The College Starter Pack: Kitchen Edition
The College Starter Pack: Kitchen Edition
Back to school is right around the corner, and so is move-in day! We can’t overlook the kitchen essentials in the chaos of buying all the move-in essentials. Having a stocked kitchen can prepare any college student for success, especially when it comes to their nutrition. Whether it be appliances, cookware, or pantry staples, our team has put together the college starter pack to help prepare any new student. Gone are the days when students must rely on microwave meals, because a home-cooked meal can be simple and easily accessible.
Kitchen Essentials
- Collapsible strainers – for easy storage and can be used to drain pasta or to help dry veggies.
- Color-coded cutting boards – having a color system can help reduce cross-contamination by assigning specific colors and pictures to different food groups.
- Meat thermometer – this can decrease the fear of eating undercooked meats especially when it comes to chicken plus it can aid in opening students to larger meal possibilities with an added safety net.
- 165°F – poultry, stuffed pastas
- 155°F – ground meat
- 145°F – beef, pork, eggs
- Link: Digital Meat Thermometer
- Air Fryer – so many easy and fast meals can be cooked with minimal cleaning, and it can double as a toaster.
- Link: West Bend Compact Air Fryer 5-quart
- Reusable Liner: Silicone Liner
- Disposable Liner: 100 pc Paper Liner
- Rice Cooker – there’s nothing better than pressing a switch for rice to cook, plus it is a great side for meals and for meal prepping.
- Can opener – canned foods can be a great option for college students especially when it comes to shelf life.
- Vegetable Chopper – this kitchen tool wears many hats and can help eliminate the risk of knives, produce nicely diced veggies and so much more.
- Measuring Cups – engraved cups can prevent the measurements from fading away which is so important if students like following recipes or baking.
- Pots and Pans—A simple set is an excellent starter for a beginner cook, but a larger set would be more useful for the more advanced cook.
- Link: 5 Piece Pots and Pan Set
- Link: 10 Piece Pots and Pan Set
Groceries
Our Eating Healthy on a Budget blog post provides great insight into how to save money while still achieving a balanced meal! Don’t forget to download grocery store apps, as they often have coupons and sales to maximize your grocery trip. Need help figuring out where to start? Here are some helpful pantry and fridge staples for your starting college student.
- Canned tuna
- Canned chicken
- Canned tomatoes
- Canned corn
- Canned beans
- Whole grain bread
- Dried pasta
- Rice
- Frozen veggies
- Rice cakes
- Peanut butter
- Dips – Hummus or guacamole
- Prepped veggies
- Deli meats
- Cereal
- Olive oil
- Cheese
- Yogurt
- Granola
- Fresh fruit
For those living in a dorm room this fall, check out our Dorm Edition!