Now that you’ve plastered your walls with posters and customized your desk, the next thing you need to do in your dorm is to stock up your pantry with food. Even with limited space and time to cook, keeping staple food in your dorm will save you the hassle of rushing to the cafeteria or spending too much money on takeaways.
9 Staple Foods College Students Should Have in Their Dorm
There are a number of foods college students can store in their dorm to maintain healthy eating patterns. We’re covering 9 staple foods that college students should keep on hand. If you want to figure out some simple recipes to make with some of these, sites like Beginner Food can help teach you how to make quick and easy meals.
Cereal
Kids grew up eating cereal for breakfast, but college students can eat cereal at any time of the day, even without milk. Aside from remaining fresh for a long time, cereals contain fiber, vitamins, and minerals. To make cereal more flavorful, you can add nuts, dried fruits, or seeds.
Oatmeal
Oatmeal is a college dorm food must-have. You can eat a bowl of oatmeal in the dining hall, cafeteria, or classrooms. Mix oatmeal with milk and honey, then heat it in the microwave to get a creamy and silky texture.
Another way to eat oatmeal is to prepare oats overnight. It takes less than 10 minutes. Instead of cooking the oats in hot water, soak oatmeal in a mixture of milk and mashed fruits or nuts and leave at room temperature at least 12 hours.
Fruits
Some fruits don’t need refrigeration. Place a bowl in your table and fill it with apples, bananas, oranges, dried fruit, and baked fruit chips.
Bread and Crackers
It’s handy to keep a loaf of whole-grain bread or a pack of biscuits, which you can have for any meal of the day. Start your morning with club sandwiches and then pack some peanut butter and jelly sandwich to class. You can also mix whole-grain crackers with cheese, spreads, or sliced fruit.
Nuts and Seeds
The best thing about nuts and seeds is that they are easy to store and eat. Because of their long shelf life, they are among the perfect staple foods in college dorms. What’s more, omega-3 fatty acids, protein, fiber, and vitamins make nuts and seeds good for the brain.
Noodles
Are you in a rush? Ramen is a staple dorm food for college students because it’s cheap and only needs hot water. Whether you’re eating it for breakfast or as a quick energizer for a long night of studying, the warmth will give you that much-needed kick to move.
Boil some water, pour the contents of the seasoning packet into the noodles, and add the boiling water. To make it healthier, add some pre-cut vegetables from your cafeteria. Let it sit for a few minutes and you’re good to go!
Granola Bars
Granola bars contain oats, seeds, and nuts. They are a convenient yet healthy snack and an excellent source of protein, fiber, carbs, and sugar. If you don’t have the time to prepare a full meal, or you want a quick snack, grab a granola bar to help you feel full in between meals.
Canned Soups and Fish
Canned soups are among the perfect staple food for college students because of their long shelf life. These are quick and easy to make since most are considered microwavable meals. You can use canned soup as toppings for salads or as a dip for crackers.
On the other hand, you can pair canned fish like salmon or tuna with biscuits or rice. This combination guarantees omega-3 fatty acids and protein.
Low-Fat Dairy Foods
Dairy and soy-based foods are the ultimate sources of calcium and dietary protein. Eating low-fat dairy foods like cheese and milk keep you from gaining any unwanted weight. You can add milk to your cereal or oats while you can pair cheese with biscuits.
Soy-based foods such as tofu and yogurt are also beneficial. For a healthy snack, try adding fruits, nuts, cinnamon, dark chocolate, or honey.
Conclusion
Living in a dorm room does not mean binging on unhealthy food and bad eating habits. With proper planning, you can make your college dorm meals tasty and nutritious.
