When we get to college, many of us worry about which classes we are going to take or which groups we are going to join. However, most of us, myself included, fail to think about how we are going to fuel these endeavors. If you’re at all similar to me, you can understand the feeling of being clueless in the kitchen. Not only that, but some don’t realize that we can no longer rely on our parents to put a meal on the table for us!Â
As college students, it is hard to balance everything and on top of that, properly nourish ourselves. During my freshman year of college, I was notorious for ordering takeout or going out to eat. That is not a bad thing, but if you’re like me, then you want to level up your college dining and cooking experience or find a cheaper alternative to dining halls and fast food. Now, in my third year of college, I have compiled a list of six tips that can be helpful when you take your dining experience from takeout and dining halls to homemade, fresh meals!
1. Be a shadowÂ
This first tip starts at home with the people around you. I have noticed that my greatest technique for learning how to cook is following around the people closest to you while they are in the kitchen, whether that be a friend or roommate who is more advanced in the kitchen than you. Your family members are also the perfect people to shadow. They have recipes that are passed down through generations and years of experience that you may not have learned yet. If you ever need a refresher on those techniques, feel free to call them and brush up on your skills!Â
Don’t have someone around to show you the ropes of cooking? No worries! We live in a day and age where recipes are so easily accessible on any platform. TikTok and YouTube videos are your new best friends when it comes to learning how to cook. They’re visual and mostly step-by-step, which means that you don’t have to have a great cook around you to teach you. These resources can also supplement the things you’ve learned from your loved ones.Â
2. Begin with the basics
If you’re anything like me, then you are starting out on the lowest pedestal of cooking. Don’t start with something super complicated for your first meal. Choosing something with a bunch of complicated steps, such as beef wellington or macarons from scratch, is something you want to stay away from. You’re not Gordon Ramsey — yet!Â
3. Make things your ownÂ
Going along with the last tip, just because you are new to cooking doesn’t mean you don’t know what tastes good to you. If you are following recipes, there is no set list of rules that you must follow in order to have a good outcome with your food. Don’t like an ingredient from the recipe you’re using? Find a substitution. There are plenty out there! Aldi is your new best friend when it comes to finding affordable and accessible ingredients.
Also, don’t be afraid to use the resources you have. If you live in a dorm, there are many ways to level up your cooking. Ask to check out kitchenware that is available for you and find a time when the kitchen is free!Â
4. Sharing is caringÂ
When you feel you’ve mastered your craft, share it with someone else. Share your meals with your friends or family every so often to get their opinions. You can use this as a way to spice things up — no pun intended. They can tell you things you might need to improve or things that are working out perfectly!Â
5. Accidents happen
Remember throughout this process that cooking isn’t linear. There are times when things may not go your way in the kitchen. Burn something? Don’t sweat it! Have the pizza delivery person on speed dial, or pull out those emergency packets of instant ramen that I know you have in your pantry!Â
6. And last but not least, don’t be afraid!Â
Go into this newfound experience with an open mind! You don’t need to be a professional. At the end of the day, cooking is about making things you like and having fun while you’re doing it. Fueling your body doesn’t have to be complicated. As college students, we are all very busy and don’t always have time to cook. So don’t feel pressured! If you have to get takeout some nights, it’s not the end of the world. No one, myself included, can be perfect all the time.