I moved off campus and dropped my meal plan as soon as I could so that I could cook for myself. It’s something I have always enjoyed but I quickly realized that it’s a lot harder when you have to stock the kitchen yourself. Here are some tips and tricks I have picked up

1. SPICES ARE YOUR FRIENDS

Spices and seasonings are what will add interest and variation to anything you cook. Some good basic spices and seasonings are: salt, black pepper, oregano, basil, cumin, red pepper flakes, paprika, garlic salt, and Lawry’s chicken rub. Go for the ones sold in plastic baggies rather than the ones in plastic containers if you can. Those plastic shakers are convenient but they tend to be pricier. Condiments and sauces like soy sauce, sriracha, ketchup, jarred pasta sauces, or (insert your favorite here) are also a good idea.

2. HAVE SOME BASE INGREDIENTS YOU ALWAYS KEEP IN STOCK

By base ingredients I mean versatile foods that can be used in a variety of dishes. Things like eggs, chicken, tofu, beans, rice, oatmeal, or pasta/noodles are all good base ingredients. You may have noticed that all the base ingredients are either carbs or proteins. These are the most filling parts of a meal and the blank canvas that produce and sauces are added to to make all sorts of things. If, for whatever reason, you cannot get fruits or vegetables, you will still be able to go to classes on a full stomach if you have a carb or a protein.

3. FIND SOME GO-TO RECIPES

Planning is your friend when you are on a tight schedule. A lot of meals can be prepped at the beginning of the week just by chopping up the ingredients (a surprisingly time consuming task) and sticking them in containers in the fridge. If you have two dishes you plan on cooking that week that require tomatoes, then chop enough for both and use as needed, if you want to make salad with chicken in it for lunch all week, cook up all that chicken Sunday night.

4. KEEP IT SIMPLE

You don’t need to get fancy and use lots of dishes to make a meal.You could make your own burrito bowls with some rice, beans, the protein of your choice, and some veg (some parsley too if you’re feeling fancy). It’s an easy meal to take for lunch in a container. There are also several ways to make one-pot pasta or you could stick to the classic college diet of ramen noodles with some easy upgrades. Remember, have fun and don’t put too much pressure on yourself. Tasty food does not have to be complicated and you don’t have to be a five star to make it.