These pounds pile on due to fast food and all-you-can-eat cafeteria meals. But the Freshman 15 aren’t inevitable, and you can still eat healthy meals. Stock up on these four kitchen essentials to make your own meals and maintain a healthy weight for freshman year and beyond.
Make Anything in the Microwave
The microwave is a college student’s best friend, so having plenty of dishes that can be used to cook and reheat things in a microwave is essential.
There are many specialty dishes that are designed to cook specific foods like pasta, bacon, ramen noodles, and even popcorn in the microwave. The most popular microwave-friendly materials are plastic and ceramic, but some types of glassware like borosilicate or soda lime are also safe for use in the microwave.
Tackle Meals with a Toaster
If you thought a toaster was only good for bread, think again. With a little creativity, you can make a variety of foods in your toaster. Turn it on its side to toast up a grilled cheese or panini, crisp up leftover pizza, or pop in a few cut-up tortillas for DIY chips.
To minimize mess and get even more out of your toaster, purchase a pack of toaster bags or make your own out of parchment paper. You’ll be able to create diverse dishes with a simple appliance.
Up Your Game with Utensils
Spoons, spatulas, and other utensils are the unsung heroes of the kitchen. It’s easy to forget about these essentials until you find yourself without one when you need it.
A few basics to start with include a slotted spoon, different sizes of spatulas, a good set of tongs, a soup ladle, and a pizza cutter. Choose durable, non-scratch materials like silicone or nylon to protect the non-stick coating on your pots and pans.
Get Creative with Quality Cookware
Speaking of pots and pans, cookware is the foundation of a complete kitchen. It’s tempting to go cheap when it comes to your first cookware set for a dorm or apartment, but quality items like a copper saucepan or stainless steel skillet can save money in the long run because they last a lifetime. They also make great graduation gifts. If your family members or friends are looking to support you, you can suggest they purchase cookware for your dorm.
other valuable tips:
Student Health: 3 Reasons Not to Settle for Eating Only Ramen
Whether you live in a dorm or an apartment, keeping a well-stocked, complete kitchen will help you and your roommates keep the pounds away. Beyond that, it will give you opportunity for social connection. Whether you cook with your roommates or invite over dates, you will make cherished memories in the kitchen.
Image Credit: Pixabay
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