FAQ

1. Question:
What basic cookware will you need?

Answer:
A knife, can opener, medium pan, medium pot, mixing bowl, cutting board, cookie sheet, spatula, wooden spoon, measuring cups and measuring spoons will get you off to the right start.  A range of tupperware sizes would also be a good idea.  As you continue cooking you’ll add to your list of cookware needs depending on what foods you cook the most.

2. Question:
Should you buy a cook book?

Answer:
Yes.  We can find many good recipes on the web but it’s useful to have a book to refer to.  It can also provide you with many other dinner ideas when you’re tired of the same old meals.

3. Question:
What is the best container to use when bringing lunches to school?

Answer:
Insulated, double sided lunch boxes or bags are your best options.  This will keep perishable items safer than your typical brown paper bag.  For other nonperishable items your traditional ziplock or brown paper bag should be fine.

4. Question:
Is pizza still safe to eat after being left out all night?

Answer:
Probably not.  Ingredients such as chicken, sausage and cheese commonly found on pizza are perishable and shouldn’t be left out for too long let alone overnight.  Store food in the fridge, it can always be reheated for later use.

5. Question:
How long can perishable foods be left out?

Answer:
Don’t wait until your food smells too bad to eat to throw it away.  Perishable foods should be refrigerated within 2 hours, or within 1 hour if it is hotter than 90°F outside.

6. Question:
How do you continue to eat healthy home made meals when you’re often away from home?

Answer:
Make a surplus of food when you have the chance and freeze the leftovers for later use.  Knowing you have a ready to eat meal just waiting to be reheated is a comforting thought.  Designating a dinner day among roommates or a group of friends is another good way to cut down on the stress of cooking.

7. Question:
Should I be reading nutrition labels?

Answer:
Yes.  How much of the foods we commonly eat would still be eaten if we knew what was in them.  It’s good to know exactly how many calories are in your food.  You should also check out the ingredient list and serving sizes.  A product may have 2-3 times the serving size it recommends.

8.  Question:
Is it okay to skip meals every now and then?

Answer:
No.  Your body needs a regular intake of calories if it’s to expend calories at a regular rate.  Think ahead and prepare food for later use if you know you won’t have time to make it later.  If you had an exceptionally large lunch you might not be hungry till hours after your roommates finished dinner.  Listen to your body.  Make sure you are drinking plenty of water and eating your fruits and vegetables.

9. Question:
Should I avoid eating out?

Answer:
Homemade meals are ideally the cheapest and most nutritional way to eat, but not everyone can make three square meals from scratch everyday through college.  However, if you’re eating out everyday this could be a problem both financially and nutritionally.  The occasional milkshake is fine but it shouldn’t become a regular habit.  Moderation is the key.

10. Question:
What if your dorm doesn’t have a kitchen?

Answer:
If your dorm doesn’t have a kitchen you’re probably on a meal plan.  These are good and save many students from starving through college but also open up a vast display of tempting foods high in fat and sugar.  Look into getting a miniature fridge and microwave so you’ll have someplace to put fresh fruits and vegetables for healthy snacking.  This will not only help you nutritionally, it will save you money.