Congratulations on making it into SCCO! Although it has already been quite a journey to get to where you are today, your journey will not get much easier from this point on. Something that I personally struggled with navigating through in both my undergraduate career and my time at SCCO is food security. Food security refers to the ability to have access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food that meets dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life. As a full-time student, it can be difficult to be conscious of what and how you are eating when your mind is preoccupied.
When someone lacks food security, they may experience:
- Hunger or chronic malnourishment
- Limited or uncertain access to healthy food
- Reliance on inexpensive, unhealthy options
- Anxiety or stress about where the next meal will come from
Although it is easy to rely on fast food/takeout options when you’re busy in school, this lifestyle is not financially sustainable for some and could take a toll on you in the long run, especially when you are in a profession with demanding physical and mental tasks. However, it doesn’t have to be difficult! The following are some tips to help you out with the burden of finding your next meal.
EBT/Food Stamps
A lot of people don’t realize that they qualify for food stamps through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which is CalFresh in California. Food stamps are government-issued benefits that help low-income individuals and families buy food. Instead of paper stamps, today the benefits are loaded monthly onto an EBT (Electronic Benefit Transfer) card, which works like a debit card at participating grocery stores, farmers markets, and some online retailers. You can buy most produce and cold prepared foods at grocery stores with EBT, but not hot prepared foods, alcohol, tobacco, vitamins, or non-food items (like cleaning supplies).
Meal Prepping
One of the biggest reasons why many people, including myself, experience food insecurity is not having enough time to cook between classes and studying. This led me to resort to eating out a lot, which can become pretty pricey! Meal prepping is a great way to get your cooking out of the way all at once without worrying about it throughout the week. Here are some helpful tricks you can do to add options and maximize your time!
- Freezer is Your Friend!
- Freezer leftovers or extra portions so nothing goes to waste.
- Great for chili, soups, stews, burritos, or pasta dishes.
- Freeze in single-serving portions for convenience.
- Keep Grab-and-Go Options Ready
- Pre-cut fruits/veggies, hard-boiled eggs, or trail mix
- DIY snack packs: hummus + carrots, cheese + crackers, apple slices + peanut butter
- Overnight oats for quick breakfasts
- Change it Up
- Use sauces or seasonings to keep things interesting (ex. BBQ one day, teriyaki the next).
- Easy Meal Prep Ideas
- Burrito Bowls: rice + beans + corn + salsa + chicken or tofu
- Pasta with veggies and marinara
- Stir-fry with frozen veggies and rice
- Oatmeal jars with fruit and peanut butter
- Sheet pan meals: toss and everything on a tray and roast
Cook and Shop Smart
There are ways to learn basic budget-friendly cooking skills! Here are some apps that may be useful to you:
- Too Good To Go (cheap leftover meals): A mobile app that helps reduce food waste by letting you buy surplus food from restaurants, bakeries, cafes, and grocery stores at discounted prices, usually at one-third of the original price.
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Flipp or Ibotta (grocery deals and coupons): free mobile apps that help you save money on groceries and everyday shopping, perfect tools for students on a budget!
Flipp helps you find weekly deals, digital coupons, and price comparisons from local grocery an retail stores.
Ibotta gives cash back on groceries and other purchases, online, and in-store.
No matter how you choose to tackle your next meal, it is important to remember to take care of yourself. There is only so much you can handle at a time, and it is easy to forget to do the little things, such as drinking plenty of fluids and eating a balanced meal. Never hesitate to ask for help, because none of us got through this alone!
