Grocery shopping can be a hassle, which is why I am here to help you spend less money and time on deciding what to buy as busy college students. Boston isn’t the cheapest city out there, so it can be tempting to grab a bag of $3 potato chips and call it a night. But this doesn’t have to be you! On the meal plan or not, stocking up on the right groceries and planning out your future meals could lead you to a guilt-free lifestyle. Here is a quick and easy meal plan for a day in a college student’s life. Making a meal plan and grocery list will ensure you don’t overspend and can even give you something to look forward to doing!
Sample Meal Plan
Breakfast – Avocado and Egg On Toast
Recipe: Fry an egg and cut an avocado into thin slices. Place fried egg on toast and top with avocado. Season with salt and pepper.
Lunch – Pasta with Basil Tomato Sauce
Recipe: Boil pasta in water for the amount of time specified on the package. In a saucepan, heat up tomato sauce and season with basil, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Keep the heat for the sauce on low. Strain the pasta and transfer to a saucepan with the tomato sauce. Mix for 1 – 2 minutes and transfer to plate.
Dinner – Grilled Chicken and Vegetables
Recipe: Heat a large skillet and add olive oil. Place small sized chicken breasts on one side and cut up veggies on the other. Cook and flip till both sides are brown. Transfer to plate and season with salt and pepper.
Meal Plan Grocery List
- Cooking oils: olive, coconut etc. (store at room temp.)
- Toast
- Butter
- Veggies (carrots, tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, spinach, kale, lettuce, avocados)
- Chicken breasts
- Seasoning (salt, pepper, cinnamon, garlic powder, basil)
- Eggs
- Pasta
- Tomato sauce
Remember to take a reusable bag with you when you go grocery shopping! Begin by shopping for fruits and vegetables and then work your way into other refrigerated and pantry items. Go to grocery stores that best fit with your distance, budget, and dietary needs.
Supermarkets near Northeastern
Stop & Shop ($)
It’s location in Brigham Circle is highly convenient for students who live on Mission Hill, but is a 28-minute walk from campus. This grocery store is very large, affordable, and is equipped with a wide range of grocery supplies.
Wollaston’s ($)
There are 2 locations on campus, one on Huntington inside the Marino center and the other directly across West Village E. Wollastons is a great place to buy beverages such as hot coffee, pastries, quick snacks and emergency health supplies.
Trader Joe’s ($$)
There is a large selection of nutritious cereal and snack bars, and frozen meals that just need heating up. Located on Boylston Street, it is a mere 19-minute walk away from campus.
Star Market ($$)
Star Market has 2 locations, one on Huntington Ave. and another in Fenway on Boylston. Respectively, the time it takes to walk there from campus is about 18 minutes. Star Market is a great place to buy your staples: groceries that you know you’re going to need all the time. It is quite cheap and Husky dollars are accepted at both locations.
Whole Foods ($$$)
Whole Foods is only a 10 minute walk away from campus. It is located at the end of St. Stephen St. on the intersection with Westland Ave. The great value of its fresh products lives up to its high price range, and even better, Husky Dollars are accepted here!
Living in a kitchenless dorm last year, I learned that it’s smart to invest in a mini-fridge and a microwave because it allows you to have access to fresh and warm foods at any time of day. Microwaves and mini-fridges can be cheaply purchased or rented. Grocery shopping sounds hard or may seem like a chore, but it doesn’t have to be using these easy steps. Go with your friends to make it more fun!