by Heather Reid

Created on: February 13, 2010

So, what is there to cooking as a college student besides Ramen Noodles?  True, Ramen Noodles are the cheapest and easiest way to make a meal while living on a college budget.  But, there's only so many noodles one can eat.  There are essentials every college student needs to have great meals while living away from home.

DORM COOKING - Most dorms have a kitchen area where dorm residents are welcome to cook meals.  Most are equipped with a stove, utensils and pots and pans.  A good idea is to round up 4-5 friends or more and have each person chip in an ingredient or part of the meal.  One person can buy the entree, one can provide a side-dish and someone else can bring a dessert or drinks.  This is a great way to get a quality meal for paying only a fraction of the cost.  Another fun idea is to have everyone chip $5 and see what kind of a meal you all can come up with.  This is still cheaper than going out to eat and all of you can hang out and have fun cooking the meal.

In your dorm room, it is essential to have a microwave, microwavable dishes, a mini-fridge and a heating plate (if allowed).  There are many varieties of microwavable meals these days and you can actually get a decent meal that takes minutes to make.  Rice dishes, ready-made meals, and even lasagna are options you can choose to make right in your room.  Make sure to have essentials such as milk, butter, eggs, water, fruits and veggies on hand for snacks and cooking help.

Take advantage of any free meals going on in your dorm.  When I was in college, a lot of local eateries would give out samples or coupons to promote their restaurants.  Get in line and enjoy a free meal!

OFF-CAMPUS COOKING - If you live off campus, treat your kitchen as you remember from home.  Have pots and pans,utensils and basic ingredients and spices for meals.  Most off-campus housing provides appliances, so you shouldn't have to worry about that.  If you have a roommate, take turns every other week buying groceries.  Make a menu for what meals you guys can eat together and buy other snacks and foods as necessary.  This is way cheaper than going out to eat and buying pizzas every night - and you may avoid the "Freshman 15."  If you do go out to eat, grab any coupons you might have or share the bill with friends.  Going to a buffet style restaurant is cheaper and you get more food for your buck.

I know this is the time to party as well, so by going to parties when wanting to imbibe (assuming you are of age) is a better way to save on drinks.  Also, making frequent trips home to the parents' house will provide you with ample meals and they may even buy you some groceries for the week. 

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