You haven’t returned home since the morning, and it is now midnight. You want something quick and inexpensive since you’re starving, but when you open your refrigerator, it’s empty.
The adjustment from living at home to living alone at college can be difficult for many students, particularly when it comes to planning their next meal. This increases anxiety about your next meal and makes it simple to become caught up in a costly cycle of eating out. Students should prepare their meals and make meal plans rather than falling into this pattern.
John Sauter, the HEB vice president of meat, seafood, deli, meal easy, and restaurants, stated, “I love meal prepping, and we see so many more families, but specifically college students that are meal prepping.” The best method to save money is to prepare your meals in advance.
Cost is a concern for many college students when they go grocery shopping. Students typically set aside a certain amount of money for food, but supermarkets like HEB make buying on a tight budget simpler. To assist shoppers save money, a lot of grocery stores have promotions, coupons, and reduced prices on vegetables.
Because grocery shopping takes up more time, some students might skip dinner preparation at home, but many retailers provide curbside pickup. With this feature, customers may use the app to plan their meals and select a precise time that suits their schedules to visit the store.
Communication and leadership junior Makayla De La Paz stated, “I enjoy curbside or delivery because I can plan out exactly what I’m getting for the week.” It’s just quick, effective, and simple. My everyday schedule is much aided by it.
One effective meal prep method is to prepare everything ahead of time so that you won’t have to worry about it later.
I simply prepare my meals a few days ahead of time, and when I go home, they’re ready, said Alexa Gonzalez, a junior studying English and government. It allows me to spend less time worrying about other things and more time working on my work or assignments.
Cooking at home increases the nutritious value of your meals and lowers your chance of developing chronic illnesses like type 2 diabetes, according to the NIH. Meals prepared at home are also less expensive than takeout.
Your schedule is less stressful when you know exactly what you will be eating when you get home. You don’t have to worry about meals, which might seem like just another nuisance to many college students. Meal preparation and planning relieves you of one burden and allows you to concentrate on other essentials for students.
Being alone for the first time and having to plan your next meal might be challenging, but there are methods to make it simpler, less expensive, and less burdensome. You can finally have a completely stocked refrigerator when you get home from a hard day by setting aside time to prepare your meals.
Healy, a San Antonio, Texas native, is a junior studying journalism.
