Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Cheap and Easy Meals for College Students

By Ryan Sullivan

This is such an expensive time for you and your family. One way you can help cut back on costs is to think outside of the menu when it comes to eating. In other words, you don't have to waste precious money on restaurant tabs when you can whip up something to eat in your dorm or apartment for most days. Find the nearest grocery store and pick up the following:

1. Pasta with Sauce, Mac ... Cheese, Ramen Noodles. Everybody love carbs, right? Let's face it, you're walking a lot more than you used to and you can probably use the energy anyway. These handy meals are easy to microwave and will warm you up on a cold day. With plenty of options in packaged ramen noodles, you could probably choose a different flavor every day and not get bored. Add some fruit and a little salad and you've got your nutritional bases covered.

2. Breakfast foods. Who said you can't have cereal for dinner? Or waffles for lunch? Did you know you can scramble eggs in the microwave? The point is, most breakfast foods are easy on the wallet but go a long way in satisfaction. Forget popcorn at the movies too and put some dry cereal in a baggie to munch on instead.

3. Sandwich night. Some whole wheat bread and a package of deli meat will go a long way. It's easy to get your vegetable fix in there too if you just pick up a tomato and a head of iceberg lettuce once a week. If you grow weary of ham or bologna, don't forget that a can of tuna and some mayo can make enough tuna salad for a few sandwiches. Also, an egg sandwich is a delicious alternative to lunch meat.

4. Frozen pizza. Don't pick up that phone! Delivery pizza can be a budget buster for sure. There are plenty of options in your grocer's freezer and almost all of them are under five dollars. Just sprinkle on some canned parmesan cheese and settle in for the night.

If these suggestions leave you a little flat, get creative and think of other ways to feed your cravings on a budget. Walk up and down the aisles at the store and you'll surely come up with ideas.Meals need not be expensive to be good.

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