Hour deals to save even more.

For a super-cheap sit-down meal that still will fill you up, head to Chinatown (Metro Red, Yellow, and Green lines). In addition to hosting a large cinema complex and high-end restaurants, not a block away from the Metro are several very cheap Chinese restaurants. Often, you can get a full meal for under $10 (plus tip) at these places and the food is great.

While your travels will take you all across the city, one place you will come to know well is Capitol Hill. There are two main cafeterias on the Hill, in the basements of the Longworth House Office Building (LHOB) and the Dirksen Senate Office Building (DSOB). You can get sandwiches, pizza, fruits, and other things you could find in a typical dining hall here on campus. There are also dozens of smaller cafes, restaurants, and sub shops throughout the Capitol complex. Be warned, food is expensive all over the Hill, but especially so in the Capitol eateries.

Outside of the Capitol, there are many other options. Walk one block east of the Supreme Court and you'll find several rows of restaurants and pubs lining the streets, including the famed (infamed?) Hawk & Dove. The H&D is a prime hangout for many Hill staffers after a long day of work. To the north of the Capitol is Union Station (Metro Red line). There are high-end restaurants and eateries throughout the first and second floors of the station, but down in the basement there is a vast food court with some usual fast food places (Great Steak & Potato Co., Cajun Grill, Flamers, New York Deli...) and some unusual ones too (you can discover those on your own).

Don't be afraid to buy hot dogs or pretzels on the run from street-side vendors. They are usually quite filling and are a huge time-saver.

If you're playing a tourist and visiting the Smithsonian Museums, beware: the prices at their cafeterias are very expensive. You can feel good about your purchases there since most of the markup goes to cover museum operations (the museums are free to enter, so count your blessings). Just don't enter while hungry if you're light on funds.

Closer to home, in and around Dupont Circle (Metro Red line), you can find more cozy eateries and your favorite chain restaurants. Embassy Row is nearby if you're looking for more international flair.

Farther away, you can find more adventures in fine dining. Ride the Red line North to the Tenleytown-American University station to find more avant garde shopes. Or continue into Bethesda and the other Maryland suburbs to find more traditional suburban restuarants.

Experience Old Town Alexandria and its specialy shops and cheat eats. Walk east from the King St. Metro staton (Blue, Yellow). Also along the Blue & Yellow Lines are the Mall at Pentagon City and the underground complex of Crystal City where you can find food courts and other mall-style resturants.

Check out The Economist's Guide to DC for more information on restaurants and nightlife in the city.