Cheap & Easy Meals - Tips for a Uni Student

PowerB on 10/03/2016 - 14:31

I recently moved into residence at the University I attend and I'm finding that I'm struggling to organise meals for myself. I usually have either EasyMac or a Coles branded Pie for Lunch/Dinner and sometimes I just can't be bothered eating either so I skip a meal (or I cheat and go to HJ or Dominos). I realise that I can't survive on EasyMac and Pies for my year here, so I'm hoping to get suggestions on some meals that are cheap and easy.

I am in a shared house on campus, and there is not much fridge/freezer space at all (we all share), which is a pity as it limits my ability to cook meals in advance as well as have a supply of frozen foods. Cupboard space is also limited, but I can move things into my room if needed.

Thanks :)

Food & Grocery

Comments

    • PowerB on 10/03/2016 - 20:27

      Thanks for the link! Good stuff in there! A fair few of the comments talk about freezing for days in advance, which I don't think I have the fridge/freezer space for, but I guess I could shuffle things around and see if I can find space :)

    • antzz on 13/03/2016 - 11:56

      https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/132671

      Lots of ozbargainers swear by this instant noodles indomie mie goreng

  • pformag on 10/03/2016 - 14:48
    +19

    Pasta is a quick and easy meal to make, just get a can of diced tomato (Coles branded one with herbs already added), add some salt and pepper and bring it to the boil in a small pot. They just boil some spaghetti and you have yourself a very basic pasta. Its easy to be creative as well with ingredients for the sauce. Add mushroom and dice onion or some cherry tomatoes. Add browned mince for Bolognese… list is endless.

    There is also salads. You can buy lettuce, tomato, Cucumber, Avocado, Cheese etc, then get a $1 Chicken kebabs from coles or woolies, remove them from the scewers, pan fry them and add it ontop of your salad. Usually 2-3 Kebabs per person is a pretty fulling dinner. Also adding chickpeas to salads adds some fiber.

    These are just two basic dinners that can be made in under 15mins.

    • PowerB on 10/03/2016 - 20:32

      That's great! Thanks for that! Awesome hint about the kebabs too! :D

      • anastasiastarz on 14/03/2017 - 02:04

        Tried this, kebab meat was very low quality. :(

  • lupiter on 10/03/2016 - 14:59
    +19

    Absolutely easiest meals:

    • Raw veg. Sometimes I just have a carrot or celery. You can also dip it in hummus if you like.
    • Sandwiches. Boring, but you can take them to class.
    • Plain pasta with cheese. Boil your pasta of choice, mix in grated cheese. (like easyMac but… not in a box ha)
    • Boiled Egg. You can add boiled egg to just about anything, they're cheap and you can eat them cold on their own.
    • Scrambled eggs. Add a couple halved cherry tomatoes and some herb salt mix and it can go on toast or pasta. Add crispy fried onion bits (asian section) or garlic if fancy.

    My sister used to keep a rice cooker in her room at Uni, and would make rice & steamed veg a LOT.

    • lupiter on 10/03/2016 - 16:05
      +5

      Oh, and I forgot to mention I was sick for a while and still had to feed myself and pretty much just ate instant porridge (hot water, not milk). When I got a bit better I had plain rice with corn and peas.

      You can also eat other breakfast foods for other meals. Cornflakes For Dinner Day!

      Just make sure you eat some green veg, fresh meat, or orange juice. Nobody wants scurvy.

      • PowerB on 10/03/2016 - 20:34

        Thanks for the hints and suggestions! Can't go wrong with cornflakes for dinner!

        • [Deactivated] on 14/03/2016 - 16:43

          and if you don't have milk, just use beer.

      • HN Professional on 10/03/2016 - 22:45
        +1

        Testify! There are SO many advantages to living alone but one of the worst disadvantages is trying to take care of yourself when you're sick.

        • kima on 11/03/2016 - 13:48
          +1

          especially with food poisoning coming out both ends, you feel like your dying

    • sifter132 on 11/03/2016 - 07:37
      +6

      Rice cooker takes the cake for me. I've been having rice and steamed veg for lunch almost every day since I discovered the simple way to do it. So. Freaking. Easy. You buy rice. You buy a bag of your favourite frozen veg - I like mixed. Then cook your rice in the rice cooker, but pour the frozen veg into the steamer basket of your rice cooker and leave it inside the rice cooker as the rice cooks. Come back in 15-30 mins (depending how much rice you have), and your rice is cooked, and your frozen vegies have steamed up nicely. Add a little soy sauce, and you have a simple, healthy and cheap meal.

