Budgeting and buying some basic pantry staples is important as a college student. Planning ahead can help save money, create less food waste, and help you to eat more nutritious meals when you have a busy schedule. Pantry staples are items that are versatile and utilized often in an individual's cooking repertoire. Pantry staples typically are healthy and have a long shelf life; they are the foundational ingredients in recipes where fresh produce is added. The five basic kitchen staples that I chose to look into cost comparison for were as follows: brown basmati rice, organic kidney beans, white kidney beans, organic creamy peanut butter and organic tomato paste.
The reason that I chose these five items was because beans and rice are a staple ingredient in my rotation of meals that I make myself. Peanut butter is also my favorite nut butter and something that I use often with my produce to incorporate healthy fats and protein into my diet. As far as the tomato paste, I knew that I was wanting to make chili this week so I wanted to shop around for the best deal.
A rough estimate of the total cost for my chili using the ingredients above is: $4.42
The meal that I chose to prepare based off of my price comparison was vegetarian chili. I really don't tend to use recipes when I cook unless I find something on pinterest or in a magazine that I really want to try, and cooking this chili was no different. I had a bunch of vegetables that I needed to get eaten up before they went bad and because the weather finally feels like fall I decided that chili was the perfect way to use them up!
To start, I diced up onions and zucchini and started to saute them at the bottom of my kettle. After they started to get soft, I added some frozen diced eggplant that I had prepared earlier in the week and some frozen roasted butternut squash that I had also roasted earlier this week. I then added tomato paste, my beans and some canned tomato juice that my mom had canned last year. After letting that simmer for a bit I added in my spices and some kale that I had in my fridge. Finally I added a bit of molasses and a bit of brown sugar for some depth.
Reflecting on how my chili turned out, it wasn't my best chili that I've made, but it wasn't bad once I added my toppings! To top the chili I added some cheddar cheese, some sour cream and my favorite chili topping- peanut butter! What I think was missing from my chili is spices. I bought my chili powder from the bulk section and I didn't buy enough so I had to use some of the basic spices I share with my roommates. Another thing that I normally add to chili are some frozen thai chili peppers but I didn't have any of those here at my apartment. I also wish I would have had time to make some cornbread to go with my chili because that would have complemented it nicely!
Overall, while it was fun to look into adding to my pantry, I don't think that I will actively be doing that anytime in the future for a couple of reasons. The main reason being I feel like I have a pretty well stocked pantry at this point in time when I'm just cooking for myself. The second reason is lack of space in a small apartment. However in the future when I have my own home and family, my pantry will be expanded upon.
The reason that I chose these five items was because beans and rice are a staple ingredient in my rotation of meals that I make myself. Peanut butter is also my favorite nut butter and something that I use often with my produce to incorporate healthy fats and protein into my diet. As far as the tomato paste, I knew that I was wanting to make chili this week so I wanted to shop around for the best deal.
A rough estimate of the total cost for my chili using the ingredients above is: $4.42
- Kidney Beans- $1.92
- Tomato Paste- $0.90
- White Kidney Beans- $1.60
Unfortunately I used up all of the pantry staples that I purchased so they won't offset the cost of any future menu items I prepare, but I ended up making a gallon of chili so that will make many meals for me! Overall, I was a little surprised at how close the price per ounce was of the items comparing Walmart to Trader Joe's. It was nice to have a spreadsheet started so I know where to get the best deals for food! In the future I don't think that it will influence my shopping patterns because it's far easier to get to Trader Joe's while I'm at school, on top of that Trader Joe's is far less overwhelming than Walmart because they don't stack the shelves as high.
The meal that I chose to prepare based off of my price comparison was vegetarian chili. I really don't tend to use recipes when I cook unless I find something on pinterest or in a magazine that I really want to try, and cooking this chili was no different. I had a bunch of vegetables that I needed to get eaten up before they went bad and because the weather finally feels like fall I decided that chili was the perfect way to use them up!
To start, I diced up onions and zucchini and started to saute them at the bottom of my kettle. After they started to get soft, I added some frozen diced eggplant that I had prepared earlier in the week and some frozen roasted butternut squash that I had also roasted earlier this week. I then added tomato paste, my beans and some canned tomato juice that my mom had canned last year. After letting that simmer for a bit I added in my spices and some kale that I had in my fridge. Finally I added a bit of molasses and a bit of brown sugar for some depth.
Reflecting on how my chili turned out, it wasn't my best chili that I've made, but it wasn't bad once I added my toppings! To top the chili I added some cheddar cheese, some sour cream and my favorite chili topping- peanut butter! What I think was missing from my chili is spices. I bought my chili powder from the bulk section and I didn't buy enough so I had to use some of the basic spices I share with my roommates. Another thing that I normally add to chili are some frozen thai chili peppers but I didn't have any of those here at my apartment. I also wish I would have had time to make some cornbread to go with my chili because that would have complemented it nicely!
Overall, while it was fun to look into adding to my pantry, I don't think that I will actively be doing that anytime in the future for a couple of reasons. The main reason being I feel like I have a pretty well stocked pantry at this point in time when I'm just cooking for myself. The second reason is lack of space in a small apartment. However in the future when I have my own home and family, my pantry will be expanded upon.
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