Easy & Affordable Meal Planning for College Students

Do Your Research

Search for recipes throughout the week, and then select maybe two of them to live off of for that week. Also, friends and roommates are great resources. Ask what they tend to eat and what’s easy (other than fast food or junk).

Take Inventory

You need to know what you already have. Leftovers can be used for different dishes, so you don’t have to waste them. It is a good idea to take inventory so you can plan meals based around certain ingredients you have. And it keeps you from adding an item to your grocery list that you might already have.

Start with the Basics

Buying in bulk is always less expensive than purchasing smaller quantities. When you’re deciding which meals to prepare for the week, consider recipes that call for versatile ingredients, such as rice, beans, or pasta. Then attempt to incorporate these into as many meals as possible. With well stocked shelves (such as spices, salts, condiments, and other cooking staples on hand), you won’t be starting from scratch at every meal.

Simplest Meals First

To simplify this process, just start with the simplest meals on your list. For many people, this is breakfast. If you know you want to make an omelet every day for breakfast, you can write down the ingredients you need, and be done with that portion of the meal planning.

Make sure you not only write the meals you need for each one you are planning, but also the ingredients, and the amount of ingredients. Having more than one chicken dish? Look at the amount you need for each and get a good total of how much chicken to buy. This will prevent multiple trips to the store in the middle of the week.

One recipe idea is to stick with a theme for certain days. For example, Tuesdays can be taco night or soup night. This can make creating recipes easy. It also allows your week to be broken up just enough to ensure that you don’t get bored.

Make a List and Stick to It

Buy only what you need for the weekly menu. This requires having a grocery list each and every time you head to the store. You know what order you go in the grocery store, whether you start in produce or do the deli and bakery first, so that is how your list can be ordered. This is going to make shopping the fastest possible. It also makes it quicker if you avoid aisles with foods you don’t need.

Quick Meal Prep

Keep it simple: pre-cutting and pre-cooking ingredients can save a lot of time for you during the week.  When you pre-cut your vegetables and store them in airtight bags or containers for cooking, it’s much easier.

Use Leftovers as Much as Possible

Making large batches of food and freezing the leftovers (such as soups, lasagna and recipes using chicken) make it easy. All you have to do is defrost a portion in the microwave and you have a quick meal. Make meal-sized portions prior to freezing.

Avoid Getting Bored with Your Meals

For those who become bored quickly, you should try out a new recipe each week. Another tip is to try different (pre-made) sauces. This is a great way to further enhance your creativity in the kitchen. The more recipes that you have, the greater the variety of your meal plans.

Keep it Real

Don’t have unrealistic expectations. One example being: “I’m going to eat out only once a week!” You’re going to get coffee and maybe a sandwich with a friend. So leave some room in your budget to account for those kinds of times. It’s only to be expected.

Once you’ve gotten into the habit of planning and prepping your week’s meals in advance, you’ll find it easy to stick to the schedule—and your budget.

Meal Planning and Recipe Resources

Healthy College Meals (Budget-Friendly and Meal-Prep!)

7-Day College Student Meal Plan

Budget Meal Prep Ideas for College Students

Easy College Dinner Recipes with Printable Weekly Meal Plan and Shopping List

How to Cook in College When You Actually Have a Kitchen

At the Arise Society, we help young adults that are struggling with anxiety, depression, gaming and other motivational issues. We provide personalized academic, therapeutic, and social support in a real-world setting, which gives our students the skills to reach their fullest potential. A key aspect of our social support comes from the friendships and time spent between our program professionals and students. Fun activities, outings, and shared experiences around life skills, such as cooking together and shopping, provide a basis of understanding for our students’ social needs. And we have fun!