      • Slippery Fish on 12/03/2016 - 16:53
        +1

        You can also get dried peas ect and just add in with rice with spice ect and cooker will cook it in 1 pot. And can all sit in a box in the room till you cook.

        Ziplock bags of your favorite mixes for quick dinners.

      • anastasiastarz on 14/03/2017 - 02:02

        Would the steamer squish the rice?

  • JetLi on 10/03/2016 - 15:11
    +18

    I would think a coles/woolies roast chicken at $8 would be pretty good value for multiple meals. Can't beat indomie with a couple of fried/boiled eggs as well for a cheap tasty feed.

    • PowerB on 10/03/2016 - 20:35

      I didn't even consider a roast! Thanks!

      • JetLi on 10/03/2016 - 21:54
        +2

        For a cheap meaty change, also consider a bulk pack of coles bbq sausages, you can break them up into bags of 3-4 snags, they last forever in the freezer and are quick and easy to cook, probably not very healthy though.

      • newozbargainermelb on 12/03/2016 - 08:10

        Coles/woolies usually discount the price of roast chicken for quick sale after 4.30 pm.

        • simhanada on 13/03/2016 - 20:31
          +2

          Then use the carcass to make up a chicken stock/broth/soup.

        • anastasiastarz on 14/03/2017 - 02:03

          Discovered my local is 7pm, though you can ask them when this happens :P
          We scored a couple $4 chickens, sold out within 10 minutes.

      • barginsarelife on 14/03/2016 - 08:56

        $7.90 at Woolworths and $8 at Coles.

  • paaj on 10/03/2016 - 16:11
    +3

    Supermarkets sell stir fry veggies with the sauce in the pack. just got to chuck it all in the wok - easy as. add to that some of that $8 supermarket roast chicken and you can get microwave rice to go with it.

    you might not realise it now but nutrition is important - you need fibre in your diet.

  • JetLi on 10/03/2016 - 16:22
    +6

    You could always buy a bar fridge just for your room, this will solve your lack of fridge/freezer space i don't think they are very expensive these days or pick one up 2nd from another student.

    • PowerB on 10/03/2016 - 20:37

      Yeah, the thought did cross my mind to get a fridge for my room but I was just concerned about the noise it would make. BUT it would solve the issue of space :)

      • JetLi on 10/03/2016 - 21:51

        I'm guessing small bar fridges wouldn't make much noise, but the heat it produces may be a consideration if you have a small room with little airflow.

      • jenki on 11/03/2016 - 00:07
        +8

        They make quite a bit of noise when they cycle on and off… But once you are used to it the noise becomes strangely comforting.

        • montorola on 11/03/2016 - 17:15
          +3

          the noise becomes strangely comforting.

          Haha, that's true.

          Maybe it makes it feel like you're in a hotel room?

          This is a good idea, get one and use it as a side-table to put stuff on.

      • ProspectiveDarkness on 11/03/2016 - 13:52

        I was in your situation last year (sort of, was more of a dorm) and yeah, the noise from the fridge could be pretty annoying (usually silent, but there'd be random periods of pretty loud noise). Was still worth it though.

      • chumbucket on 11/03/2016 - 21:29

        If you're living on campus I think a small bar fridge would be the least of your worries about night time noise. When I used to live at SUV the surrounding parties would pretty much drown out any other noise.

        One other suggestion could be to buy a 2nd hand chest freezer for the common area. I did it and my housemates loved the extra freezer space too. Just depends on who you live with I guess.

        As for meals:
        Chicken and rice
        Canned salmon or tuna with rice
        Spaghetti (or equivalent pasta), a really cheap version of this is pesto stirred through $1 penne from coles

        But as has been mentioned, dont eat crap all the time. You'll end up paying it back later. Throw the occasional salad in there too.

        • BluebirdV on 12/03/2016 - 22:21

          Try this fridge

          http://m.ebay.com.au/itm/55L-LUMIK-Portable-Freezer-Fridge-1…

          May be expensive at $569 (I got mine in a group deal for $500) but think how much you will save on power bills. Not only that it is extremely quiet. I have no problem sleeping next to it. You also have the added bonus of using it in the car and while camping.

