HOW TO EAT HEALTHY IN COLLEGE
It sure isn’t easy to buy lots of fresh, organic produce, deli items or your favorite expensive granola when you’re already paying thousands of dollars a year for school. Luckily, I’ve done the research for you and have found all you need to know so you can stay fit and healthy while on a tight budget.
TRY DOING THESE:
1. First, look around the neighborhood for relatively healthy grocery stores (like Trader Joes and Lunds) and start there.
2. Make a list of foods to get on a regular basis and stick to it. Don’t get too excited about trying new dishes. Just stick to the basics.
3. Fill most of your cart with fresh produce. Produce can be cheap if you know what to look for. Here are some low-cost produce to stock up on:
- Bananas (~45 cents/each)
- Broccoli & cauliflower
- Certain apples (in season)
- Carrots
- Oranges
- Brussels sprouts
- Lemons
- Turnips
4. Shop by season. I cannot stress this enough. My favorite apples to buy are Honeycrisp and when they’re out of season, they’re ridiculously expensive. Like Honeycrisp apples, you may need to wait for your favorite foods to be in season.
5. Know where your local farmers market is. They’re great because their prices are lower than most supermarkets. They also have more organic, locally grown options, which is a huge plus!
6. Stock up on frozen foods. I wouldn’t normally say this, but when money is really tight, frozen fruits and vegetables are a great way to go. They’re not only cheaper, but they also last much longer. Organic food can be dreaded by college students, but with frozen foods, you can both save money and not worry about spoiling.
7. Stock up on these cheap foods:
- Peanut butter
- Oatmeal
- Brown rice
- Bread & pasta
- Fennel
- Eggs
- Popcorn
- Canned beans
- Lentils
- Greek yogurt
- Skim milk
- Almond milk
MEAL PLAN EXAMPLE
Breakfast
- Fruit smoothie (banana, almond milk, frozen berries, greek yogurt)
- Scrambled eggs
- Greek yogurt with granola
- Oatmeal with peanut butter & banana
Lunch
- Sandwich (hummus & veggies or PB&J)
- Brown rice & boiled green peas
- Pasta salad (whole wheat pasta, tomatoes, mushrooms, spinach)
Dinner
- Lentils
- Boiled sweet potatoes
- Whole wheat toast with avocado
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