After moving out of my dorm and losing the reliability of a dining hall meal plan, I spent a couple years surviving off of Pop Tarts, cold cut sandwiches, and scrambled eggs (an exaggeration, but not too far from the truth). That kept me alive, but I've since realized that I can't live off of that stuff forever.
Although I still have a very, very long ways to go, here are a few things I've learned about cooking and grocery shopping that I wish I knew during my first year out of the dorms.
If you have a crockpot, you have a superpower
And that's no joke. Throw a few ingredients into the pot, turn it on, and head to class. You'll have a fully cooked, hot, delicious meal when you get home. Plus, if you live alone, you'll probably have leftovers for the next few days!
Never grocery shop when you're hungry
Snickers got it right, you're not you when you're hungry. Your hangry self will be the death to your wallet if you walk into a grocery store. Do yourself a huge favor and have a snack before shopping.
Make a list of things you need to avoid impulse purchases
Snaking your way through every isle may help remind you of what you need, but it will also tell you what you don't need, like that face mask or that box of brownie mix. Sure, you can and should treat yo self now and then, but as a general rule of thumb, if it's not on the list, don't buy it.
Never buy a ton of produce at once
You probably won't eat it all before it goes bad, particularly if you live by yourself like I do. Only buy what you know you'll be able to eat within a few days. When in doubt, buy frozen produce that'll last longer.
Use pre-cooked meats
Not only will it save you hours in the kitchen, you'll avoid under-cooking something and making yourself sick.
When you can, cook in bulk
If you have the time, spend a few hours in the kitchen jamming to music and meal prepping for the week. It's actually pretty fun, it'll save you time and money, and you won't have to worry about what/when your next full meal will be.
You can make a TON of things in a microwave
Scrambled eggs! Brownies! Vegetables! Spaghetti! Baked potatoes! Honestly, the possibilities are practically limitless, especially with the internet at your fingertips to give you some inspo.
There's more to pasta than jarred sauce
When I'm tired and hungry, one of my go-to meals right now is pasta and some Prego sauce. But, it's really not that much more difficult or time consuming to add some meet, veggies, and some extra spices. Don't be afraid to experiment!
Lastly, don't get overwhelmed with all the fancy kitchen gadgets
They may seem fun, but odds are they're pretty unnecessary and you'll probably only use it once or twice anyway. Plus, it's very likely that you're going to be moving around a lot over the next few years and won't want the extra stuff to haul. Don't waste your time with that craziness.