  • slow on 10/03/2016 - 16:25

    Tina of tuna and Sriracha (or other chilli) - add to just about anything (pasta or rice with a tin of tomato, eggs, toast ) for something tasty

  • GameChanger on 10/03/2016 - 17:05
    +12

    How about a sugar daddy to supplement your income?

  • yoonibear on 10/03/2016 - 17:52
    +2

    Save up some money and go buy those massive bags of rice at the Asian supermarkets.
    You can make lots of things with rice and it'll fill you up.
    If there's a shopping centre nearby, wait until the restaurants are about to close and buy the containers of food. They usually offload them for about 4-5$ per container. If you portion it right, you'll have dinner and next days lunch.

    Or what I did was get 1 egg, a handful of frozen peas, 2 potatoes, those coles brand tuna - boil them all up, add a bit of salt to taste and voila.
    Easy, cheap and healthy compared to what I was eating.

  • shroomish on 10/03/2016 - 18:14
    +9

    blame your parents for failing to teach you to feed yourself appropriately because they didnt love you.

  • CrazyMexican on 10/03/2016 - 20:09

    TUNA :D

  • Mummy2 on 10/03/2016 - 20:33
    +3

    If you have access to a microwave then I suggest microwaved "baked" potatoes (they are much nicer cooked in an oven but take forever that way).
    Top with any of the "with pasta" suggestions above, grated cheese, tinned corn, tuna, tinned chilli (if you don't have space or time to store & cook with fresh mince), leftovers etc etc.
    Need to keep the fresh spuds in a cool dark place to keep them good for longer.

  • boccos on 11/03/2016 - 08:28
    +3

    Some young people confuse energy with nuitrition. That is that they assume that as long as what they eat keeps them moving, they are fine. This usually means go-go-go until the body is screaming to be fed, then grab the nearest quickest food to quench the hunger. As everyone knows, fast food is not the best food, so, it takes a little planning in advance.
    A really great food item is the humble egg. Sits on a bench in a carton, is easy to cook and serve in a variety of ways. It is very well balanced nutrient-wise. Can be used in any daily meal.
    If you focus on the egg as the core ingredient, then work it into some easy recipes. Sandwiches, salads, omlets, quiches, burgers, etc. Just plan ahead a little and have some boiled and ready for use. Once you get used to the routine, add a cooked chicken bought for $8 currently and it keeps for several days refrigerated. Then mix and match recipies.
    After this, your good habit is established, you will add whatever you want into your meals.
    Tip: It takes about a month to develop or break a habit.

  • theHMASfriendship on 11/03/2016 - 09:10
    +1

    Recently came effectively single, I’m working away a lot from the missus at the moment so I've been doing a lot of cooking for one.

    Sunday afternoon/evenings I bulk cook lunches for work. Get some plastic containers from woollies or coles (they seem to be half price a lot), then I usually have a carb (rice, noodles or pasta), a meat (chicken, mince), sauce (pasta sauce, jar of kan tong, that sort of thing) and frozen vegies. Chuck 2 or 3 in the fridge and the others in a freezer. Usually costs me around $3 a meal and is pretty tasty and filling. Weekends is a sandwich or I have the same thing for lunch and dinner.

    Dinners along the same sort of theme but I’ll cook most nights. The steam fresh fish things you can get in the freezer aisle are pretty good. Usually grab whatever meat is on special and team it with vegies, or salad. Burgers are pretty easy to make too. Maybe spend $5 a meal.

    Breakfast is simple, cereal/toast is cheap.

  • Speckled Jim on 11/03/2016 - 10:47
    +2

    Home branded baked beans are ~65c each, and are made in Italy! Fancy, huh?. Add some herbs, serve on toast — voila!

    Try za'atar. Just mix with olive oil, spread on bread and grill for a few minutes.
    Za'atar also mixes well with ^those beans, as I've recently discovered.

    I was going to mention noodles, but they're not so good. Unless you balance them by topping with tuna. Coles branded tuna (80c each) come in several varieties so you're sure to find some you like.

    Bananas need no refrigeration, nor do prunes. Have a couple of each for breakfast.

