You’re standing in front of the fridge, starving from your long day of classes. The only thing inside? Some shredded cheese and a case of beer. We’ve all been, or else at least I have. Cooking when you’re in college is anything but glamorous, but it’s the first place I learned how to do so – or at least how to get by.
I’ll be the first to admit I’m not the best cook, or anything close to it. When I first got to school, my early meals were mostly ramen or some boxed mac and cheese. Which, as you can guess, gets old real fast. But after a few months, and more money spent on takeout than I’d like to admit, I realized skill doesn’t really matter – you just have to be willing to try.
First off, I realized, weekly grocery trips are a must. And it doesn’t have to break the bank either. I learned just having a few staples, like pasta or frozen veggies, can be a lifesaver. It’s important that before the week starts, and the class chaos ensues, you have to be stocked. Relying on a few go-to dishes, even if they don’t seem so great in the store, really comes in handy during your mid-week slump. Just having a few versatile ingredients in your apartment will show you just how creative you can get.
For example, I love what I’ve deemed a “kitchen sink quesadilla.” All you need, really, is a tortilla and whatever’s in your fridge. Sometimes it’s just chicken and cheese, other times leftover veggies. On rare occasions, it includes some fun sauce – and that’s what I like to call a treat. Just having ingredients to work with makes all the difference.
The best lesson you can learn is that you don’t need to spend a lot to eat well. Make a list before shopping and stick to buying store brands. Planning a few repeat meals each week has made my bank account very happy. I stopped buying impulse ingredients (it helps when you don’t go to the store hungry), and instead focused on items that could be used in countless meals. And, the less pressure I put on myself to make a dish perfect, the better they got.
I don’t necessarily enjoy cooking, but making food in college taught me more than just how to prepare dinner – it taught me how important it is to take care of yourself. So, go to the grocery store, learn a few basic dishes and set yourself up for success, one improvised meal at a time.
