EATING HEALTHY ON A BUDGET

LORNA SABOE-WOUNDED HEAD Family Resource Management Field Specialist

There is a myth that college students have to survive on ramen or generic macaroni and cheese because they don’t have money to buy “real” or “good” food. With a little planning, students don’t have to limit themselves to lowcost, high-sodium foods or raid their parents’ cupboards when home for the weekend.

The first step is to make a plan for how much you have to spend on food and what foods you want to buy. Think about the week, what meals do you plan to prepare? What meals will you eat on campus or at restaurants? What is your capacity for cooking? If you live on campus, you may be limited to a microwave and blender. If you live off-campus and have a stove and pots and pans, you can have more variety. How much time do you have to prepare meals? Will you pack a lunch? Make your coffee? Or have snacks for those days when classes are back to back? Then, plan your meals for the week. Keep it simple. You know what you like and what you need to be satisfied with. Consider repeating a few meals since you are cooking for one and may have leftovers.

Because you are probably limited on storage space, make a plan and shop for just one week at a time. At first, this will help you figure out how long your food will last. From week to week, you can make adjustments on how much to buy. Write down your meal plan. This will also help to reduce food waste. If you know you will only eat three bananas in a week, don’t buy six. Always check your food stash as you make the menu plan for the next week. Include snack food because you will most likely want some during a late-night study session.

To save money, shop for sales. As you are making your shopping list, check the grocery store ad for the week. Don’t buy fresh or frozen foods in bulk unless you know you have the storage space. Remember to consume these items before buying more or something similar.

For more information about healthy eating and personal finance, go to www.extension.sdstate.edu.

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