<p>I know something similar to this thread has been done before, but I can’t find it.
My son is going to be living in a house off campus this fall, and his cooking skills leave MUCH to be desired. He’s also pretty lazy when it comes to food. He likes lots of protein. I’m looking for simple, relatively healthy, relatively inexpensive ideas for him. If anyone can suggest a very simple cookbook, that would also be helpful. He does not gravitate towards spacey things, but a little spice is OK. I think they have a grill at his house, but I’m not sure if it’s gas or charcoal (I don’t think he’d make the effort to use charcoal). I’m interested in both prepared and make yourself ideas. I’d like to avoid too much processed stuff, but ideas for “better for you” frozen foods are welcome. His place is near Albany, NY (Troy), if you are familiar with that area and could suggest good places to shop.</p>
<p>My daughter actually loves ramen, but there are healthier things to eat.</p>
<p>Some of these do not have very clear instructions.
<a href=“The Reddit College Cookbook Helps You Stop Eating Like a College Student”>The Reddit College Cookbook Helps You Stop Eating Like a College Student;
<p>Teach him to make scrambled eggs, grilled cheese sandwiches, pasta and canned sauce, bowls of cereal…and how to bake chicken (very easy…just stick it in the oven on 350 for 40 minutes…for a breast), baked potato. Get bags of baby carrots, frozen veggies.</p>
<p>He won’t starve.</p>
<p>A smaller crockpot…add chicken, seasonings, veggies…voila! A meal is cooked while you’re at school or work. Salad on the side. Easy, breezy.</p>
<p>Or even a George Foreman Grill. Those are the best. I have made everything from grilled chicken, panini sandwiches, browned frozen hash browns…those things are quite versatile.</p>
<p>My sons like to make quiche. It’s a good way of using leftover vegetables, etc.–and cheap and easy. They also make quesadillas with almost anything they have in the house.</p>
<p>Some one else on another thread suggested “Help: My apartment has a Kitchen”
I’m thinking about buying it for my DS.</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.amazon.com/Help-Apartment-Has-Kitchen-Cookbook/dp/0618711759”>http://www.amazon.com/Help-Apartment-Has-Kitchen-Cookbook/dp/0618711759</a></p>
<p>Thanks. Keep ideas coming.
He can do omelettes, and I think he could do grilled cheese. I’m going to suggest Barilla Plus pasta and canned sauce. I don’t think he’s been to the grocery store in years, except to pick up a thing or two with very explicit instructions. I’m coming up with an ideas shopping list, and meal ideas, but obviously some he will have to pick up on his own/learn through trial and error. </p>
<p>Pressed sandwiches can be very versatile, my grocery store sells thinly sliced sirloin steak which is high quality and only needs the preferred seasoning and a hot pan to be a great base. Also, baked potatoes with toppings can be very filling and enjoyable. My daughter learned to stir fry rice with pre cut veggies and also rotisserie chicken. Rotisserie chicken is also a great staple food because you can do things from a roast chicken dinner, to wraps, sandwiches, salads.</p>
<p>Quesadilla with shredded cheese and whatever veggies, meat, salsa etc. he likes can be made in the microwave, in a frying pan on the stove or in the oven. Rotisserie chicken from the grocery is good for an instant dinner and healthier than fried chicken. </p>
<p>Chicken breast cooks in 20-25 mins for medium piece and a hair more for thicker piece. Cook a whole bunch and have him dice up and freeze for another time. Add to soups, ramen, pasta, rice, veggies, salad, tortilla wraps, tacos etc…Same goes for ground beef.
Boiled eggs.
Entire cooked roast chickens at the grocery are fairly cheap and can be used for at least two meals. </p>
<p>Freeze lasagna wedges for several meals. Quiche or a strata are great ways to use up veggies, and meat.
Deli meat. </p>
<p>One of the biggest challenges he may have is if he has roommates that they don’t help themselves to his food. It does happen.</p>
<p>I second the George Foreman grill, especially if he likes meat. He can make steaks, burgers, chicken all on that thing very easily. You could also teach him how to do beer can chicken if he’s of age. Roommates might think that’s cool!</p>
<p>Salad in a bag. (Fresh Express is one brand.) Packaged salad toppings and his favorite dressing. An easy way to eat greens with little waste.</p>
<p>Thanks. I’m finally starting the grocery ideas list.
Is the George Foreman the best (relatively inexpensive) of that type of appliance to buy? Target had something similar on sale recently but I hadn’t done enough research to buy.</p>
<p>Black beans and rice: Hot rice (plain brown rice in the the microwavable pouches is not bad)+ heated can of black beans + fresh salsa from the deli section. </p>
<p>Frittatas: quiche without the crust. Mix up anything with a few eggs and bake.
Similarly: Hash: Add anything (for example mixed “power greens–kale, chard, spinach,etc” from a bag)
to scrambled eggs. </p>
<p>Chicken or turkey sausage: just put under the broiler for 10 minutes, turn, broil another 10 minutes.</p>
<p>My kid cooked for herself this summer for the first time. By partway through the summer she was asking for suggestions and a few favorite recipes. I think fajitas ended up on her menu, also a chicken paprika dish, and a pasta sauce that is pretty easy. Won’t tell you how hard she laughed when I mused that maybe turkey brats wouldn’t work because she is too young to buy beer to cook them in. @-) If you wait until a couple weeks in, he might be tired of sandwiches and more receptive to suggestions, though.</p>
<p>If you get a George Forman…get the kind with the removable grill plates…so the thing can be easily washed! </p>
<p>Thanks. I’ve got a things for the kitchen list going. The house is furnished, including kitchen stuff, but I am thinking I need to send a couple of things, like foreman grill, to make life easier. I’m also sending (old) kitchen towels, pot holders, etc. there will be five or six guys in his place.</p>
<p>I’m the one who suggested “Help! MY Apartment has a Kitchen”. I’m pretty sure it’s the only reason my son didn’t starve to death. I was prompted to look for it when he mentioned not knowing orange juice needed refrigeration…</p>
<p>He could learn to boil/bake/roast up some hot dogs and stock up on them when they’re on sale. </p>
<p>If he likes meatloaf or hamburgers, it’s not too difficult to learn how to make patties/meatloaf, freeze/place in fridge, and then bake/fry them up as needed. </p>
<p>If he learns how to bake up steak/pork chops and potatoes, that’s another option and one many college students living off campus loved doing when those items were on sale at the local supermarkets. </p>
<p>If he loves tuna fish, he can get canned tuna in bulk for real cheap and then mix it with mayo/miracle whip and have himself a nice sandwich/cracker spread. :)</p>
<p>Canned manwich is another option popular among college students who don’t like to cook. </p>
<p>If he loves canned baked beans, that’s another option. </p>
<p>There’s more ideas, but unless he loves Chinese food items which may be weird to the mainstream American palate such as canned salted fried fish with black beans in soybean oil, I’d doubt they’d be helpful. </p>
<p>With 5 or 6 boys in the house, dish washing and cleaning are more difficult than cooking.
Cooking is very easy. Everything can be grilled.</p>