Eating healthy when in college can be costly and even more difficult for students on a tight budget. If you do not watch your budget, your money will run out faster than expected. Here's how to go about it if you've already decided to spend a specific sum of money on food during a semester.
Prepare a List of Groceries
Have you ever walked into a grocery store and ended up forgetting crucial items and bought what wasn’t necessary? Well, it happens. And with how grocery stores organize their items strategically, you might fall into the trap of buying things that should not have been purchased. That’s why a grocery list is important.
A list of groceries is an excellent tool to ensure you are following the right dietary needs while at the same time helping you minimize food costs. It also helps you stick to your diet and ensures you have all the requirements to prepare your food. Furthermore, with a grocery list, you’ll likely not buy what is not required, hence eliminating food wastage. Reducing food wastage helps save money, and you can channel the extra savings to other crucial expenses like transport or hiring a writer at a research paper service.
Make sure you only list the items you don't have when creating your grocery list by checking your fridge or the location where you keep your groceries. Also, you can divide your list into categories. For example, dairy products, farm fresh products, pantry essentials, and meat. Then sort out the items that are crucial to avoid having duplicate items. If possible, use apps to make your list. Using apps to make a shopping list has the advantage of saving the list on your device, so there's less chance of losing it or forgetting to bring it when you shop.
Make a Meal Plan
Meal planning is essential for the financial aspect, your health, and time management. When you have a plan, it’s easier to make healthy choices when it comes to your meals while at the same time reducing the time and money you would have spent. Also, you’ll avoid takeouts and food spoilage. Meal planning also ensures that you observe healthy dieting as you prepare for projects, exams, and the active life on campus.
A meal plan also helps you decide on which recipes fit your budget. After getting your recipes, you can then schedule your cooking weekly or biweekly. Once you have all that planned, it will be easy to streamline your cooking processes.
Shop at Discount Stores
For a student, finding inexpensive shopping options is essential. Here’s how to discover the best discount stores:
- Search the web and read reviews.
- Ask fellow students and friends for recommendations.
- Subscribe to the stores’ website newsletters.
- Explore consignment stores for budget-friendly options.
- Utilize cash-back apps.
- Compare prices in different stores.
After identifying discount stores, you’ll need to shop smartly. Shopping smartly will help you save money on your everyday essentials. Buy in bulk for staple foods and non-perishable foods. Doing so will ensure you don’t rush to the grocery store every day. With perishable items, be cautious when buying in bulk to avoid waste and spoilage.
Cook Meals in Bulk and Freeze
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For a start, plan your meals around staple ingredients. Also, choose simple recipes that freeze well and bulk cook during the weekend. Invest in an instant pot or a decent slow cooker to make your cooking easy. Remember to invest in proper storage containers and date and label your cooked food for easy reheating access.
Here are some ideas of food you can cook and freeze:
- Casseroles like lasagna, beef stroganoff, and chicken enchiladas.
- Small portions of chili, soup, or stew.
- Muffins, bread, and cakes can also be baked and stored for toasting.
- Burritos, sandwiches and quesadillas.
- You can also prepare cooking dough, scrambled eggs, and muffin butter, portion them, and cook later.
Take Advantage of On-Campus Dining Plans
Dining plans can only be valuable if appropriate measures are taken. First of all, you need to comprehend the plan. Pay attention to the amount of money that is loaded and the period of validity of the plan. Also, it is better to check for the blackout dates or any other restrictions that might be there. Create a meal plan to make sure you are making the most of your dining dollars. As an addition to your meal plan, you might think about packing snacks from time to time. Additionally, be on the lookout for special offers or promotions from your college dining services, like discounts on large or group meals.
Use Leftovers Creatively
Reusing the leftovers can be an extremely valuable habit, especially if you have limited cooking skills or are on a tight budget. Reusing leftovers ensures you reduce food and save money. It’s also a great way to learn meal cooking and planning and develop a more sustainable and mindful approach to food consumption.
Using leftovers requires planning, creativity, and willingness to experiment. To get you started, repurpose leftover ingredients into new dishes, turn last night’s dinner into tomorrow’s lunch, and be creative when combining ingredients and flavors. You can get inspiration from Asian or Latin American cuisines where combining leftover ingredients is common.
Final Thoughts
A student’s life is full of expenses – tuition, car payments, going out with friends, etc. Sometimes, for many students, it feels like your cash goes down the drain. However, even with all the expenses, you have to eat. Your food budget depends on many factors, including kitchen access, preferences, and time. Considering your factors, the above tips can help you get the most out of your food budget. Implementing them will help you stretch your food budget and eat healthier with little struggle.
