Do you know a college-student, are you a student yourself, or plan to become one?
SpotOn is a podcast hosted and produced by Dr. Joan Salge Blake at Boston University. Episode “Cooking for a Few” or JUST U was the topic. We discussed the challenges college students might face when it comes cooking. You can catch the episode by clicking here. For a free download, and helpful tips on how to get comfortable in the kitchen, read on. Using different services including https://domyhomework123.com/college will help you succeed in college faster.
Get Prepped With Kitchen Basics
Cooking should not feel like a chore. To get started, you need some decent equipment. You don’t need to spend a lot of money, but you will need some good equipment. You should consider buying a baking sheet, a pan, some utensils, and a few knives. You can find my Basic Kitchen Tools List here.
Stocking Basic Pantry
Once you have some basics in the kitchenware department, you will need a basic shopping list and basic recipes. A basic pantry is also a good idea. Basic pantry items are items you only need to buy occasionally and items that can be stored or frozen. A few spices can make your food taste better. Although spices can seem costly at first, they will last for a long time so don’t buy them often. You should look for smaller jars and brands that are less expensive.
Make a weekly grocery list
Next, your weekly grocery list. Each person’s needs will vary. A vegetarian will buy more canned beans, lentils and tofu. They will also purchase more grains, rice, pasta, frozen, canned, and fresh vegetables. These foods will still be necessary if you are an omnivore. Beans are versatile and nutritious. They’re also economical, easy to make, and very affordable. You’ll need to include budget-friendly meats.
Meat is a great source of protein and iron. All meats are a good source thiamin, riboflavin and niacin as well as vitamin B6. Eggs are a good source of protein and provide choline. Choline is essential for the brain and nervous systems, which require it to regulate memory, mood, and muscle control.
You may need to take a vitamin-mineral supplement if you’re considering going vegan or vegetarian. To ensure a balanced diet, ask your health center to connect you with a registered dietitian.
Naturally, you should include as many fruits as possible. You can choose the ones you love and those that are on sale. It is often cheaper to buy frozen fruits and vegetables (berries, mango, peaches, pears) than canned. Cans and frozen fruits and vegetables are picked at peak ripeness and then quickly stored in a freezer or can. They are often just as nutritious as fresh. They can eliminate food waste. Remember those fresh fruits and veggies you bought but then let rot in the fridge? Smoothies can also be a great way of using up excess ripe fruit or vegetables that are starting to turn brown.
A little bit about milk.
There are many milk-type beverages available on the market. Soy milk is an alternative if you are unable to tolerate cow’s dairy milk. Be aware that plant-based milk beverages do not contain the same amount of protein as cow’s milk. Others have calcium added. You can choose. Be aware that dairy controversy is often false. I have been to many farms. Ask a dairy farmer if you have any questions.
Top 3 Tips for Cooking
Do not be afraid to try cooking. There are many YouTube videos and cooking shows that you can watch, even if you have never been taught. Perhaps you have a roommate who is able to teach you something.
You don’t need to make it fancy or use difficult-to-find ingredients. You may be on a limited budget or have little time to spare. Find out how to get the best grocery deals when shopping for groceries. The “unit price” will be displayed on the white label under each item on the shelf if you are in the store. You will also see the unit price if you shop online. You might see “price per pound/ounce” Make sure that the units you’re comparing are equal and then choose which is the cheapest.
Keep it simple. This is not about winning a cooking contest. It’s about daily eating. You can start by choosing a few easy meals that only require a few ingredients and then making them every week. It doesn’t matter how simple it is if you are on a tight budget.
I discussed easy dinner and brunch options in the SpotOn episode “Cooking for a Few” or JUST U. Two things that I missed out on were potatoes and pasta. These cheap carbohydrates make a great base for a simple, nutritious meal. Below are some simple recipes.
Simple Meal Ideas
Pasta is an excellent base for simple, healthy meals. It doesn’t matter if you’re looking for spaghetti, penne or ramen; egg noodles, rice noodles or ramen – they all are affordable and easy to prepare. Add canned tuna, olive oils, frozen broccoli, and garlic to linguine. Stir peanut butter into the noodles, and then add frozen snappeas. To make penne, add roasted vegetables and chopped cooked chicken. Use jarred cabbage instead of egg noodles. You can also enjoy the pasta with a cheap jarred tomato sauce.
Stuffed potatoes are my favorite thing to make. Make sure you have enough potatoes on hand for when you turn on the oven. The leftover baked potatoes can be kept in the fridge for up to one week. This can be done with sweet or white potatoes. You can stuff them with any variety of things. Bake the potato in a 400 degree oven for 35 to 45 minutes, then cut it open and top it with hearty toppings. You can use leftover chili, sauteed tomatoes, beans, salsa, cheese, pulled pork, leftover chicken, and vegetables as a starter. These can be eaten for breakfast, brunch, or both. In my book, I also have a Tex-Mex recipe for baked potatoes and a stuffed sweet potato.
An egg sandwich or breakfast burrito is a great choice. Either you can scramble large quantities of eggs or bake them in muffin cups. The muffin cups are great because they can be filled with different things and then frozen. Now. You have quick eggs for the next day. Add veggies, tofu chunks or cheese and make a sandwich.
Bagels that have many benefits. Bagels with nutritional benefits are not just plain old bread. Nut butter, ricotta or sliced fruits or seeds can give them a nutrition boost.
A homemade quick-bread or muffin. Muffins can be made in a matter of minutes. Muffins are less expensive than baking muffins and have a better nutritional profile because they use less sugar. They freeze well. For extra protein, I add peanut butter (or powdered peanut Butter) to my peanut butter.
Roasting large sheets of vegetables can help you save time and get your vegetables in. You can then use them throughout the week.
Oatmeal bake or overnight oats. In a large bowl, combine 2 cups of oats with 2 tablespoons brown sugar, 1/2 teaspoon baking soda, and a pinch of salt. Mix 2 large eggs, 10 ounces milk, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, and 2 teaspoons butter or vegetable oils in a separate bowl. Stir into oat mixture. Mix in 1 cup of the berries and stir to combine. Spread the mixture into a 8-inch square baking dish that has been sprayed with cooking oil. Bake for 35-40 minutes. Cool, cut into squares.
In the DASH Diet for Two cookbook, you’ll find sheet pan chicken recipes with roasted vegetables, stuffed potatoes, and a vegged-out enchilada recipe. Also, these skillet meatballs.
