To avoid cluttering your room, you'll want to choose items that are necessary and require little space. When working through your list of appliances, we recommend separating them into categories of "want" and "need." Devices that fall under the "need" category may include a mini fridge, microwave, pressure cooker, electric kettle and toaster oven. "Want" appliances might consist of specialty items like a waffle iron. These are things that you may enjoy using but are not necessary for dorm life.
Creating a recipe bank of easy, dorm-friendly recipes will help you choose meals in the future. Remember that Vegan Fettuccine Alfredo you made the other night that turned out perfect? Save the recipe! You'll be surprised at how many recipes start accumulating once you get started. Once they build up, your weekly meal planning will become even easier. Just choose a few meals from your pre-existing recipe collection and create a shopping list.
While we don't recommend taking shortcuts when it comes to schoolwork, we recommend them with cooking. One-pot meals, cold salad dishes and pured veggies are all easy ways to create flavorful and filling meals without all the extra steps.
For a tasty and nutritious one-pot meal, try out this Instant Pot Chili.
While making home-cooked meals in your dorm room isn't always easy at first, with a bit of practice, you'll become a pro in no time. From choosing the right appliances to creating a recipe bank of dishes, there are countless ways to make your dorm experience a healthy one. Have a dorm cooking tip of your own? We'd love to hear how you've made cooking at college a success. Let us know in the comments below. From everyone at Bob's Red Mill, have a happy and healthy day!
