The following is a list of what I’ve noticed has become my college staples since living in an on-campus apartment (not under my parent’s grocery-shopping supervision). I wrote this article because I am interested in what other people keep on demand in their fridges and why. Sharing food doesn’t have to be done only in the physical. Food ideas can be just as valuable.
- Crunchy natural peanut butter with any chopped fresh fruit.
It has to be natural peanut butter (only peanuts and salt, no sugar), and it has to be chopped fresh fruit. My favorite go-to is granny smith apples, which I pack regularly for work in the mornings, but I’ve also enjoyed this snack with fresh peaches, plums, pears, etc. It’s the perfect snack. The texture of the crunchy peanut butter plus the crisp softness of the fruit makes eating it a perfect experience. That’s without mentioning the perfect saltiness alongside the sometimes too sweet taste of the fruit itself. If you haven’t tried this snack, or haven’t eaten it since you were a child, do yourself a favor and try it.
- Cheese chopped into triangles
I chop my cheese into triangles because it tastes best that way. Just kidding, it tastes the same. But triangles make me feel fancy. As much as I wish I could claim I am, I’m not a cheese snob, and cannot attest to which cheese is the best for this. But my best advice is to buy your own blocks of cheese and chop them into triangles. You won’t regret it.
- Roasted sweet potatoes with hummus
I eat roasted vegetables and hummus as a meal sometimes, and the leftover pieces of oven-roasted sweet potato are perfect microwaved and scooped in hummus the next day. Some of my vegan and vegetarian friends that taught me this even make their own hummus. It’s sooo good. As a bonus, this suggestion comes with a wine pairing: Your favorite $3 Riesling or Sauvignon Blanc.
- Pickles
Pickles are possibly the best refrigerated snack in the history of the universe. My favorite is baby dills straight out the jar. They’re my favorite when I’m craving sugar late at night, but it’s way too late to eat it. Pickles are wonderful for making other things taste sweeter and easing anxiety. Plus, the jars have many uses.
If you haven’t put much thought into what your staples are, name them. You might surprise yourself.