Everyone hates grocery shopping, right? It’s one of those chores that you do because, well, you have to eat! And being an adult means you have to make the food that you eat. I’ll admit it, I’m kind of lazy when it comes to grocery shopping and cooking. However, I’m getting better and trying to make it more enjoyable for myself. Crack open a bottle of wine, play some music that makes you want to dance, and start getting out those ingredients. I love to look at recipes and try new things!
It all Starts with a Healthy Grocery List
It all starts with the grocery list. What ingredients do you need? I find that question is my biggest hindrance when trying to be all adult and culinarily inclined. Meal planning is hard work. However, aside from those special meals that require miscellaneous ingredients that you aren’t likely to have around the house, there are some everyday items you can stock up on to keep your meals interesting.
I’ve compiled a list of items I like to keep in my cabinet. This isn’t what I buy every time as I like to switch it up to keep things interesting. However, these items tend to be safe, and easy to work with on a college budget. I will note that because I’m gluten free, mostly dairy free, and prefer plant-based items, the items can be more pricey. I find that I’m willing to shell out more money for natural food that abides by my dietary restrictions and won’t wreak havoc on my already strained digestive system.
Produce
Avocados
Lettuce/Spinach/mixed greens
Sweet potatoes
Various veggies (peas, carrots, mushrooms, zucchini, etc)
Herbs (basil, oregano)
Ginger
Beets (Trader Joe’s, ready-to-eat)
Bulk Items
Sunflower seeds
Pumpkin seeds
Sprouted Raw Granola
Frozen Items
GF bread (this technically isn’t frozen but I keep mine in the freezer)
Cauliflower rice/jasmine rice
Specialty Items
Hemp seeds
Nutritional yeast
Turmeric
Cardamom
Almond/oat milk
Nuthin crackers (almond or hint of sea salt are my favorites!)
Figs
Snacks (AKA the Good Stuff)
Popcorn (Boom Chicka Pop, sea salt)
Dark chocolate (70 or 72%)
Protein Options
Chicken
Salmon
Tuna (sushi grade or canned)
Tofu (preferably hemp-based, not soy)
Quinoa
Lentils
Hard-boiled eggs