While Tuscaloosa has plenty of amazing places to eat, restaurant bills can add up quickly when you’re in college. Consistent grocery shopping is essential if you’re a college student, but it can be difficult to get into a routine of grocery shopping on a budget. We have compiled a list of what we always get at the grocery store, as well as some tips for staying nourished when you feel like you have no time. These few staples can be so versatile and give you plenty of options of meals that you won’t get sick of!
Refrigerator Staples
- Deli meat of your preference
- Cheese, sliced and shredded
- Pesto
- Eggs
- Butter
- Lettuce/greens of your choice
- Tomatoes or any vegetables of your preference
- Hummus
- Fruit
- Yogurt
- Protein (we love rotisserie chicken, sausage, chicken breasts, or salmon)
- Avocados
- Carrots
- Salsa
Pantry Staples
- Pasta
- Marinara sauce (Rao’s is the best!)
- Pretzels
- Granola bars
- Tortillas
- Tortilla chips
- Bread
- Mac and cheese cups
- Popcorn
- Trail mix
- Crackers
- Rice
- Quinoa or couscous
- Olive oil
- Potatoes
- Ramen
You can alter this grocery list however you like! Pick your favorite vegetables, meats, and grains and go from there. With these basics, you have so many quick, easy meals to choose from. Avocados and bread alone can get you through many meals! Avocado toast with pesto eggs is the perfect filling meal. Carrots or pretzels with hummus are a satisfying but healthier snack. Or, more realistically for a college student, granola bars are always perfect on days you’re running late to class.
Meals
- Deli sandwich
- Classic and filling, deli sandwiches are perfect to load up with vegetables and take on the go. We love turkey, sliced provolone, lettuce or arugula, tomatoes, cucumbers, and avocado.
- Grilled cheese
- This is so easy and always delicious! If you want to get fancier with it, add some pesto and sliced tomato.
- Pasta with marinara sauce and protein
- Top your pasta with sauce and some sausage for a filling meal.
- Quinoa bowl with salmon
- Add some cheese, greens and dressing for a delicious quinoa bowl!
- Baked or roasted potatoes with salmon or chicken and a salad
- This is the perfect balanced meal. If you don’t have access to an oven or stove, you can do a microwave baked potato, rotisserie chicken and a salad.
- Ramen with vegetables and an egg
- This is a great cheap meal you could even do in a dorm!
- Mac and cheese cups
- Pesto Pasta with chicken, sausage or salmon
- We love topping this meal with parmesan cheese.
Snacks
- Hummus with pretzels or carrots
- Popcorn
- Trail mix
- Chips and salsa
- Granola bar
- Cheese and crackers
We hope you have enjoyed these basic items that you should add to your grocery list! Making the commitment to grocery shop can feel overwhelming with a busy schedule, but it is completely worth it. You will always have several meals on hand with only a few ingredients. Hopefully you can at least take inspiration from this list the next time you’re at the grocery store!
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