Whether you are living in a hostel or private accommodation as a student, you need to cook your own meals. And to do so, you need to have a grocery list. Here we provide you with a basic grocery list that is ideal for college students.
People generally move out when they get into college and start living the life of an adult. The term adult comes with a lot of responsibilities such as cleaning, cooking, shopping for your basic necessities yourself, etc. In order to not fumble and get confused with the things you would require everyday, it is necessary to make a grocery list before you shop for your groceries. Otherwise, you may end up buying stuff you don’t want and miss out on a few things that you actually need as a college student.
Shopping List
If you are living on the college premises, then grocery shopping needs to become more organized. Hence, it is better if you prepared a list before going shopping. Here’s a list of all the important things that a college student needs.
Breakfast Foods
| Bread | Cornflakes |
| Eggs | Muesli |
| Milk | Oats |
| Cereal | Cookies |
The most important meal of the day is breakfast. Being a college student, you are bound to wake up late, get ready in a jiffy and rush to college. In this hurry, you tend to skip your most important meal. Try not to do so. You can make an easy breakfast by simply adding cereal, cornflakes or muesli to a cup of milk or even dunking cookies in milk. It is very healthy and not time-consuming in any way.
Pantry Staples
| Rice | Couscous |
| Dried Beans | Cooking Oil |
| Dry Pasta | Lasagna Sheets |
| Baked Beans | Olive Oil |
| Flour | Salt |
| Sugar | Lentils |
| Canned Tomatoes | Cheese |
Cooking at home is always better and healthier. If you love cooking or if you are a health freak, you will always make time for this. Another benefit of homemade food is that you can cut that extra oil or cheese off to make it a low calorie meal. It will be less expensive for you. If not, you can always hire a cook.
Fruits and Vegetables
| Apples | Bananas |
| Watermelons | Melons |
| Oranges | Tomatoes |
| Onions | Potatoes |
| Carrots | Broccoli |
| Baby Corn | Mushrooms |
| Olives | Lemons |
| Lettuce | Spinach |
| Asparagus | Garlic |
| Eggplant | Green Beans |
Fruits and vegetables are eatables you can munch on all day. They are healthy and can make up for one whole meal. They will also keep you fresh and active all day. They can be eaten as salads too. Fruits and a few of the vegetables can also be used to make fresh juices. They will serve as a healthy source of vitamins and will help in keeping you hydrated.
Snack Items
| Potato Chips | Pre-cut Salad Leaves |
| Salad Dressing | Salsa Sauce |
| Instant Cake Mix | Pancake Mix |
| Instant Popcorn | Instant Noodles |
| Biscuits | Dry Fruits |
| Premixed Nuts | Pudding Cups |
| Chocolates | Soft Drinks |
| Jelly | Breezer |
If you are the type who would wake up in the middle of the night hungry, then these snacks would serve as a boon to you. Also, if it is a Sunday and you call your friends over, you can bake a cake or make them some popcorn or noodles.
Meat and Poultry
| Turkey | Minced chicken |
| Skinned chicken | Minced mutton |
| Boneless Mutton | Bacon |
| Ham | Salami |
| Boneless chicken | Chicken drumsticks |
| Fish | Canned tuna |
| Crab meat | Beef Steak |
Turkey and chicken can be added to pasta, spaghetti or rice. Easy sandwiches can be made using bacon, ham and salami. Minced chicken or mutton can be prepared as thick gravy and eaten along with bread. Canned tuna can be used in salads while crab meat in soups. Chicken drumsticks can be eaten as starters with beer or wine.
Herbs and Spices
| Korintje (Makara) | Cinnamon – Ground |
| Bay Leaf | Cumin |
| Paprika | Basil |
| Tarragon | Celery Seed |
| Arrowroot | Parsley |
| Annatto Seed – Ground | Asafoetida Powder |
| Black Pepper | Dill Weed |
| Thyme | Rosemary |
| Saffron | Sage |
Cinnamon and nutmeg are used for baking and making curries, while arrowroot is used to thicken sauces. Sage, thyme and rosemary is used for poultry, while dill weed is used for cooking fish. Tarragon can be used for both, seafood as well as poultry. Herbs are a must in a college student’s grocery list, as they add the must-needed flavor instantly.
Essential Extras
| Balsamic Vinegar | Soy Sauce |
| Pizza Base | Tacos |
| Cornflour | Instant Coffee |
| Tea | Instant Soup |
| Biscuits | Canned Soup |
| Butter | Tomato Ketchup |
| Peanut Butter | Hummus |
| Tomato Paste | Fruit Juice |
| Beer | Wine |
| Jam | Mayonnaise |
| BBQ Sauce | Tortilla Chips |
Coffee and tea can serve as energizers and can also help you study longer. Instant or canned soups can save you a lot of time and be good appetizers. The rest can serve as extra essentials while cooking.
Why Buy?
- Fruits: Fruits like oranges, bananas and apples can be stored in the refrigerator for a longer time compared to the other fruits. There is nothing to prepare in them, hence you can save a lot of your time. They can be a quick munch when you are hungry.
- Dry Fruits: Dry fruits can be a part of a low calorie diet. They can be substituted for chips and other high calorie munches. They are also very healthy and nutritious.
- Eggs and Bread: They are very high in protein and form a good and quick breakfast. They can also be scrambled and added to fried rice or eaten along with bread for dinner. Boiled eggs can be a part of your salad too.
- Canned food: Canned foods include preserved food like canned soups, tomato paste, etc. They can be stored for a long time and save you cooking time.
What Comes Cheaper?
- Fruits like apples, bananas, pears, grapefruits, etc., and vegetables like cucumber, broccoli, sweet potatoes, green pepper, lettuce leaves, etc. come cheaper and are a good source of vitamins, providing essential nutrition to the body.
- Water is the cheapest and healthiest source of hydration. Substituting water for any beverage will save your pockets.
- Milk, eggs and cheese are high in protein and low in carbs, they aren’t very heavy on the pocket and can make a sufficing meal.
- Packaged food like tortilla, spaghetti, bread, cereals and pasta can make a meal without burning a hole in your pockets. Opt for healthy food and try cooking them at home.
- Check for items available on a sale. They come cheaper. Do not stop at only one store. Check a few stores and compare the prices of the commodity. Then buy the commodity with the lowest price. Also check for cheaper substitutes for different food items.
One more thing that you need to keep in mind is to gather all the discount coupons which you have collected and use them. These coupons are very valuable and you will be able to really cut the cost of your shopping. Always make a detailed shopping list every time you visit the grocery store. While this list was just a sample, you can add or remove certain items from this list, based on what you need and vice-versa.
