Stop going for that microwaveable ramen and start getting these five things at Trader Joe’s as a college student on a budget.
Courtesy of Katlynn Mullins | The Crow’s Nest
By Sol Casanas
College students are often looking for ways to save money and don’t have time to prepare a 40-minute meal between studying and classes.
To solve this problem, here are five things you can get on your next Trader Joe’s trip to help with the hassle of cooking.
The total for all these items came out to be less than $20. It’s a great way to start eating delicious meals without having to go broke.
Trader Joes hash browns $2.49
These hash browns are a breakfast staple. They’re easy to heat up and a good on-the-go snack. If you have a bit more time, they can be deliciously paired with an endless number of options, like a fried egg or even mashed avocado with a little salt and pepper.
Everything but the bagel dip $3.49
This everything but the bagel yogurt dip goes well with vegetables like cherry tomatoes, carrots and bell peppers. A major plus is that it’s healthy. You can also pair it with chips or crackers to satisfy that salty craving.
Scoop up some of the dip into a Tupperware container with your veggies or chips, and it is a great snack for in-between classes.
Bulgogi beef with fried rice $5.49
Let’s head to the frozen aisle of Trader Joe’s –– a popular aisle amongst college students.
This frozen meal can be used for lunch or dinner. It takes about 6-8 minutes to heat up, and it can feed up to two people.
It contains a good amount of food, so if you use it for dinner, you could use the leftovers for lunch the next day.
It pairs well with soy sauce as it is heated up to add some more flavor to it.
For the vegetarians out there, there is a similar meal in the same frozen section –– a vegetable fried rice that takes about 6-8 minutes to heat up as well, and it is just as delicious.
Vodka pasta sauce $2.69
This is great to have in your pantry because not only is it affordable, but it can be used in a variety of ways.
Pasta is already an easy thing to make, but it can be taken to another level with this sauce.
Trader Joe’s has a lot of good and cheap dry pasta choices, as well as stuffed pasta, like ravioli and tortellini, in the refrigerated section.
Don’t just throw this on top of your pasta, heat it up in a pan with olive oil and add some minced garlic to it for more flavor.
This sauce is a real game changer –– it’s quick, easy and delicious.
Trader Joes mini-ice cream cones $3.79
We can’t end this without some dessert. After a stressful day of classes or studying, treat yourself to something sweet.
Yes, not only are these ice cream cones already flattering because they’re mini, but they taste great too. It will satisfy your sweet tooth in every way possible.
It’s great after a long hot day or to indulge in something sweet just because you feel like it.
Buying groceries as a college student on a budget can be hard, but that does not mean it’s impossible. The total for all these items came out to be less than $20. It’s a great way to start eating delicious meals without having to go broke.
Excellent article!!!
Amazing!! I am a college student. Cannot wait to try these items!