No matter your age, maintaining a nutritious diet is tough.
Besides resisting the constant lure of deep-fried and sugar-laden treats that surround us, you also need to figure out how to incorporate fresh, wholesome groceries into your finances. And, of course, learn how to prepare them.
That challenge magnifies once you’re in college.
You’re likely short on cash and may never have purchased (or budgeted for) your own groceries before. Up until now, your experience with meal planning might have been limited to watching someone bring dinner to the table.
So trying to eat well while juggling a new schedule, keeping a social life — and, you know, deciding what to do with the rest of your life — isn’t easy.
But it can be done. And it’s really, really important.
How to Avoid the Notorious Freshman 15
During my first semester, I spent hours in the all-you-can-eat dining hall just a few steps from my dorm.
You only had to swipe your meal card once and you could linger as long as you wanted. I’d bring all my textbooks and christen it a study session, snacking whenever I felt like it. I told myself it was the economical choice.
When I noticed my clothes getting tighter, I tried to come up with a plan to make my dining hall habits less excessive. True story: After lunch I’d grab some ice cream and eat it walking up the hill toward class, then leave the empty dish and spoon at the other dining hall at the top.
“They totally cancel each other out, right?” I’d half-joke with friends.
Two pant sizes later, it wasn’t funny.
In all the prep you did for college, you’ve probably heard about the infamous freshman 15 — the extra pounds many first-year students unexpectedly collect.
It’s easy to understand why. For many, college is the first time away from structured meal times imposed by school and the relative wholesomeness of meals at home.
Also, well, there’s practically endless food available in dining halls.
But you don’t have to accept graduating with a larger waistline — or an empty bank account.
Really.
First Things First: You Need a Budget
Whether you’ve had a job forever or this is your first time managing money, the secret to avoiding financial disaster in college is making and sticking to a budget. Now.
Otherwise, you could find yourself spending big loan checks on… less-than-studious choices.
Sit down and list everything you must regularly pay for — each semester, quarter and month. That might include tuition, housing and meal fees or rent. Maybe you also cover car insurance or a mobile plan.
(You can simplify this by putting your finances into a budgeting app.)
Next, compare your regular expenses to your income, whether from a job or, if that’s your only cash, your student loan disbursements.
The remainder — the leftover funds — is what you have to spend on everything else, including food.
Clearly, there are other purchases you’ll want (or need) like textbooks while you’re in school.
But when it comes down to it, all the groceries you buy must fit inside that number — a sum that, given your eating habits, might seem worryingly small.
Luckily, you went to college to learn new skills (right?), including how to stretch your food dollars as far as possible.
Here are 10 top tips for eating well and affordably while you’re in college, whether on campus or off.
Eating Healthy in Campus Dining Halls
Wondering how to eat healthfully while living on campus? It’s totally possible! (Hint: Step away from the frozen yogurt machine slowly…)
1. Cook in Your Dorm.
Even if you’re limited to a mini-fridge and a microwave, you can still create tasty, nutritious and inexpensive meals at “home.”
We put together a list of 15 great dorm-friendly recipes for under $5 each — and most cost much less than that.
Also, many dorms include a communal kitchen, so you have no excuse. Get in there and start cooking!
2. Use the Buffet — But Be Strategic.
If your buffet-style dining hall lets you take food to go, do it — but with a plan. (No, bringing back three dozen donuts from breakfast isn’t a smart move.)
Good options for stocking your dorm are single-serve yogurt, whole fruit or hard-boiled eggs. If you have fridge space, pack a container with mixed vegetables, plain brown rice and lean protein to reheat later.
3. DON’T Treat the Endless Buffet as a Budget Hack.
As I and my now-too-tight pants discovered, it’s actually not economical to eat as much as possible just because you can. And you won’t just blow money on clothes.
Overindulging in unhealthy items can also contribute to longer-term health issues.
4. Fill Up on Vegetables.
No matter your campus or dining hall, there’s usually a salad bar. So go ahead and load up on fresh veggies before serving the main portion of your meal.
