Essential Pantry Items for the College Student

I'm providing this list from examples out of my own personal pantry. I'm not a college student, but I am a young adult who has a lot in common with them. This list is just a start, and can be edited to your likings.

Pasta

Everyone's pantry, no matter how old you are, should have dry pasta in it. Pasta comes in a variety of shapes. I suggest having a few varieties in your pantry, starting with the basics such as spaghetti, fettucine, elbow macaroni, penne and egg noodles. There are so many different recipes out there that use pasta, and since pasta is so inexpensive, it's easy to stock up on it.

Canned Veggies

Canned vegetables are a cheap essential, which can be used many different ways. You can use them as a side dish, mix them into a soup, or throw them into a pasta dish. Canned vegetables, especially the store brands, are dirt cheap. Stock up on the veggies you like. There's no need to buy peas if you hate them. The most popular canned veggies are corn, green beans, peas, carrots and mixed vegetables. In my opinion, canned vegetables taste better and cost less than the frozen ones.

Bread

No pantry can do without bread, although it's not something you can keep in the cupboards for months at a time. Bread will go stale and it will grow mold, so you'll need to use it up before the expiration, or "best by" date. Bread is a universal food, which can be used for all sorts of things, like grilled cheese sandwiches for lunch or toast in the morning. Bread can be cheap or a little expensive, depending on the brand and type you buy. Wheat is the most nutritious, but be sure it is 100% whole wheat bread.

Soup

Soup, whether it's from a can or from a box, is a food that a lot of college students eat. There are so many canned soups out there, from the classic Campbell's to the more hearty Progresso varieties. Boxed soups are my favorite, although they do take a little longer to make. Gia Russa and Lipton are just a few brands that offer boxed soup mixes. Campbell's is really cheap, while soups like Progresso cost about $2 per can. Either way, soup can provide you with a cheap, filling meal.

Sauces

Don't just think of tomato sauce on this one. There are many different types of sauces, which go great with pasta or on top of chicken or vegetables. Also, think about hot sauce, BBQ sauce and soy sauce. Of course, for pasta, tomato sauce is the most popular. You can also purchase Alfredo sauce, cheddar cheese sauce or pesto sauce to make simple dinners. Not only are sauces one of the best ways to top off a delicious dinner, they are also fairly inexpensive, depending on the brand you buy. Store brands can often be bought for less than $2 per jar.

Cereal

Cold cereals, as well as hot cereals like oatmeal, are something that every college student should have. Cereal makes for a quick, easy breakfast. It's also filling and healthy for you. Oatmeal or Cream of Wheat is great to eat in cold weather. Some of my favorite cereals include Honey Bunches of Oats with Strawberries, Frosted Flakes and Lucky Charms. Although I do enjoy Lucky Charms, sugary cereals are not as filling and shouldn't be eaten all the time. I also enjoy the fruit varieties of Cream of Wheat, which go great with a piece of toast or English muffin. Coupons from the Sunday newspaper are extremely helpful if you like cereal, since most coupons are for $1.00 off 2 boxes. Stock up when the cereal goes on sale.

Spices/Seasonings

If you like to cook, then you'll want to have some spices in your pantry as well. The basics include salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, parsley, meat tenderizer, poultry seasoning and oregano. Of course, there are so many spices out there, and you'll want to choose which ones you like the best, or use the most often. Just a few seasonings can make the difference between a dull piece of steak and a juicy, flavorful one. The dollar store often sells spices for just a buck, compared to $3-4 for brand name spices. They are the same thing, so buying them cheaper won't hurt.

Oil

Oil is another essential if you like to cook. Olive oil is healthy for you, and it's great to use when cooking or dressing a salad. Vegetable oil is good for frying foods and for use in certain brownie and cake mixes, but it's not quite as healthy. Oil can get costly, but if you stick to the store brands, you'll save money. Also, you don't need to buy a ton of oil if you don't use it a lot.

Jell-O and Pudding

Jell-O and pudding make for a great dessert or snack. You can either buy the boxed mixes, or you can purchase the cups in packs. Some pudding cups, like Snack Pack, don't need to be refrigerated until you're ready to eat it, so they have a longer shelf life. Both Jell-O and pudding are cheap and easy to make if you buy the mix.

Fruit Cups

Fruit cups are one of my favorite snack options in my pantry. I also love stocking up on applesauce cups, pineapple and mixed fruit cups. These also do not need to be refrigerated until they are ready to be eaten. Canned fruits are also a good choice, and can be cheaper as well.

Peanut Butter

Peanut butter is an essential if you like to make peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. It's also great on toast and English muffins.

Packaged Potatoes

One thing I love to make as a side dish with dinner is Au Gratin potatoes. Many nights, I don't have the energy or time to make the homemade recipe; therefore, I reach for the Betty Crocker version. For about $1.50 per box, you get packaged potatoes, along with seasoning to make your own potatoes. All you need to do is add water, milk and butter. It takes about 10-15 minutes to cook on the stove, but they can also be baked as well. The varieties include Au Gratin, Scalloped, Sour Cream and Chives, Roasted Garlic and Julienne. Betty Crocker is just one of the brands that make these potatoes, and you can also find them as store brand. With these types of packaged potatoes, you can also find instant mashed potatoes. If you enjoy making packaged foods like this, then you might like the packaged noodles as well, such as the Knorr Pasta and Rice Sides varieties.

Macaroni and Cheese

Mac and cheese is a staple in any young adult's pantry. I love macaroni and cheese, not only because it's simple to make, but because it brings back memories of when I was little, eating Kraft mac and cheese. A box of mac is very cheap, about 60 cents when it's on sale. If you don't like the Kraft macaroni and cheese dinner in the box, try Velveeta Shells and Cheese. Or, you can make your own macaroni and cheese from scratch by boiling up some elbow macaroni, then adding your own cheddar cheese sauce to the drained pasta. Anyway you make it, macaroni and cheese is the ultimate comfort food, and it's especially great for college students.

Canned Pasta

You might not be a fan of canned pasta, but it's another easy meal option to keep in your pantry. Canned pastas include Spaghettios, ravioli, spaghetti, and even macaroni and cheese. Spaghettios come in different varieties as well, from original to meatballs. It might not be the healthiest option, but it sure is cheap and easy.

Drink Mixes and Water

One thing my pantry always has is drink mixes. My favorite so far has been the Special K20 water mix, which can be added to any bottle of water. It helps keep hunger away during the day, and it's also healthy for you too. Some other favorites include tubs of Country Time pink lemonade powder mix, 4C iced tea mix, and Crystal Light varieties of mixes. These drink mixes cost much less than buying the drinks in the bottle already mixed. Speaking of drink mixes, you should be sure to keep lots of bottled water in your pantry too. Refrigerate what's necessary, but always keep it stocked. You can always benefit from bottled water, especially when you're on the go.