One of the biggest challenges students face when moving from the dorms to UA off-campus housing is being away from the dining halls. As a freshman, you had unlimited swipes to get into Fresh Foods and Lakeside. But now you don't have the convenience of all that food waiting for you at all hours. Don't panic though! Moving into your Tuscaloosa apartment with a game plan means that you'll still be eating well.
Planning ahead
Going in with absolutely no idea of when or what to eat can make your off-campus living experience stressful. The best way to avoid worrying about your meals day-to-day is to make a list of some of your favorite simple dishes. Once you have a baseline of what you'll be eating on a regular basis, you'll also have a much better idea of ingredients and appliances you might need. Something else to keep in mind is the meal plans that students can purchase from The University of Alabama. While freshmen are required to have an unlimited meal plan, every other student can still buy this plan or other plans that cover fewer meals. If you have afternoons packed with lectures, purchase a meal plan that lets you have lunch on campus every day. With a bit of planning, you'll knock out a lot of guesswork at the grocery store.
Prepping your Tuscaloosa apartment kitchen
While every student apartment around Bama has the basics like a stove and oven, every other appliance is usually up to you and your roommates to provide. Once you've planned a few basic meals though, you should have a good idea of what equipment they'll require. Having a few pots, pans, and sets of utensils should prepare you and your apartment with roommates near Tuscaloosafor cooking without worry. Things like rice cookers, crockpots, and microwaves are staples in the kitchen that UA apartments are often lacking, so a shopping trip will likely be in order. Be sure to check apartment websites just to be sure though, as there may be some variation in what is provided and what isn't.
Stocking up
Now that you know what ingredients and cookware you need, it's time to go shopping. Walmart and Target are good options for purchasing equipment, but just about every store will have the foods you're looking for. If you have food sensitivities and need a more specialized grocery store, consider markets like Manna Grocery & Deli. Want to support small businesses and local farmers? Stop by the Tuscaloosa Farmers Market on Saturday mornings to pick up your groceries. No matter where you go, as long as you stick to your game plan, you should be in a good spot.
Getting into the rhythm of apartment life is no doubt a learning process. After planning out an idea of what your daily meals look like though, one of the hardest parts is taken care of. Once you have a few go-to recipes and the items to make them, you'll get to enjoy cooking and the freedom of having your own kitchen.