    • movieman on 11/03/2016 - 15:55

      Where do you buy this Za'tar?

      • Speckled Jim on 11/03/2016 - 16:18
        +1

        Middle Eastern, Mediterranean and some Asian grocers. When I lived in Sydney, The Golden Banana stores also had it.

        Coles used to have several varieties sold by Zest Foods, presented in a small tin. Very expensive so I only bought one tin of Phoenician style. Boy it was nice!

        • [Deactivated] on 11/03/2016 - 16:36
          +1

          +1 for za'tar. that stuff is the absolute key.

    • Serapis on 12/03/2016 - 20:25
      +1

      You're missing lemon…

      1. Mix zaatar + lemon juice + olive oil
      2. Spread on afghani bread
      3. Toast
      4. Win
      • Speckled Jim on 13/03/2016 - 23:56
        +1

        Are you giving away a regional custom here?

        I have to admit, there is already something…astringent is the current batch I'm using. Or slightly acidic? Not sure what it is. But the crazy-expensive Zest brand didn't have that, but did have pine nuts in addition to the sesame seeds.

        There were at least four varieties at Coles. I couldn't believe it myself. So amazed I took a photo of the tin I bought, but this was in 2006 so I'll have to dig into an archive disc.

        • Serapis on 14/03/2016 - 17:45

          I'm not sure, I'm not actually of middle eastern origin. The Lebanese shop i get my zaatar bread from (they call it 'oregano pizza') is pretty much afghani bread + zaatar + olive oil + lemon juice / labne. Tastes awesome and is both cheap and filing as a snack.

          The best I've had however was the same mix but on markook (some sorta thin flatbread) cooked on a saj (some cooking pan that resembles an upside down wok).

          Started making it myself for those moments where i crave some night snack, sometimes even add light mozerella to it and toast it. The zaatar i buy is from middle eastern grocery shops, just comes in clear 500g packaging with some arabic on it and doesn't have a sour taste.

  • YellowBear on 11/03/2016 - 13:41
    +3

    Doesn't seem to have been pointed out so far but for sure, you should be looking into the entire canned range. Canned fish, meats, vegetables, fruit… Canned corn is a favourite of mine, usually edible straight out of the can, otherwise just chuck it in the microwave or cook it in the pan with other veg/meat.

    Also, you can get bread/crackers and spreads. Spreads usually sit okay outside the fridge unless during summer if it gets hot in your room, where I assume you'll put it.

    Are you near any markets? Things are usually cheaper either at the end of the day or at the end of the week, could probably get ingredients for a cheap feed to put in the fridge for a few days to interchange with the other options.

    Last thing, if you want a healthier alternative to instant noodles, there's instant rice vermicelli.

  • strikerzebra on 11/03/2016 - 13:55
    +11

    Mi Goreng is the uni meal of choice

    • Manh on 11/03/2016 - 18:18

      Isn't he the emperor of China who build the Great Wall to keep the rabbits out?

      • strikerzebra on 11/03/2016 - 18:38
        +1

        Something like that

      • Kapinny on 12/03/2016 - 01:10
        +5

        that was emperor Nasi Goreng

        • Manh on 12/03/2016 - 12:12

          Yeah, that's the one :)

        • Serapis on 12/03/2016 - 20:27
          +1

          @Manh:

          Actually i think that's Maggi goreng

  • kima on 11/03/2016 - 14:05
    +1

    you can eat fresh fruit and vegetables alone. you can start with any carb - spuds, bread, pasta, rice then add some simple toppings - sauce, cheese, veg. tins are great - soups, baked beans, stews, hot dogs, fruits. you can get dry products like noodles, peas, mash potato cereal etc. yoghurt is good for lunch. i often grab a bag of rolls and just a few slices of meat at the deli. sometimes i dont want bread so i get a few slices of meat at the deli and cook some veg to go with it.

  • devs on 11/03/2016 - 14:31
    +3

    http://www.reddit.com/r/eatcheapandhealthy has got you covered.

  • Kingfabay on 11/03/2016 - 14:44

    Homebrand Beef Lasagne $2.29 400g

  • Tech5 on 11/03/2016 - 14:47
    +2

    I've always found that wraps are the easiest. Cook the chicken/beef on the weekend and store a box in the fridge. Get a sandwhich maker, slap on the meat, add some cheese, sauce, vegies.

