You knew this day would come. Your parents may have warned you while you were in high school that they wouldn’t always be around to cook you dinner. Maybe you occasionally flipped past the Food Network while watching TV and wondered if you should take some pointers from the chefs. There were probably times when you randomly saw something that looked delicious on Tumblr or Pinterest and decided you would cook something like it in the future.
In any case, you no longer live at home, you don’t have a meal plan, and reality is setting in—you don’t know how to cook! Never fear, collegiettes! Her Campus Drexel is here to guide you through surviving without meal swipes for the Hans or dining dollars at your disposal.
Â
1. Seasonings are your best friends.
Chances are most of the dishes you’ve eaten have had some type of seasoning in them. There are two types of seasonings out there. The first kinds are basic spices or herbs that can be easily combined with other seasonings. For example, oregano, salt, and pepper. The second types are called seasoning blends. Blends have several basic spices in them already so you can easily get away with using one blend to make dinner. For example, there are Cajun-style blends, lemon pepper blends, Italian blends, and many others.
Your local grocery store has a section reserved for these spices and powders, so we suggest picking up a few. However, there are a lot of options so calling your parents or friends to ask them which seasonings they usually use is a great idea. Otherwise, here is a list of basic seasonings to get you started:
- Salt
- Black pepper
- Adobo
- Garlic powder
- Oregano
- Thyme
- Onion powder
- Red pepper flakes
- Ground cinnamon
- Basil
Â
2. Marinate everything.
Food tastes ten times better when you’ve marinated it with spices or sauces. Letting meat, fish, or vegetable dishes sit overnight or for a few hours in your seasonings really allows the flavors soak in. If you’re mouth isn’t watering yet, it will!
Â
3. Make a grocery list before you get to the store.
Between paying for textbooks and going out with your friends, college can be pretty pricey. A great way to cut down on food costs is by making a grocery list before you even get to the store. That way, you don’t start picking up things you don’t really need. Meal planning in advance also ensures that you use up everything you buy. Here is a list of categories you can use to craft a comprehensive grocery list:
- Fresh fruits and vegetables
- Meats/Fish
- Canned Foods
- Snacks
- Drinks
- Frozen Foods
Â
4. Cook on the weekends.
During the weekdays it can be hard to find the energy to cook anything more elaborate than ramen noodles or Easy Mac. On the weekends, however, you hopefully have enough free time to mess around in the kitchen! If you make enough food during the weekend, you’ll have leftovers to eat during the week. This becomes especially useful later on in the term when you have exams and projects that take up a lot of your time.
Â
5. Download some apps.
Eating well on a budget is easy thanks to certain money saving apps and websites. For supermarket shoppers, apps like Ibotta allow you to receive rebates from purchases made at over a hundred retailers including Wawa, CVS, 7-Eleven, and more! If you enjoy eating out but hate the sight of an empty wallet, Groupon and Amazon Local can be used to find coupons or special deals at restaurants in your neighborhood.
Â
6. Be careful with perishable items. Â
Foods like fresh fruits, vegetables, and milk tend to go bad quickly. To save you the money and frustration, make sure not to buy too many perishable foods at once so you have time to eat everything before they spoil. Reading up on how to store produce can help extend its shelf life. Items like milk can be shared with roommates if you have trouble finishing a whole carton by yourself before the expiration date. If that doesn’t work, dairy alternatives like almond milk last much longer and are also healthier.
Â
7. Find some basic recipes to get you started.
Now that you have these tips you’re probably wondering how to actually cook. There are tons of cooking blogs out there like No More Ramen and Damn Delicious that provide simple ways to prepare flavorful meals. The Internet has a seemingly infinite number of recipes from a million different websites to help you get cooking. You could also invest in a cookbook or borrow one from your mom!
Â
Although living without a meal plan may seem intimidating at first, with time and practice it becomes easier and even enjoyable to proudly eat the food you made on your own. By preparing your own meals, you can save money, have more control over your diet, and learn a valuable life skill! Happy eating!