Much of going green in college has to do with the food you eat. You’ll end up saving money by eating at the cafeteria as often as possible, but for students whose cafeterias don’t allow for food to be taken out of the building (yours truly), weekly runs to the grocery are inevitable. Instead of wasting money on pre-made muffins or boxes of cereal that run out faster than you can afford them, try the following tips to treat your body, the planet, and your wallet a little nicer this semester.
- Instead of wasting gas (and gas money) idling at stop lights on the way to the grocery store, drive to the store at night or at least not during rush hour. Try getting your grocery shopping done once a week and stock up.
- Stock up on fruit and any veggies you don’t mind eating raw, like carrots or cucumbers. Fewer things are easier to take to class than an apple, pear, or banana (you can even slice them up before class and stick them in a reusable plastic container—avoid paper bags or anything you’re going to throw away after one use, which is like throwing money into a landfill).
- With the fruit you’ve stocked up, consider whipping up a yogurt smoothie. Plain, nonfat yogurt is a great source of calcium, and if you blend some frozen berries and bananas, you’re ready to go. This, of course, necessitates a food processor in your dorm, but it’s a worthy investment that in the long run will save you trips to fast food chains for their overpriced (and over-sugared) smoothies. To make the process quicker, cut up the desired fruits the night before and freeze them overnight; blend in the morning in your reusable glass or ceramic travel mug.
- The peanut butter and jelly sandwich is a little overplayed in college, but it sure is cheap. Add some variety to this old fashioned favorite by adding a drizzle of honey or sliced bananas instead of jelly. Plus, both varieties contain loads of vitamins, minerals, and protein.
- Oatmeal is another food that most people scrunch their noses at. This mushy, typically bland food doesn’t have to be boring, though. Add bananas, blueberries, cranberries, honey, chocolate chunks, or even whipped cream (or any combination of the above) to get all the fiber and health benefits of oatmeal without the blah. Tip: cook your microwaveable oatmeal with milk or soy/almond milk instead of water for added calcium and taste.
- 6. Don’t buy bottled water. The plastic ends up costing CO2 even if you recycle, and fresh ground water is one of the biggest commodities privatized businesses are getting their claws on these days. Instead, buy one ceramic, glass, or certain kinds of plastic. Look on the bottom of your plastic bottle or thermos and check out the numbers: 1,2,4, and 5 are okay and won’t leach creepy chemicals called BPA (Bisphenol A suspected of having adverse affects on the thyroid, dopaminergic system, and neurological system). If your Nalgeen contains plastics 3, 6, or 7, however, recycle and stay away.
- Similarly, don’t buy “bad” plastic food containers, and stay away from paper plates and cups, too. Instead, invest in just a handful of proper ceramic plates, mugs, and steel utensils that you can wash in the sink at the end of every day (or, more realistically, every week). You’ll spend a little more money that you’d want at first, but you’ll make up that money in no time.
- Take a reusable bag to the grocery store. You can even sew out of an old t-shirt if you’re the crafty type. Plastic bags are the bane of the green community.