  • Bonsaichop on 11/03/2016 - 15:45
    +1

    Take multivitamins to supplement the uni diet!

  • BanannaMan on 11/03/2016 - 16:27
    +2
    1. Mee Goreng
    2. Eggs & Rice
    3. Tuna
    4. Sandwiches (I always made them yummier by grilling / sandwich press)
    5. HJ's
  • CharityCase on 11/03/2016 - 16:52
    +3

    Buy frozen dumplings from Chinese supermarket, normally 3 bags for $10~$12, can last for 4 meals. Simply boil it up, dip in soy sauce or chilli sauce, ready to go! And it tastes good :)

  • CircularIllusion on 11/03/2016 - 17:15

    If you don't mind saying, which university are you at? I'm sure lots of people here are current or past students who would be able to give advice to your specific area.

  • JH100 on 11/03/2016 - 17:29
    +1

    Wholemeal pancakes. Mix flour and water, a little salt, pour in the pan. Mix in whatever else you want in it - fruit, veg, nuts, etc.

    The variety is up to you. Fast, cheap and healthy enough.

  • Mysterious on 11/03/2016 - 17:34
    • Pasta
    • Rice with any sort of canned food e.g beans
    • Potatoes with any sort of sides
    • Wraps (e.g chicken/lettuce wrapped with salad)
  • Ninjassmileinthedark on 11/03/2016 - 17:44
    +3

    Cook rice in a rice cooker (cooker can be bought very cheaply). Once cooked add a tin of tuna and some mixed frozen veggies- stir and leave for 10 minutes. Add some cheese, stir and eat. My bachelor days staple- it is impossible to burn it.

  • [Deactivated] on 11/03/2016 - 17:45
    +1

    I had an electric steamer. Would alternate between
    meat - chicken breast or fish
    veggie - brussel sprouts + carrots or brocolli + carrots

    Did this for a few years. It was a breeze to shop, cook and clean. First few months were tough but my laziness was stronger.

  • heyrosered on 11/03/2016 - 18:37
    +3

    Beans are a great staple, cheap, leave them on the shelf in the can, and they go with a lot. Mixed beans can bulk out a pasta with a jar sauce (super easy, thrown in some tuna for more healthy protein). Cook a half serve of a simple bean sauce like this - it freezes well, is healthy, and can be paired with things you already have on hand like toast and scrambled eggs. Pancakes are a really good make-ahead breakfast as well - super cheap and easy to make from scratch, even easier to use the shake bottle. Cook them at the start of the week and you can package them up to eat cold in lectures with fruit and yogurt.
    From a more sustainable point of view, it'd be a good idea to identify what it is that stops you from cooking more so you can address it. Personally my main barrier is the dishes - I loathe doing them and they take up even more time when I've just spent ages prepping and cooking. During the semester I try to find "one pot" recipes to reduce the amount of mess I'm making - they're often pretty easy to make as well!

  • [Deactivated] on 11/03/2016 - 19:02
    +3

    Go to some Indian shop, you get dried food like lentils, beans and other legumes which you just soak in water for a day or so and it expands and sprouts in size. That should last for a very long time and it is healthy.

  • QuickToThePointless on 11/03/2016 - 19:24
    -3

    get on tinder - if you are a chick youll jag a few free food court meals or better each week - take a doggy bag and youll have next days lunch sorted too

    • tikei on 11/03/2016 - 20:57

      Great idea!

  • Ethere on 11/03/2016 - 21:25
    +1

    fried rice, tuna mornay, cold soba noodles(you can buy the soup base ready to use at the Asian grocer),
    Super budget: kimchi and rice, roasted seaweed with rice, fried egg with rice
    If you find plain fried rice a bit boring you can fry chopped onions in a pan cook til tranluscent, add rice in and then about 1-2tablespoon of ketchup, continue frying and you got tomato rice which you can eat with side dish

    Pasta is also quick and cheap to make, there's plenty of pasta bases you can buy and if not learn how to make a white sauce, all it is flour, milk and butter.

    Noodles are also super easy to make just have a jar of Tom yum or any soup base ready. Cook with noodles, any meat, any greens.

    Hope this helps!

