This step in the “Campus Cooking Series” is crucial because it’s where a lot of people get stuck. Everyone can agree that the idea of cooking sounds good. Eating delicious food, impressing a date with a fine meal, preparing something for your kids that they both enjoy and that nourishes them are all things that we want. Some people would say that you know you really want something when you do something about it. I have found this to be false after observing in myself and others that when it comes to acting, discouragement quickly settles in.

I have found through my own personal experience that cooking can be practical and accessible despite the nervousness I developed after watching chefs have panic attacks on shows like “Chopped” and “MasterChef.” You may not start off preparing lamb chops with blackberry chutney and chocolate souffle for dessert right away, but you will be able to eat healthier, save money from not eating out as much, and end up with meals that satisfy.

The two meal planning recipes I have for you can be fully supplemented with resources available on our college campus because I know that students are working hard to save up the little money they are earning. Anoka-Ramsey Community College, Coon Rapids recently has opened a food pantry that provides free food items to Anoka-Ramsey students in need. Students can come as often as they want and need to get produce, meat, dairy, and non-perishable items (food that doesn’t need to be refrigerated). The food pantry is located within the Health and Wellness Center in G120 (enter through Field House) on the Coon Rapids campus. The hours are as follows: Monday through Thursday from 10 am to 1 pm.

This resource should not be overlooked. I have seen the freezer stocked with ground beef, chicken drumsticks and quarters, pulled pork, and some ready-made meals (when time for cooking is limited). Their supplies can differ, but they have provided pantry staples in the past, such as: eggs, milk, butter, peanut butter, a variety of nuts and canned vegetables, pasta and spaghetti sauce, potatoes, carrots, etc.

First Meal Prepping Idea: Baked Chicken with Roasted Potatoes and Carrots.

Instructions:

1. An easy way to cook chicken drumsticks and quarters is by baking them. Simply put foil down on a baking sheet (so it doesn’t stick), season the chicken to taste, and preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
2. Wash and cut potatoes and carrots. These both can be cut in several different ways. It may feel daunting when first developing knife skills and learning how to cut different vegetables but utilize YouTube as a resource and experiment. You will start to become increasingly comfortable the more you practice. Feel free again to add a seasoning of your choosing to give them additional flavor. Add both to a foiled baking sheet.
3. Once the oven is at 400 degrees, bake the chicken for thirty minutes or until done. Check for a firm texture and clear juices running from the chicken. The internal meat color should be white. Bake the potatoes and carrots twenty to twenty-five minutes, or until the edges of the potatoes and carrots are brown.

Second Meal Prepping Idea: Ground Beef Spaghetti.

Instructions:

1. Place a frying pan on the stove and set the burner to medium-high. Throw in your beef once heated. Grab a spatula or wooden spoon and break it up into pieces.
2. Let your ground beef cook for five minutes without touching it (trust the process).
3. Flavor to taste and begin stirring every minute until there are no signs of pink.
4. Pour the tomato sauce in a different pan and set the burner to medium. Stir occasionally. Once boiling reduce heat to low and simmer for about ten minutes without a lid.
5. Combine the tomato sauce and ground beef when both are finished cooking.
6. Add your spaghetti noodles to boiling water. Pasta boxes include the time they take to boil. The time will be anywhere from seven to fourteen minutes. Drain the spaghetti with a colander and add it to the ground beef tomato sauce.

I hope these recipes are helpful and that you are beginning to see how easy cooking can be. After you master these meals continue to experiment with different proteins, veggies, and pastas.  If you run into any questions or problems, there is an abundance of information and instructional videos online. Don’t feel bad for snacking in-between meals or grabbing ready-made meals when you need something quick. The goal is that you are becoming more conscious of what you’re putting into your body and beginning to take responsibility for your well-being in the process. This well-being encapsulates physical health and relational health as learning how to cook a delicious meal is a wholesome way to show care for yourself and the people you love. Cooking knowledge and experience compound so start small and work up to learning how to make your favorite foods.