inexpensive meal ideas

[mande]

My oldest son will be heading back to college in August, he will be a jr. this year and rather than a dorm will be in an apt. He isn't doing a meal plan, to many unused meals and money down the drain in the past. I've been putting together a few quick and easy meal recipes for him and was wondering if anyone had any ideas for quick, easy, and cheap meals.

[schnauzermom]

Top Ramen and diet coke? That's what I used to live on.:D

Seriously I'll give it some thought. Is he in an apt or dorm? What does he have to cook with, micro? Stovetop? Oven?

[1973VW]

A Man, A can, and a Plan is a book I have given to graduating HS seniors, and now there is A Man, A Can, and a Microwave. Get him a crockpot and some easy recipes. Hard to screw up that!

[1973VW]

I guess because one of my college apt. mates was studying to be a dietitian, we were very organized. We made a menu for 5 dinners a week, did the grocery shopping together, split the bill, and took turns cooking. My roommates taught me to cook! The first time I baked a chicken, no one told me there was a little packet of weirdness up its hooha that had to be removed first!! I was pathetic.

[BigTexN]

I got good at making mac & cheese in an electric skillet.

Trust me, your son will not starve!

Part of being in college is learning to be resourceful. For example, to get into the fraternity/sorority parties, I began offering to DJ their events for half the price as the nearest competition + free beer.

I never missed a party! And my grades showed it!

[1973VW]

is that you, BigGuy DJ? I talked to you at the senior picnic....

[1973VW]

do boys gain the freshman 15?

[mande]

SM, he will be in an apt, with a full kitchen this year, this will be his Jr. year.

VW, he didn't gain the freshmen 15 his first or second year, in fact I think he dropped about 20 to 25 lbs.

I'm not worrying about him starving, I know he won't starve, I'd just like him to get somewhat decently.

[momoftwo]

He could either grill or bake a bunch of chicken breasts and use them in a salad, sandwich, or fajitas. He could do the same with steak.

[Wilson]

A Man, A can, and a Plan is a book I have given to graduating HS seniors, and now there is A Man, A Can, and a Microwave. Get him a crockpot and some easy recipes. Hard to screw up that!

That sounds promising!

Boys should learn to cook... I agree about getting him a crockpot - he can learn to freeze the leftovers. I think the biggest challenge is cooking for one, but if he learns to appreciate the leftovers, he'll be set!

[cgwoolf]

When my son started college and moved out, he was in a rented house with room mates. I took a bunch (15-20) food items that I cooked all the time and that he loved and typed them up, printed them out and put them in 3 ring binder so he'd have a cook book to start with of things that were healthy and that he liked. Meatloaf, baked chicken, grilled hamburgers and other similar stuff, a couple of crock pot dishes, mashed potatos, mac and cheese, spaghetti, just plain old ordinary stuff, plus a bunch of veggies. I think, many years later, that he's still using it.

[schnauzermom]

My husband is a really good cook. He always cooked for his roomates and that made him very popular! They gave him a hard time occasionally but they never missed dinner!

[mande]

cg, you and I are thinking alike... I have been typing up some recipes that I use at home that he likes and that I make on days that I have been busy and need something quick and easy. So far, I have about 18 recipes. I have been hesitant about getting him a crockpot, they scare me, I hate the thought of leaving the house with something on that is cooking. The other thing I am trying to figure out is what is a reasonable amount of money for him to have each month for groceries. He is going to have to budget the money that we give him and make it last, which may mean getting creative at the end of the month. I was thinking along the lines of $50 per week for groceries, is that too much, not enough, I don't know.

[1973VW]

send with or buy him with some staples to get started (soap and shampoo, condiments, peanut butter, salt and pepper, etc), and maybe starters of toilet paper, detergent, paper towels and plates, cleaning products, then $50 a week stretches further. My kids always seem to room with kids who share/use all the above without replacing it. Give him coupons too!!! My daughter shared with 3 others and found frig space tight as they all wanted to keep their own milk and beverages, and the non-cooking ones filled the freezer up with frozen meals so she had no space to freeze her homemade leftovers. Now youngest will be sharing with FIVE GIRLS in the fall in Austin...this will be really interesting!!

[natvtxn]

When dd moved out of on-campus apartment and into a house, we got her a fridge to put in her room. One of those small ones. It worked out really well by keeping her milk, juices, lunch meat, etc. to herself. She does NOT like to share her food!

[mande]

VW, I can't imagine sharing an apt with 5 girls......Are they putting in for groceries and taking turns cooking or everyone fends for themselves? My son's girlfriend is sharing an apt with 3 girls, they are all buying their own food and responsible for their own meals, she already said that last year ended pretty badly, lots of tension.

When he moves up their, we are planning on helping him settle in, I figure I'll go with him to Walmart and stock up on staples, as you suggested, otherwise, $50 a week won't go very far.

[cgwoolf]

I would nix the crock pot unless they really do know how to cook. I find most of the recipes have to be adjusted a bit...and that adjustment (how much, how little) comes more from experience.

[1973VW]

I looked at some online, but some reviewers said theirs had been very noisy, and if its not frost free, I wonder if she'd ever defrost it!

[baby duck]

When I lived off-campus, we paid for groceries and bills as they came in during the month and then all got together on the last day of the month with our reciepts and settled up. Groceries and paper products were communal and we took turns cooking. It helped that we all got along well. DH lived with two buddies from high school and they actually would get into arguments about whether or not to buy things like napkins because one didn't want to pay for them. It just depends on how things work out.

When I lived on campus, we kept our supplies seperate. I remember fighting with one roommate about who had bought a box of kleenex, but we didn't like each other much.

[Realtorchick]

I guess because one of my college apt. mates was studying to be a dietitian, we were very organized. We made a menu for 5 dinners a week, did the grocery shopping together, split the bill, and took turns cooking. My roommates taught me to cook! The first time I baked a chicken, no one told me there was a little packet of weirdness up its hooha that had to be removed first!! I was pathetic.

I did that w/my very first Thanksgiving Turkey :rofl:

I agree w/ the crockpot idea. You can't go wrong with that.

Tonight I made something that my college age son loved.

4 frozen chicken breasts
1 can black beans
1 can corn
1 cup salsa

cook 6 hours and serve over rice or w/ tortilla

[Realtorchick]

I looked at some online, but some reviewers said theirs had been very noisy, and if its not frost free, I wonder if she'd ever defrost it!

My son has one in his room , her at the house, only time it got defrosted was when the power was out during Ike :eeek: