Breaking Down My Meals: Living Alone Edition
I recently moved into a studio apartment for my 3rd year of college. Let me tell you, so much more goes into moving in than just moving in. You have to pay for the INTERNET. Call me crazy, but no one told me it was $55 a month. I’m definitely valuing this privilege more. Other than that, eating has become a chore. I’m no longer on a school meal plan, so every meal I eat, I have to prepare. This not only adds up financially but also eats away at my time. Over the past three weeks, I’ve been formulating and adjusting the meals I create to something that is feasible as a full-time student. I call this list my “Recipe Book.”
Recipe Book
To keep in the fridge as much as possible:
- Egg noodles (Price: $1.69)
- Organic Chicken Breast-6 pack (Price: $20.97)
Breakfast:
- Hard-boiled/over easy eggs 18 ct (Price: $4.99)
- Greek Vanilla Yogurt (Price: $4.29)
- Banana Bunch (Price: $1.38)
- Peanut butter (Price: $4.99)
- Overnight oats (Price: $6.79)
- Multigrain Toast (Price: $4.25)
Cost each day for breakfast when products last 14 days: $1.90
Lunch:
- Turkey ($7.49)/bread($4.25)/cheese ($2.69)/lettuce head ($1.79)/tomatoes ($2.89)/mustard ($1.49)-(Price total: $20.60)
- Carrots 16oz (Price: $1.69)
- Cucumber 2 (Price: $3.49)
- Celery stock (Price: $1.79)
- Baked Chips (Price: $3.99)
- Pickle Jar (Price: $1.49)
Cost each day for lunch when products last 14 days: $2.30
Dinner:
- Grilled chicken 12 breasts($41.94)/broccoli 2 heads($2.00)/rice 5 lbs ($5.99)- (Price total: 49.93)
- Pasta 2 bags ($3.38)/sauce 2, 24oz ($1.98) garlic bread ($2.25)/broccoli 1 head($1.00)- (Price total: $8.66)
Cost each day for dinner when products last 14 days: $4.18
Snacks:
- Nuts ($14.99)
- Sharp cheese ($2.69)/Turkey meat($7.49)/or seed cracker ($2.99) (Price total: $13.17)
- Banana ($1.38)/apple 48 oz ($3.29)/peanut butter ($1.38)- (Price total: $6.35)
Cost each day for snacks when products last 14 days: $2.46
Overall, for 2 weeks, I’m eating for $10.84 a day. This recipe book works for me because I am comfortable eating the same thing or a small variation of the same thing every day. It also works for me because I don’t have to spend extra time each day wondering what I’m going to eat. I already have a plan and a condensed way to execute it. Overall, this method has really helped me conserve my time and energy. It also keeps me well-fed and healthy!