easy recipes for the broke uni student || lifestyle
It's that time of year again (at least for me) where my money has disappeared into people's birthday presents and various other things (i.e. online orders that I certainly shouldn't have made.) I asked my mum and her friends to help me out with what their ideas were for actually making sure you could afford food during university. So here are a few tips from them, and their recipe ideas.
1. Buy in bulk and freeze it
2. Have a meal plan, or some semblance of what you're going to cook, and stick to it
3. Do a grocery shop every week.
disclaimer- a lot of these dishes include carbohydrates because they're cheap and filling (and the best sort of food). But if you aren't into that I've tried to include some others.
mac and cheese: a classic dish prepared with the easiest of ingredients - literally cheese and pasta (its a students paradise). mac and cheese obviously had to be at the top of the list because what better to eat (whether homemade or store bought) at 1am when you're having a mental break down over university? You can add anything to it; bacon, chicken, broccoli (if you feel so inclined). And the dish still tastes great.
bolognese bake: another simple pasta dish, which is literally baked cheesy pasta (and the recipe attached is three cheese, so all y'all lactose intolerant people can back away) with added mince to fill out the dish. It's for those who don't mind waiting a little while to get a great meal.
croquettes: these little balls of meat, veggies and mashed potato are heaven rolled into breadcrumbs. I have never had someone turn down my croquettes, especially once I explain "they're like little fried mashed potatoes." Just like mac and cheese you can add anything to them and be happy with the results.
soup: from pea soup to duck ramen the options for soup are absolutely endless. It is hearty, tasty and there's an added bonus of it being warm if you live in a colder area (Tasmania anyone?)
porridge: it's sometimes boring sure but there are so, so many ways to spice it up and make it delicious. It's also a great dish for any time of the day, whether it's late at night or early morning porridge is just warming and filled with goodness.
chow mein: this is the best sort of dish if you want something quick, easy and nourishing. I've added the recipe that I use all the time (and although it's a recipe from the back of the spice packet sometimes it doesn't hurt to follow the recipe.) If you want a healthier option you can always use brown rice instead of white and make sure that you use low-sodium soy sauce to taste once it's cooked.
pasta: cook up some pasta in a saucepan (and accidentally cook too much as everyone does) and add whatever you want to it. Personal favourite (and easiest) is garlic, olive oil, and parmesan because sometimes simple is better. A ridiculously simple way of creating a pasta sauce is to put two/three tomatoes in a saucepan along with a tin of peeled tomatoes, add some garlic, salt, pepper and rosemary and cook until it's paste-like. The easiest pasta sauce to create, and with no added preservatives.
there will be a part two of this post coming within the week. But I hope that all you broke uni students out there get some ideas for your meals!
1. Buy in bulk and freeze it
2. Have a meal plan, or some semblance of what you're going to cook, and stick to it
3. Do a grocery shop every week.
disclaimer- a lot of these dishes include carbohydrates because they're cheap and filling (and the best sort of food). But if you aren't into that I've tried to include some others.
mac and cheese: a classic dish prepared with the easiest of ingredients - literally cheese and pasta (its a students paradise). mac and cheese obviously had to be at the top of the list because what better to eat (whether homemade or store bought) at 1am when you're having a mental break down over university? You can add anything to it; bacon, chicken, broccoli (if you feel so inclined). And the dish still tastes great.
bolognese bake: another simple pasta dish, which is literally baked cheesy pasta (and the recipe attached is three cheese, so all y'all lactose intolerant people can back away) with added mince to fill out the dish. It's for those who don't mind waiting a little while to get a great meal.
croquettes: these little balls of meat, veggies and mashed potato are heaven rolled into breadcrumbs. I have never had someone turn down my croquettes, especially once I explain "they're like little fried mashed potatoes." Just like mac and cheese you can add anything to them and be happy with the results.
soup: from pea soup to duck ramen the options for soup are absolutely endless. It is hearty, tasty and there's an added bonus of it being warm if you live in a colder area (Tasmania anyone?)
porridge: it's sometimes boring sure but there are so, so many ways to spice it up and make it delicious. It's also a great dish for any time of the day, whether it's late at night or early morning porridge is just warming and filled with goodness.
chow mein: this is the best sort of dish if you want something quick, easy and nourishing. I've added the recipe that I use all the time (and although it's a recipe from the back of the spice packet sometimes it doesn't hurt to follow the recipe.) If you want a healthier option you can always use brown rice instead of white and make sure that you use low-sodium soy sauce to taste once it's cooked.
pasta: cook up some pasta in a saucepan (and accidentally cook too much as everyone does) and add whatever you want to it. Personal favourite (and easiest) is garlic, olive oil, and parmesan because sometimes simple is better. A ridiculously simple way of creating a pasta sauce is to put two/three tomatoes in a saucepan along with a tin of peeled tomatoes, add some garlic, salt, pepper and rosemary and cook until it's paste-like. The easiest pasta sauce to create, and with no added preservatives.
there will be a part two of this post coming within the week. But I hope that all you broke uni students out there get some ideas for your meals!
Comments
Post a Comment