Cooking College Meals on the Cheap
Wednesday, 18. November 2009
You’re all settled into your dorm or college apartment and are likely feeling the pinch in your wallet of living away from home for the first time. With so many expenses to cover, food may need to take a step back on the priority list for the time being. Fear not, there are plenty of satisfying ways to eat without breaking the bank.
1. Pasta with Sauce, Mac … Cheese, Ramen Noodles. Everybody love carbs, right? Let’s face it, you’re walking a lot more than you used to and you can probably use the energy anyway. These handy meals are easy to microwave and will warm you up on a cold day. With plenty of options in packaged ramen noodles, you could probably choose a different flavor every day and not get bored. Add some fruit and a little salad and you’ve got your nutritional bases covered.
2. Cereal anyone? Not just for breakfast anymore, the cereal aisle in your local supermarket will provide plenty of tasty choices for lunch and dinner, too. Be generous with the milk and refill as desired. Don’t forget that waffles and eggs make good meals, too.
3. Dust off your peanut butter and jelly cravings from childhood. Remember how tasty they used to be? They still are! Get creative, add marshmallow or a banana and experiment with different types of bread or bagels. When you’re tired of that, reach for bologna, turkey, ham, even hot dogs. Sandwiches are a fraction of the cost of an entre at a restaurant and you can eat them as you walk to class.
4. Frozen pizza. Don’t pick up that phone! Delivery pizza can be a budget buster for sure. There are plenty of options in your grocer’s freezer and almost all of them are under five dollars. Just sprinkle on some canned parmesan cheese and settle in for the night.
The money you save on eating on the cheap can be better spent on other things. You can get your fill of good food on school breaks when your mother is cooking for you. Meanwhile, hang onto your money and pat yourself on the back for being so smart. Enjoy.
Ryan Sullivan is an instuctor at a leading online colleges. He holds two online degrees and a degree from a traditional university program.