Student Life 101: Foods you should never be without

Cooking is without a doubt one of the most valuable life skills a person can have. Not only will it help you get through the semester, it’s a great way to impress a date! We recommend all of our residents get a head start on this skill and begin learning right away. We’ve compiled a list of foods all of our students should have in the fridge or cupboard that will allow them to master a whole host of simple and tasty recipes.

Rice, pasta & noodles (the essentials)

There are too many dishes to name that call for one of these, so grab a big bag of each and store in a cool place. Between spaghetti bolognese, curries, carbonaras and stir fries, trust us, you’ll be using these a lot!

Spuds

Do you even live in Ireland if you don’t have a 10kg bag of potatoes lying around? Mashed, roasted, boiled, jacket…whatever way you like them, you’re going to need a bag of spuds on hand.

Frozen veggies

Don’t be that student that leaves their place for the weekend only to come back to a fridge full of gone off broccoli and spinach. Frozen vegetables are an amazing way to get some healthy nutrients into you and are the perfect way to fill out any meal. Add them to your stir fries and curries or simply boil and have them as a side dish.

Frozen fruit

NutriBullets are one of the most useful purchases a student can make. Smoothies are a quick and inexpensive way to get in massive amounts of nutrients and healthy foods when you’re on the go. Frozen fruit should be added to all smoothies and will even act as ice cubes by cooling down your drink!

Top tip: when you have run out of ice at pre-drinks, use some frozen strawberries or blueberries as a substitute.

Eggs

Whether you feel like cooking some fancy Sunday brunch or want to give that delicious cake recipe a go, no fridge should ever be without eggs. Scrambled, poached or boiled, eggs are a seriously versatile food that are high in protein. You will soon learn the beauty of the omelette, an acceptable form of breakfast, lunch OR dinner!

Spices & powders (garlic/curry/paprika/ chili/salt/pepper/oregano/coriander)

Here’s a top tip for you. The difference between a good and great dish often comes down to the seasoning. The next time you want to impress your mates, pull out your best Salt Bae and finish the dish with whatever spices your recipe calls for along with a sprinkle of salt & pepper.

Olive oil

Oil is so important in cooking. Not only does it stop food from sticking to pots and pans, it speeds up the cooking process as it transfers heat much better than water or ‘dry-cooking’.

Popcorn

Popcorn is definitely one of the better snacks to keep around if you’re a student. This inexpensive and long lasting treat is a perfect kitchen staple for those evenings you’re craving something sweet or salty. Buy a big bag of popcorn kernels instead of getting it ready-made in a bag. Easily made in a cooking pot, you can even add your own twist to it by adding melted butter or chocolate.

While this may seem like a lot of work, we guarantee that having these foods in stock will make your life a whole lot easier during the college year. Keep an eye on our blog section for future articles on how to live your best life as a student at Point Campus!