Do you want to save money by cooking more meals at home? Or maybe you miss eating homemade meals? Cooking can sound hard, especially with a busy college schedule. But instead of calling it cooking, let’s just call it putting meals together.
Easier, right? That’s really all it is – getting a few different food groups together, and turning it into a meal. Don’t overthink it. Here are a few examples, but the options are endless:
- hummus, veggies, and pita bread
- tuna melts, apple slices, and carrots and ranch
- veggies omelets, toast, and some grapes
- cooked pasta with pesto, veggies, and sliced sausage or cooked chicken
- tostadas or tacos with beans, cheese, avocado, corn, coleslaw or lettuce and tomatoes
Building a routine and meal planning can help you get the most out of your kitchen. Follow these 10 tips to start your meal planning journey.
1. Make a grocery list
Do you walk into the grocery store and never know what to buy? Grocery lists can make shopping a breeze. Pick a meal or two that you want to cook this week and write down the ingredients on a piece of paper or the notes app on your phone. This way you have a plan and know you will use all of the ingredients you buy.
A great resource is the app Mealime. You choose what recipe you would like to cook and then the app compiles all the ingredients you need onto a list. Easy peasy. Before heading to the store, remember to add whatever else you need to your list for snacks, breakfast, and lunches.
2. Try new recipes
New recipes allow you to try new foods and have variety in your diet. Looking for some ideas? There are tons of recipes online. Check out websites such as Spoon University or apps like Mealime to make cooking a breeze. TikTok is another quick way to find new recipes, along with following Instagrammers like @budgetbytes.
3. Create a recipe journal
If you find a recipe you like, and it doesn’t take too long, make sure to write it down. This way you can make it again and keep track of any changes or modifications you want to make. Keeping a recipe book or drawer can help you keep your ideas organized and easy to access.
If you use Pinterest, then you might make a Pinterest board for “Recipes to Try” and then another board for “My Very Favorites”. Only a select few make that final list – and only after I’ve tried it and it has passed “the test”. For me, the test has a few criteria – 20 minutes to make, not a ton of ingredients, reasonably priced ingredients, and most important – it has to TASTE GOOD!
4. Take advantage of sales
College students are always looking for ways to save money. Check out the weekly sales for some meal planning inspiration, and to save a few bucks. Buying fresh foods in season can help you save money and incorporate more fruits and veggies into your diet – especially the inexpensive plant-based foods that are cheap all year round like beans, rice, zucchini, carrots, broccoli, cauliflower, potatoes, sweet potatoes, canned and frozen mixed veggie’
5. Make it fun
Some people find cooking to be very relaxing while others think of it as a chore. If cooking feels boring, you can try playing your favorite music. Inviting your roommates to help you cook is a fun way to spend time together and enjoy a nice homemade meal. Also, picking a recipe that you think would be exciting to try to make can bring joy to cooking.
6. Plan a dessert
Meal planning is not limited to just meals. Desserts are an important part of a balanced diet, and bring joy and pleasure to the eating experience. Baking pies or holiday cookies is a fun way to celebrate fall and take a break from studying.
7. Start slow
When you start cooking, it is really easy to get excited and want to jump right into making tons of homemade meals. In reality, it is much easier to start small. Choose one or two days to cook dinner a week to start. Once you get comfortable putting meals together, you can add in another day or two until you find a schedule that works for you.
8. Cook the foods you love
Do you miss those home cooked meals your parents used to make? Call them up and ask for the recipe!. Tasting a familiar meal can be comforting and nice reminder you of home. Make sure you write down these recipes in a recipe book so you always have them.
9. Schedule it
Cooking takes time and with busy schedules and finals approaching it can be difficult to find the time. Scheduling time to cook with your planner can help you stay organized. Scheduling a day to go grocery shopping each week can also help you stay consistent with your meal planning.
10. Be flexible
Cooking and meal planning can be a lot of fun but it’s important to be flexible with your meals. If you are overwhelmed with school and need to take a night off to order food, that’s okay!
Use your meal plan as a guideline rather than a strict schedule. Plan for a few meals that take less than 10 minutes to make and a few that are longer. That way you can be strategic on busy nights.
Remember, cooking doesn’t have to be a chore, or complicated – it can be fun to learn new skills and eat yummy food.