Whether you’re on your own for the first time or independently abroad for the first time, I’ve gathered some hints for you. Though I’ve been cooking since I was 14 years old, I can be a pretty lazy cook. As long as the ingredients are there, I’m good to go. However, when I set foot in Denmark for my semester abroad, I realized that I would be cooking for myself. I have about 30-50 dollars a week to spend on groceries. Which seems like plenty- until you realize that Copenhagen is much more expensive than the states. I soon realized that I needed to discover easy dishes that included at least 3 food groups (protein, veggies, and starch) so that I didn’t have to live off of peanut butter.
1. The Ultimate Green Veggie Bowl– I also add chicken to this dish to add some extra protein. All you need are some zucchinis, broccoli, pesto, and a cheese grater!
2. Avocado and Bacon Chicken Salad– An easy and very inexpensive thing for lunch during the week is the classic chicken salad. You can make it healthier by using greek yogurt, adding grapes, or even adding lemon juice. Mix it up each week! Here’s my favorite recipe. You can also boil the chicken in water for 15-20 minutes for “shredded” chicken.
3. Italian Chicken Bake – For a busy night, pop this in the oven for 20-30 minutes and, BOOM, you’ve got yourself a delicious meal. You can make a side of potatoes or put it over some pasta for something extra.
4. Stuffed Bell Peppers – You can make these to incorporate veggies, meat, and rice/couscous/quinoa. Again, they only take around 30 minutes to make. Mmmmm.
5. Cheesy Chicken Broccoli– You will only need one dish for this. Since you’re going to be busy seeing amazingly cool things during the day, you can sit back and relax with this easy yet nutritious dish.
6. Thai Peanut Chicken– Grill some veggies for a side and add this sauce to chicken or noodles for a little extra flavor.
7. Flourless Deep Dark Chocolate Cookies– As a diagnosed chocoholic, I have to put a dessert in here, too. This recipe can yield up to 36 cookies, so make them all and freeze some (or just consume them all like I would).
For anyone who already has it under control, congratulations! Nevertheless, I hope this inspires the chef inside everyone! And I hope that anyone who needed a couple of hints gets a little bit of guidance.
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