Cooking in College: Dining on a Tight Student Budget

College students are notorious for having no money and consequently living on a diet consisting strictly of Top Ramen and Mountain Dew. Now don't get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with Top Ramen or Mountain Dew, but I think we can all agree that neither one provides the proper nutrients our bodies need. Not to mention the fact that there are only so many flavors of Ramen out there, and eventually they all get old and start to taste exactly the same.

So, until you graduate and get that great job, and can afford to hire your own gourmet chef, what is a poor student to do?

Believe it or not, there are ways to eat fairly well on a tight budget. The key is to buy a lot of rice, pasta, chicken, spaghetti noodles, beef, eggs, potatoes and the cheaper fruits and vegetables. There are an infinite number of dish combinations you can make with just these ingredients and a few herbs and spices. Then buy a good cookbook that specializes in quick, simple, easy to make recipes. Believe me, there are many out there.

If you are the more artsy, creative type, try experimenting with whatever you have in the fridge. I like to combine foods that most people would never think of putting together - like macaroni and cheese and BBQ baked beans. The result is a delicious, hearty dish that you can make in 6-7 minutes. And there are endless other possibilities out there.

When you go to the grocery store, know what you are looking for and buy so much of the cheap stuff that you don't have room for all those delicious, yet way overpriced items tempting you. If you come across an exceptional sale (and there is almost always one of these going on if you look for it), load up on the item. When I find Campbell's Chunky Soups on sale for $1 a can, I buy about fifty. Also, try not to buy too many items that will go bad quickly. I learned early on that buying five dozen eggs in one trip to the grocery store is not a good idea. Unless you are like Rocky and eat nine every day before your morning run, there is no way to go through that many eggs before they turn putrid.

If you are wise and careful with your grocery choices, not only will you be able to create delicious and inexpensive meals, you will also have a little money left over for beer. What more could you ask for?