It’s not uncommon for college students to live on limited funds. Research shows that over 84% of college students are concerned about finances. Fortunately, you can survive in college by living on a practical budget. This means spending wisely on various needs, including food. The good thing is that you don’t have to sacrifice nutrition on a modest budget. Here are some affordable food tips you can benefit from as a college student.
1. Shop with a list
It’s important to grocery shop with a grocery list, especially as a college student. This way, you can easily determine what produce and other items you need. This, in turn, can keep you within your budget while avoiding impulse buying. Moreover, a grocery list can prevent waste, as you don’t have to buy things that would be stuck in your fridge for a long time. Since time is precious, you can avoid spending more time than necessary at the grocery store when you know what items you need. It’s also easier to purchase healthier ingredients, enhancing your overall health. Seeing these benefits, you can create a grocery list if you haven’t already. As a tip, take stock of whatever ingredients are in your pantry or refrigerator for an idea of what you should or shouldn’t spend on.
2. Leverage recipes with common ingredients
Another tip worth considering is leveraging recipes with common ingredients, as they are readily available and more affordable. Indeed, certain items should be in your kitchen at all times since they are versatile enough to create various dishes. At a tip, get fresh produce such as onions, broccoli, cucumbers, oranges, grapes, and so on. You can also get dairy products like milk, cheese, butter, and yoghurt, provided you aren’t vegan or lactose intolerant. Protein sources like chicken, beef, tofu, and so on are also needed, so feel free to consider this. While at it, stock up on frozen foods, spices, condiments, snacks, and beverages. You can also purchase baking items like flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and the like. This way, you can make homemade cakes and pies instead of spending more at the bakery shop. You can even get creative by trying this brioche recipe anyone can bake.
3. Stretch your meals
Stretching your meals is also recommended to reduce your feeding expenses while in college. And you can do this by cooking more meals that freeze well. This way, you can reduce the amount of time you spend cooking. Moreover, you can save yourself the stress of buying groceries regularly. As a tip, consider preparing a large pot of white-been chicken chilli or vegetable soup to cater to weekly dinners. Likewise, enchiladas, burritos, black bean salsa chicken, baked ziti, smoothie packs, waffles, pancakes, cookies, and muffins can be frozen and heated without losing flavour or texture. Beef tips and gravy can also work well, so keep this in mind.
Eating healthy on a limited budget is possible for a college student. Hopefully, you’ll consider the tips discussed above for the best results.
