Many of us wish we could still live in the dorms forever where we enjoyed a full meal plan: three meals a day and a late night snack. I hate to say it, but after freshman year it’s time to officially grow up and cook your own food. My first couple months of grocery shopping was a struggle because I was always buying the wrong foods. I never felt like I had enough to eat, yet I was constantly throwing away food that had gone bad because I didn’t eat it. After much frustration, I finally mastered the perfect grocery list. So, here are the 15 healthy foods every college needs in their shopping cart.
-
Bananas: The best part about this fruit with 450mg of potassium is that even if your bananas turn brown, you can blend them into a smoothie.
-
Sweet Potatoes: All you have to do is cut them down the middle and stick them in the microwave or oven.
-
Eggs: An easy and low-cost way to get some protein and vitamin D in your diet. You can mix in some veggies to make a scramble and use them in sandwiches or salads when they’re hardboiled.
-
Sliced Turkey: Great in salads, wraps, or sandwiches and therefore, make for the perfect packed lunch for days you have to stay on campus past noon.
-
Greek Yogurt: The perfect calcium filled snack with some honey, fruit or nut butter.
-
Almond Butter: A worthy alternative to peanut butter, this condiment also has a long shelf-life.
-
Bagels: Keep them in the freezer and they will never go bad!
-
Grapes: Easy to pack in lunches, and make for the perfect treat when frozen.
-
Apples: This fruit takes longer to go bad in comparison to most fruits and is a great snack to grab when you’re in a hurry.
-
String Cheese: This option is extremely portable and a good source of protein (Plus, I always see Kim Kardashian eating it on her show, Keeping Up With The Kardashians, and there’s something to be said about a Kardashian-approved anything!)
-
Boxed or Canned Soup: For the days you don’t feel like making a mess in the kitchen, try this option, which only requires a little heating up.
-
Olives: Great addition to salads.
-
Avocados: Perfect to scramble in eggs, add to salads, sandwiches, or wraps.
-
Oatmeal: A nutritious, filling, and easy to make (Tip: Trader Joe’s has a great variety, from flax-seed to ginger-flavored)
-
Rice Crackers: A low calorie and crunchy snack.
-
Tortillas and Shredded Cheese for Quesadillas: It’s just such an easy dinner!
-
Pinto Beans: A nice addition to your quesadilla or salad—high in fiber and calcium.
-
Chicken Breast: With so many recipes out there, this ingredient rarely gets boring! Still, I typically boil chicken breasts because it’s the fastest and healthiest way to cook them.
-
Edamame Beans: A great snack on its own and a tasty addition to any salad.
-
Frozen Corn On The Cob: Just boil hot water, throw your corn on the cob in the pot, and BAM—you have the perfect addition to any dinner meal.