    You can also check out these 4 ingredient recipes http://www.taste.com.au/recipes/collections/4+ingredient+rec…

  • eve on 11/03/2016 - 21:41
    +2

    Either a rice cooker or pressure cooker - put this all in and cook:
    Rice
    Chicken stock
    Spinach
    Diced onion

    Spinach pilaf! One pot and super tasty.

    To mix it up, can sprinkle feta on top, have with lamb chops and/or greek yoghurt.
    Left over yoghurt can be drained of whey to make labneh - can put on sandwiches/stirred with pasta, add to omelettes…

  • skywards on 11/03/2016 - 22:03
    +1

    Have some back up instant noodles from the Asian grocery store. This way you can add vegies/tuna/egg to make it a quick meal.

    • [Deactivated] on 12/03/2016 - 17:35

      Dinner date tonight?

      • skywards on 12/03/2016 - 21:37
        +1

        Frugal gourmet 😉

        • [Deactivated] on 12/03/2016 - 22:29

          I meant you and I. That sounds sooo yummy

  • [Deactivated] on 11/03/2016 - 22:30
    +2

    Can you buy a small fridge? SecondsWorld sells some cheap ones. I bought one for like $80.
    What are your roommates doing?Perhaps they are having this same thought and you can just unite to buy another fridge?

  • mjjeje on 12/03/2016 - 04:54
    +1

    Can you buy a rice cooker and put it in your room? I find a rice cooker is very handy and you can cook rice mix with vegies or meat without having to attend to it. Also, eggs, can cook a variety of it and high in protein. Whislt instant noodle is the easiest and cheap way to eat, I don't recommend you eating it all the time for health reason though. Buying angel hair pasta and cook it with meat/vegies might be a better alternative. I always use angel hair pasta as instant noodle substitute.

  • Lucky13 on 12/03/2016 - 09:53
    +1

    Cook spaghetti or noodles and mix in bowl with chopped really small tomatoes, cucumber (can also use chopped small mushrooms or anything just has to be small so hot spaghetti or noodles lightly blanches food) and a small tin of tuna (drained), 1/2 tspn'ish of salt, olive oil, berri's lemon squeeze or fresh lemon if you have it and stir and eat. Seriously nice and healthy too. Make this one a lot actually hope you like it too :)

    Edit: Ooh and forgot half an avocado mashed and mixed in is really nice too. Bon appetit!

  • michaelsydney28 on 12/03/2016 - 10:53
    +1

    Had a friend who would hire home catering to his house every day. He and his roommates would chip in around $30 bucks each week in a 5-6 person house and each night dinner would be delivered to their doorsteps. He said it was cheap, variety was good and there was enough food for everyone. You could give that a try.

    • anastasiastarz on 14/03/2017 - 02:09

      $30 for 7 meals?! Where did he find this caterer?

  • Freakycat on 12/03/2016 - 11:07
    +2

    I recently research on cheap and easy meal and found many ways to cook fast and save.

    Rice: Cook your rice in a microwave. Add some japanese rice seasoning (sprinkle type), fried an egg and a sausage. It only takes 10-12 minutes to cook the rice while you fried the egg and sausage.

    Option 2: Buy a frozen eel and grilled it for about 5 mins in the roaster, then you have very yummy eel rice and the Japanese charges exactly the same bowl of rice for $18 to $20 a bowl.

    For cheaper option, cook the sushi rice in microwave, add rice seasoning, roll it up with cling wrap (dont need to buy seaweed), eat it for lunch. It does cost no more than a dollar.

    Pasta/noodle: buy the dry noodle from Asian grocery store. It cost about $2.5 a pack and it lasts about 4-5 meals. Put enough water in the microwave bowl just to cover it. Cook for 5mins and cover it with a plate, stand for 3 mins. Add chicken powder and soy sauce and add some fried egg/bacon.

    Bake some pasta with cream sauce or use Leggos stir through sauce (easier way) which tastes like some REAL pasta you have outside. Add canned fish.

    Or use pita bread as a pizza base and add fresh ingredients to make a mini pizza or melt.

