The first trip to the grocery store as a college student is daunting. Typically the store is full of parents dragging their students behind them.
Mom is stressed out about her kid eating when she isn’t there to cook for them. Dad is stressed about all the people at the store, and the poor freshman is stressed about life in general.
To make things a little less stressful for everyone, I’ve created a grocery list for the college student preparing to move into their approved freshman housing. This list is mostly made of things that will store well and are often used in the average kitchen.
Baking
Essentials
- Flour
- Sugar
- Baking Powder
- Baking Soda
- Vanilla Extract
- Cooking Spray
- Vegetable Oil
- Yeast
Suggestions
- Chocolate Powder
- Chocolate chips
- Box of Brownie Mix
I personally like to keep brownie mix on hand so I can whip up a treat on those late night study dates. With these few simple ingredients, you’ll be ready to bake pretty much anything be it pancakes or a loaf of bread.
Seasonings
Essentials
- Salt
- Pepper
- Garlic powder
- Onion Powder
- Cinnamon
Suggestions
- Tony’s Creole seasoning
- Red Chile Flakes
- Italian Seasoning
The right seasoning can change a piece of chicken into a grilled garlic chicken. It doesn’t take much to help make dinner a meal.
I included Tony’s Creole seasoning because it can be used on almost anything savory from scrambled eggs to a casserole. Maybe you parents will have a few other seasonings you think are “must haves” but in my experience, the ones on the list are the ones that get used the most.
Meats
- Frozen chicken breast
- Ground beef
- Roast (I would strongly suggest picking one of these up if you have a crockpot or instant pot)
Chicken breasts and ground beef are very versatile meats. As a college student, you want relatively inexpensive food that can be prepared many different ways so it doesn’t become bland.
Meat is filling and gives you the energy you need to keep up with your busy schedule. Also, chicken and beef store well in the freezer so you won’t have issues with your food going bad before you have a chance to cook it.
Canned Goods
- Cream of mushroom soup
- Cream of chicken soup
- Tomato Soup
- Green beans
- Peas
- Corn
- Black beans
- Tomatoes
- Peaches
This may seem like a lot of canned food and perhaps you can see your child thinking, “I’ll never eat canned cream of mushroom soup.” Here’s something to keep in mind, everything on this list works great in simple, easy recipes.
Cream of mushroom soup is one of the most adaptable foods you can have in your kitchen. If you have these canned goods, you’ll be able to find yummy, easy and quick recipes to make and you’ll be grateful you have them.
With these things in your cupboard, your college student will be ready to make pretty much anything. You’ll still need to pick out some fresh fruits and veggies and don’t forget the other essential things like milk, eggs, butter, cheese, and bread.
As a whole, though, this list will help them have what they need to get started on the right foot in their new apartment.
If you’ve just become the parent of an admitted college student – congratulations! Although you’ve helped get them this far, your role as a parent is about to change significantly.
That shift can be daunting, but millions of parents before you have made it. Read on to find some vital lessons to learn regarding parenting a first-year college student.
