Being in college and buying food on a budget can be tough. Most of us resort to stocking up on chips, soda, pizza and frozen corndogs.
I was living on campus this summer, but I did not have any meal plan swipes left, so I had to fend for myself. Now that a new semester is in sight and The Commons is on the horizon, I have hope for a better diet. However, through my struggle of eating Ramen and cereal almost everyday, I learned how to make even the cheapest of foods bearable. Here are five tips that will help you get by:
Tip #1: Ramen is like the ugly duckling. At its early stage of simply mixing noodles with hot water, it is not very desirable as a meal. A handful of frozen carrots and peas and a few unsalted crackers would allow this meal to grow into a beautiful swan.
Tip #2: Stop drinking soda. If you can not go to Wal-Mart without picking up a 12-pack of Coke, try to find a way to stop yourself. It is expensive, especially if you are on a budget. Drinking water as an alternative is not only better for you but also free.
Tip #3: Peanut butter crackers make a great snack. Plus, if you already have crackers for the Ramen that is one less snack food you have to buy. Peanut butter is a good source of protein and will help you stay fuller longer.
Tip #4: Cutting out expensive foods like soda, chips and cookies opens up the door to better foods like eggs, ground beef, chicken, fruits and vegetables. A fried egg with a piece of toast and some orange juice in the morning is super easy to make, even for people who “can’t cook.” Just heat up a pan, crack an egg, wait 2-3 minutes, flip the egg, wait about 30 seconds and voila, you have a fried egg. If you do not have a pan, you can opt for scrambled eggs by simply mixing them in a bowl and microwaving them. On the meat side of things, once you cook the beef or chicken, freeze whatever you cannot finish and add it to a pasta dish later.
Tip #5: Lastly, do not be afraid to get creative. I once put cereal on a jelly sandwich because I did not have any milk for a bowl of cereal, and I did not have any peanut butter for a PB&J sandwich. If you do not have pasta noodles, cook up some Ramen; but instead of adding flavoring, top the Ramen noodles with vegetables, chicken, salt, pepper and some olive oil. Use the leftover seasoning to flavor chicken or add to soup.
Here is an extra tip just for kicks. When you go shopping try to do two things: Do not shop on an empty stomach and bring a list of the things you need. Eating before you shop helps to prevent impulse purchases of beef jerky and candy and bringing a list keeps you focused on what you need, not what you want. Good luck and happy eating!
