Tips for Making Cheap and Healthy College Meals

It's that time again-time for school to start back up, and the bills to stack to the roof. Every college student knows the financial difficulties that arise with the start of a new year; tuition, books, and fees leave little in the way of grocery money. The happy news is, however, that healthy (or at least healthier than your standard Ramen) can be achieved even on a shoestring budget. It just requires a bit of creativity and an open mind.

Be picky about your grocery store.
Don't shop for convenience. Stopping by your closest grocery store may not be the ticket to cheap healthy eating. Though you may be a college student, there are certainly ways to go a little further to find prices that aren't through the roof. If you have an ALDI anywhere near you, go there. I have never found cheaper prices for more quality food. As a starving college student, it is one of my best assets.

Pick your nutrients.
Again, don't shop for convenience. Sure, you probably wont have time to cook a full course meal between studying for finals and finishing papers-but purchasing twelve TV dinners isn't cost effective or healthy. Instead, try and incorporate certain things your body needs in your cheap healthy eating plan. You need protein. Shop for inexpensive varieties. Remember that beef isn't the only protein as well-dairy and beans are a great source of protein that also offer calcium and fiber, respectively. Iron can be found in some red meats, but can also be found in dark green leafy vegetables.

Get those veggies!
College students have a habit of loading up on the carbs. Spaghetti and bread are cheap, sure, but they don't really offer as much on a nutritional level as you would think. If you can, opt for whole wheat carbs, and add in more vegetables! My best tip as a college student is to buy frozen vegetables. This is fantastic for a few different reasons: a) they tend to be rather inexpensive, especially if you buy generic brand, and b) they don't go bad! I've thrown away so much fresh produce because a hectic schedule kept me from cooking. My favorites tend to be stir-fry mixes (without the sauce added), or California mix. They can be used in pasta, mixed into ramen, or thrown into canned soup for more substantial meals.

Understanding nutrition is the first step to eating healthy on a budget. You don't have to buy a slew of foods marked healthy at the store. You just need a good balance of nutrients and less junk. It doesn't matter if you're a college student or a movie star. Just realize that even on a college student budget that you can eat healthy.