You’ll get essential nutrients without spending extra on pricey produce or supplements, and you’ll reduce the likelihood of overeating higher-calorie mains, creating an automatic balance at mealtime.
5. Skip the Soda Fountain.
Even if you’ve always had soda, now is a great time to quit.
Soda is a simple way to consume countless empty calories and a shocking amount of sugar without realizing it.
Your body will feel better, and your mind clearer if you opt for water. It might even help your grades — no one does well on a mid-afternoon exam while crashing from sugar.
By the way, tap water is free, unlike soft drinks.
Eating Healthy Off Campus
If you’ve moved out of the dorms, eating well becomes easier, but it still requires planning and dedication.
Here’s how to take charge of your food spending and your well-being — adult-style!
6. Cook Your Meals at Home!
Yes, this advice shows up in nearly every article about saving on food, but it’s especially relevant for students.
College towns are full of convenient eateries, and when you’re juggling work, classes, activities, friendships and the occasional bit of sleep, it’s easy to give in.
But while Chipotle might seem like an $8 bargain for a meal you plan to stretch into two servings, you can make a bigger, equally tasty burrito bowl at home for a fraction of the cost.
And when you prepare food yourself, you control what goes in — particularly fats and sugars. Even places that market themselves as healthy often add more oils and additives than you would use.
If your town’s burrito joint has the same long lines as mine did, home cooking probably won’t take much more time.
7. Be Deliberate When Dining Out.
You’ll eat out sometimes — and that’s fine. Even savers need social time during college.
But don’t fritter your dining dollars on greasy bar fare and overpriced beer you could buy cheaper at the store.
Choose restaurants serving generous portions of nutritious, quality dishes. With growing interest in healthy options, more places offer make-your-own-salad counters, light Asian bowls or Mediterranean menus.
Instead of overeating, stop when you’re satisfied and take the rest home. You’ll save money and avoid extra pounds.
8. Keep Meals Simple.
Having your own kitchen can make you want to attempt extravagant dishes your family would have raised an eyebrow at.
But if a recipe needs a small amount of an expensive ingredient that spoils quickly (hello, fresh herbs), your experiments can drain your grocery budget. Maybe there was some reason mom didn’t make deep-fried bacon mac and cheese sandwiches every night.
Build meals around simple, affordable, nutritious staples like chicken breast and fresh vegetables. Maintain a compact but useful spice collection to add a variety of flavors with just a sprinkle.
Unless you strike it rich, you’ll be cooking for yourself for years. You can become a foodie after you’ve paid for textbooks.
9. Shop Smarter at the Grocery Store.
How you approach grocery shopping greatly affects what you spend and how healthy your diet is, so it helps to have a plan.
And since you follow Savinly, learning to cut grocery costs doesn’t have to feel like a full course load.
Check out tips on saving at the supermarket, and consider running your own store comparison — there are worksheets to help.
If you can, make multiple stops; you might be surprised how much you can save.
Don’t dismiss couponing and look for cash-back apps like Ibotta. It’s easy to use and often includes deals on healthy items like fresh produce. Just snap a photo of your receipt!
10. Partner Up With Roommates.
Living with roommates opens many money-saving options you don’t have on your own.
Buying staples in bulk can be cheaper, and planning and prepping meals together saves money and time during a busy week.
Cooking alone can mean you’re sick of leftovers by midweek, even if the meal seemed great on Sunday.
Split meal planning and grocery costs with roommates so no one tires of the same dish. Try having each housemate prepare an inexpensive, tasty batch meal on rotation.
For example, maybe you cook chicken and rice on Sunday, a roommate tosses a roast in the slow cooker on Wednesday, and another makes jambalaya on Friday. Everyone shares food and expenses, and no one grows weary of a single menu item.
Another idea: go in together on a warehouse club membership to save on healthy bulk staples like grains, frozen vegetables and meat. Just read the membership terms to ensure it works for non-family households.
There you have it, Savinly Readers — a quick guide to eating well! Wasn’t that an easy A?
