This Thursday I had to say goodbye to my parents for the last time until parents weekend. Seeing them leave was weird. They gave me a hug goodbye and were gone. I was all alone in my dorm room. Well, not really. Technically my two roommates were there with me, but the feeling of being oddly alone was still there.
FSU has had so many events that I have been kept too busy to really think about the lack of my family. Thursday night Doug Thompson, a famous hypnotist, put on a show for the students. I was one of the volunteers that got hypnotized! I can’t really describe how I felt when I was “under his spell,” but random strangers have been recognizing me all over campus. They say that I was hilarious. That’s good, right?
On Thursday, I also made my first excursion to the grocery store. My parents, prior to them leaving, drove me out to the nearest Whole Foods Market to pick up some items that I I needed to keep feed for the semester.
And no, instant ramen is not on the list.You can read about that here if you really must.
This list isn’t your typical college grocery store list. I intend to be well-feed, nourished and healthy while in college. The dining halls at FSU are surprisingly healthy seeming, but sometimes I just want something that I know is all-natural.
For the first trip, I wanted to cover all of the basics without getting to extensive. I wanted to be able to have quick and easy breakfasts, lunches, snacks and dinners. I also made sure to stock up on some items that may be harder to find once I didn’t have access to my parents’ car.
Here’s the list of the 10 things I bought on my first trip to the grocery store:
1. Eggs
The ideal breakfast food. They’re easy to whip up in a microwave in under 5 minutes
For breakfast, put two eggs in a microwave safe bowl, whisk them up with a fork, and then microwave them for a minute. After a minute, use a fork to stir them around a little bit more and then put them in for another minute. Then stir them up again. If needed, put them in for an additional 30 seconds, but typically 2 minutes does the job.
I find that putting 1/4 cup of coconut milk and a sprinkle of dried rosemary in the eggs prior to cooking adds a delicious flavor. The coconut also provides a good source of healthy fats.
2. Frozen Vegetable of choice
I decided that having a pre-cut and cooked vegetable on hand that simple needed defrosting would be extremely convenient to add onto meals. I bought broccoli, but any vegetable would work.
3. Canned Tuna Fish
Tuna fish mashed with avocado is a filling and nutritious lunch or dinner. To make, simply mash up 1 half of an avocado. Then mix in 1 can of tuna. Chopped onion, cilantro, jalapeno, lemon juice and lime juice taste great as mix ins. But if you’re living on a budget and with limited room like me, they aren’t necessary. This recipe is a power house of protein and good fat that cannot be passed up.
It’s important to buy the right kind of tuna fish, Eatingwell.com has 3 great tips that could come in handy. I prefer to buy Wild Planet’s canned skipjack tuna (with no salt or liquids added).
4. Avocado
Besides tasting great mashed up with tuna, this can also be used as a snack or an addition to any meal. I found healthy fats to be lacking in the FSU cafeteria, so I made sure to have some accessible in my dorm room.
5. Carrots
Baby carrots are the perfect snacking food. I had some on Friday with my breakfast as well. They are healthy and take no effort to prepare.
6. Sweet Potato
Sweet potatoes can be easily cooked in a microwave in about 5 minutes. I wash mine off, poke a few holes in it using a fork and then cook it on top of a paper towel. Sweet potatoes are a great source of carbohydrates, especially in a post-workout meal.
I like to eat these guys as a snack or as an addition to the tuna fish avocado meal.
7. Chia Seeds
While chia seeds can be expensive, there are a ton of health benefits to eating them. Moreover, a typical serving of chia seeds is only 1-2 tablespoons, so that $10 16 oz bag will last you awhile. Side note: I bought my bag of chia seeds in Whole Foods for $18 only to find the same bag online for only 10.
I intend to make chia seed pudding for a quick and healthy breakfast. To make the pudding, you mix 2 tbsp of seeds with a half cup of coconut milk. You can use almond milk or water as well. From here there are many different variations, but I like to put cinnamon in my pudding. This post from Wellness Mama explains many more variations.After adding the mix-ins, refrigerate the pudding overnight (or at least 4 hours). In the morning, I like to add fresh fruit (particularly blueberries and raspberries).
Chia seed pudding is ideal for a quick breakfast before an 8 am class. I intend to make mine up the night before and then just grab-n-go the morning after.
8. Coconut Milk
This is essential for the chia seed pudding and it also tastes great in the eggs as a breakfast food. If you want to drink it plain, go for it. Coconut milk is also great in DIY hair and skin masks.
9. Cinnamon
In addition to tasting great in the chia seed pudding, I love putting it on sliced bananas. On Wednesday night I grabbed banana from the dining hall at dinner. The next morning I cut it into slices and sprinkled some cinnamon on them. It was a perfect addition to my breakfast of eggs and carrots.
10. Pistachios
I wasn’t expecting to buy pistachios when I went to the store, but when does anyone ever come out with just what they went in to buy? I certainly don’t. When I saw a bag of these sitting on the shelf, I knew I had to buy them. Pistachios are a great source of healthy fat and a perfect snack. After unpacking I needed a snack that would give me an energy boost- these pistachios did the job!
That concludes my initial college grocery store list. I’ve already begun the process of looking for grocery stores within walking distance. Yesterday I went on a jog to a supposed grocery store that turned out to be a restaurant. Those of you who follow me on Twitter know about that.
I’m considering buying groceries online and having them shipped to campus. I may have to do that for some of the more unusual items like chia seeds and coconut milk.
While searching around on Yelp for grocery stores, I did discover what looks to be a cute little cafe and supermarket called Bread and Roses Food Cooperative. I’m planning to check that out sometime in the next week!
I hope your first week of college has been as fun!
Love always,
Kelly
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The Primal Nomad 