Cooking for One in College

When you lived at home, your mother made dinner for the whole family every day of the week. She also made lunches, breakfast and snacks.

When you live with a whole family, the pantry has to be full and the cupboards have to be busting at the hinges—and if you had a lot of family (like families in certain Western states), then you probably had a walk-in pantry and a large freezer, just so mom didn’t have to go grocery shopping every day. When you first move out on your own, you’ll be tempted to shop the same way your mom did—if she helps you on your first shopping trip, there will be no stopping it. But shopping like mom doesn’t always have benefits when you’re living in a tiny apartment with just one or two roommates. Check out these tips on cooking for one in college and save yourself a bundle.

Divide portions to avoid wasting food

No matter what you are making, there is a way to divide it into smaller portions. You know how to read and (hopefully) you know how to divide, or you wouldn’t have made it this far. So when you pull out that box of Mac & Cheese and are done trying to convince yourself that re-heated Mac & Cheese doesn’t actually taste like dirty gym socks or have the consistency of throw-up, try simple division. Divide everything by two (or four, depending on how much you eat) and put the unused dry portion of the pasta in a baggie and leave the unused portion of the cheese powder in the packet. Voila! You have officially cut your portions in half. The same can be done with…nearly everything else. Oh, and don’t forget that when you go out to eat, you don’t have to horde—this isn’t your last meal, fellas. You can ask for a take-home box at the beginning of the meal, put half in the box and only eat what’s on your plate. Then you’re guaranteed extra food for the next day.

Use clever options to avoid wasteful purchasing

When you’re cooking for one there’s no shame in eating what you love. But you have to be smart about it. Instead of buying an entire head of lettuce, a whole bag of radishes, a can of kidney beans, a carton of eggs, a jar of mini corn cobs and a whole bag of peas, go to the salad bar in the grocery store and get enough lettuce and toppings for just one or two days. Not only will you save a ton of money up front, but you’ll avoid unnecessary spoilage and waste and eat healthier. What college student can’t use that?

Use your freezer and those odd “going to college” gifts to create fast, on-the-go, homemade meals

When you move into your first student apartment, you’ll probably end up with a big box of hand-me-down kitchenware and appliances—an electric can opener, toaster, and pots and pans. Chances are, you might also end up with a crock pot, steamer, chafing pot or other seemingly useless appliance—and if you agree, oh how wrong you are. You can cook large amounts of food at a time in these appliances, portion them out in Tupperware and freeze the purposely created leftovers to make instant, homemade meals. This can be an especially helpful habit to form, so you can stock up when prices are low and save money in the long run.
Learning to live on your own in a student apartment is a rewarding experience—it gives you freedom and the right to learn to live above your means by being clever. Avoiding waste with simple tips can save you hundreds a year and put you far ahead of the “payback” curve when college is done and loan collections begin.