By Myrriah Gossett
The kitchen, to some, is a scary place where only your friends who have worked in restaurants or your mom ever ventured. Fear no more. Staying on a college budget is a lot easier when eating at home instead of deciding which restaurant you’re going to for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The average cost of lunch at a reasonably priced sit down restaurant downtown is around $8 per person. In comparison, a little more than $8 can buy you a pound of chicken, a bag of rice and broccoli from Kroger—enough to feed two people, not just one.
Eating healthier foods also gives you more energy. Who couldn’t use that during midterms or finals? While some of the foods mentioned in this column will definitely not be completely healthy, they will always be cheap, and probably less calories and fat than you would find at most restaurants in town.
First, you need the basics. Every kitchen needs a few things in stock to keep things cheap and to make the shopping list shorter.
Kitchen Needs 101:
- Flour—all purpose.
- Sugar—white granulated, powered and brown
- Salt and Pepper
- Garlic
- Eggs (If vegan, don’t worry. Vegan recipes coming soon.)
- Milk (or soy milk)
- Butter
- Rice
- Pasta
- Frozen Vegetables
- Your favorite selection of fresh fruit and vegetables as per season
Now, when it says per season, this means seasonal eating or produce that is ripe right now. Simplesteps.org lists what is in season in Georgia. Or you can always go to the Farmers’ Market every Saturday in Forsyth Park. October is time for apples, sweet potatoes, tomatoes and corn among other things.
Why seasonal? This usually means it wasn’t shipped as far and that equals less preservatives, less time on a truck and less money you spend on them. The Farmers’ Market as well as Polk’s Produce on Oglethorpe Avenue have just as competitive prices as the large grocery stores, but you’re supporting local farms.
For dorm room students who do not have kitchens:
It may seem hard but there are things you can do to eat at home—and healthy. Your list can include things that can be eaten raw or only require a microwave to cook.
Dorm Room 101:
- Canned soups
- Salad ingredients that you can break down into premade bags or containers (tomatoes, carrots, peppers)
- Peanut Butter
- Bread
- Jelly
- Rice
- Deli sliced meats or cheeses (can be vegetarian options as well)
Also, do not doubt the power of the microwave; I’ve seen people make cakes, scrambled eggs and pasta all in the microwave. It can be done.
So, strap on your apron, grab a pot or a pan and turn on the stove. College recipes are coming your way soon.
