Essential items you need for your first food shop

How to stock your kitchen with the basics for easy and delicious meals

Food shopping at uni can be tricky, especially if it's not something you've really done that much before. To make your life that little bit easier, we've picked out some of the essentials that will make a wide range of quick and delicious meals.

Carbs 🍚 

You can’t go wrong with carbs — they’re cheap, easy to cook and keep you full for hours. Whether you prefer rice, pasta or potatoes, you have plenty of options to make tasty dishes.

Potatoes are especially versatile — you can bake them, boil them, fry them, mash them or roast them. And don’t forget about sweet potatoes, they’re super nutritious AND delicious.

Canned foods 🥫

Canned foods are your best friends when it comes to saving money and time. They last for ages in your cupboard and you can whip up a meal in minutes with them.

The essentials are chopped tomatoes, beans, and soup. Feeling lazy? Just throw some pasta and tomato sauce together and you’re done! 

Cheese 🧀 

Who doesn’t love cheese? It’s the ultimate comfort food and it goes well with almost everything.

Cheddar and mozzarella are the classics, but you can also experiment with other types of cheese. Cheese on toast is a quick and satisfying snack, but you can also use cheese to make amazing dishes like macaroni cheese, pizza, or lasagna.

Eggs 🥚

Eggs are a great source of protein and they’re so easy to prepare. You can have them for breakfast, lunch or dinner, and you can make them in different ways.

Boiled, poached, fried, baked, scrambled or in an omelette — the choice is yours. Eggs are also great for baking cakes, muffins or cookies. And baking is a sure-fire way to make friends in your flat!

Herbs & spices 🪴 

Herbs and spices are the magic ingredients that can turn any bland food into a flavourful feast. Stock up on some basics like basil, thyme, chilli flakes, fajita seasoning and paprika, and you’ll be able to spice up any dish.

Herbs and spices can also boost your health and immunity, so don’t be shy to use them.

Salt & pepper 🧂

Salt and pepper are the simplest but most important seasonings you need in your kitchen. They can enhance the taste of any food and make it more enjoyable. You can also use salt and pepper to add some flavour to vegetables and pasta when boiling them.

Just remember not to overdo it — too much salt can be bad for your blood pressure.

With these essential food items in your kitchen, you’ll be able to make simple, healthy and delicious meals without too much effort.

Remember to plan ahead, shop smart and enjoy your food. Bon appétit! 😊