    Other:
    Buy a pack of cake mix for about $2-2.5 and microwave the mixture in the microwave for 5 mins. Then you get a baked cake.
    Cook the quiche in a mug in the microwave, there are video in youtube show you how.
    Buy bread from Coles on discount.
    If you have a mini toaster, buy a pack of chicken wings, season it with garlic powder and soy sauce and toast it.
    Buy fish fillet and toast it in the toaster or microwave it. Or you can cook with fish finger.
    Don't know you budget, but order delivery hero when there is a discount code, freeze the curry.

  • ziggy1312 on 12/03/2016 - 14:19

    Google rice cooker recipes, lots you can do in one pot

    • oz-dave on 13/03/2016 - 02:36

      Wow - where do I get a "Google rice cooker", and is it internet connected ?!? :p

  • centrelink on 12/03/2016 - 15:01

    Chicken corn soup.. man i love em

  • [Deactivated] on 12/03/2016 - 16:29

    5kg Jasmine Rice - $12
    5kg Black Beans - $17

    No need to soak the black beans before cooking.

    Canned beans are incredibly expensive relative to buying big bags of dried beans.

    Combinations of those with meat (fatty cheap cuts slow cooked or for the lazy person - precooked chooks shredded), soy sauces, chili sauces, salt, pepper, curry powders, tomatoes, fried or just heated.

    Absolute cheapest way to live and prep isn't difficult. Only downside is you should cook the beans for at least 1.5 hours, probably more. Read here. So do big batches and freeze/fridge.

  • Slippery Fish on 12/03/2016 - 16:56

    Chicken drumsticks are easy and good. Marinade and bake or cook in pot of water with herbs/spice and some soy sauce, do not boil or you lose flavor. From there crumb or cook on frypan or bbq. They will be moist as your just browning outside.

    Edit: I also second a rice cooker, with some inventive thinking you can bake cakes, cassaroles ect. Google alternitive uses for rice cooker.

  • chumlee on 12/03/2016 - 17:23

    Get a job as a food critic. All meals paid for.

    • [Deactivated] on 12/03/2016 - 17:34

      You would get fat. Gross.

  • gringo on 12/03/2016 - 17:40

    Tricky without a freezer as a lot of recipes rely on freezing portions afterward. Here are some that are possible without much prep:

    Daal
    Pesto
    Tuna mornay
    Baked potato in a microwave
    Risotto
    French onion soup (with onions)
    Can pumpkin soup with broccoli in it

    Do rice in the microwave i reckon

    Also dried kidney beans can be toxic unless prepped properly

  • MasterNoob on 12/03/2016 - 19:59
    +2

    ITT: tons of carbs

    • [Deactivated] on 12/03/2016 - 20:11

      That's how you eat cheap. Ain't no getting around it.

      Although I suggested black beans because they're cheap, tasty and a reasonable source of protein.

    • hammershammered on 13/03/2016 - 20:07

      I know right!

      People need to be getting their protein, then drink their olive oil/eat butter/fatty meats for energy. Also mineral supplements etc since it is diuretic.. I would have had tonnes more energy in uni if I'd done this.. AND IT IS CHEAP!

  • Serapis on 12/03/2016 - 20:22

    Mi goreng + egg

  • JMERC on 12/03/2016 - 23:35
    1. Chicken Breasts (from Coles deli $9/kg) - cut them up, salt & pepper, fry in oil. Easy - serve with Rice or make sandwiches.
    2. Tuna - mixing 'Sirena in Oil' + 'Greanseas Tomato & Onion' + Rice is actually quite easy/cheap/tasty. If you're lazy then buy the Woolies white/brown rice packets for $1.60 and put in the microwave.
    3. Rolls + ham from supermarket deli. Pretty simple.
    4. ALDI frozen fish in a bag (salmon, barrumundi, hoki, basa). My favourite is Hoki. Cheap at $12/kg. Just take out a piece from the frozen bag and fry in oil. Serve with rice.
    5. Coles corned beef. I actually like making this when I'm lazy. Corned beef + kraft single cheese sandwich. Chuck in the oven for 15mins.

    Mentioned multiple times in the thread already, but find a good spaghetti bolognese recipe and you can live off that for ages. I remember I was making a big batch every Sunday and it would work out to $2 per big bowl. Tasted delicious.

    Highly recommend a rice cooker as well. $20 from Kmart.

  • geoffellis on 13/03/2016 - 00:17

    If i were you i'd probably see about getting a bar fridge for yourself. At least that would be my solution. Need more room, get more room.

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