For students at GCSU, college life comes with a multitude of new experiences and learning curves, with one of the most important being buying groceries and cooking meals.
While some students have experience using these skills and creating culinary masterpieces, some are learning to provide for themselves for the first time.
Many students use a budget to create quick and simple meals to fuel them for their busy academic and social lives. Luckily, Milledgeville provides a multitude of affordable grocery stores, including Walmart, Publix, Kroger and Aldi.
Ellison Whetzel, a sophomore education major, shared her smart shopping habits.
“I always shop at Aldi because the groceries there are cheaper and they are usually healthier than other stores,” Whetzel said.
Sierra McLaughlin, a sophomore psychology major, shared a similar opinion on the convenience and quality of Aldi.
“I usually shop at Aldi because it’s closer than Walmart and there are a lot of organic options that are cheaper,” Mclaughlin said.
McLaughlin went on to say that if she cannot find a certain item at Aldi, Walmart is also a good option.
While shopping is an important aspect of college living, these students prioritize a healthy and balanced diet as well. Whetzel elaborated on her favorite meals to make, making sure that they are nutritious and filling.
“My go-to meals are pasta with ground beef and roasted garlic marinara with cheese,” Whetzel said. “I also like to pick up protein, usually salmon or chicken, and I bake it and have roasted potatoes and roasted broccoli on the side.”
Caroline Faison, a sophomore nursing major, shared that she keeps multiple meal options on hand during the week in order to have variety and convenience in her diet. She shared advice for students trying to stay low-budget and still eat well.
“Don’t feel like you have to have name-brand items,” Faison said. “Don’t go overboard when shopping, and try to shop at a place that has good deals.”
She explained that local stores carry important ingredients to support her lifestyle, including fruit, vegetables, chicken and rice.
Whetzel said she also implemented habits into her life that encourage budget-friendly cooking. She prepares weekly meals ahead of time so that she can grab a quick meal on the go. She also encouraged students to shop for on-sale items instead of paying for brand names.
One of Whetzel’s most meaningful tips was on students paying too much for convenience, emphasizing the importance of thoughtful shopping and understanding the products students purchase.
“If I buy a block of cheese and grate it myself, I would much rather do that than buy a bag of shredded cheese,” Whetzel said, “I like to pay for products over convenience and do the work myself.”
McLaughlin’s best tip on inexpensive, healthy eating encouraged students to be mindful of their spending on expensive restaurants and fast food.
“Cook instead of going out to eat all the time,” McLaughlin said. “Getting whole foods and cooking for yourself is going to save you a lot of money.”
In addition to this advice, Whetzel and Faison recommend that others buy in bulk and use leftovers creatively to prolong their freshness.
While the cooking and shopping aspect may be daunting to some, these students reveal that there are plenty of outlets to shop smart and create simple, healthy and delicious meals at GCSU.