I will help you create a shopping list + loose meal plan using only a stove for free if I have time. Hit me up

[larrybradshaw]

@paulmarkj And if you're like my mom when I was growing up, rinse those ziplocs out and hang them upside down to dry and reuse them!

 

[bella14]

@paulmarkj An instant pit was the best christmas present ever. I wish I had one in college.

 

[austinmcnally]

@paulmarkj Yup! Do be careful about that - frozen veg mix is bulked up with onion or other cheaper roots. I prefer to snag random veg on sale, chop, then store/cook/freeze depending on need to use for meals.

 

[maggiev627]

@paulmarkj When I was in college I used to make big things of stir fry for my roommates and our friends. Rice, veggies, whatever meat was on sale. We would devour that shit

 

[d3vilman90]

@austinmcnally Just to add a cheap trick from my student years: if you enjoy eating rice (or just eat it 'cause it's cheaper and will fill you up better than noodles) and you want something different, add 1-3 tablespoons of full-fat yoghurt. Not with "wet" meals likecurries or risottos, but stuff like veggies and rice, or beans, rice and meat, or those things.

I would often make a huge pot of whatever and freeze some, and then eat the rest for a few days.

Also helps if the meal doesn't quite satisfy you, but you can't pin down why. Where I am, half a kilo of full-fat yoghurt is quite cheap and makes an incredible difference in taste and especially texture. I can only encourage everyone to give it a try!