What’s up dummies, it’s me again. Today, I am giving you the low-down on budget friendly, slightly more exciting, dish ideas to make in your busy varsity or workdays. Let’s be honest, what have you eaten this week? If you are a boy, it’s some variation of chicken and rice…if you are a girl, could be anything from a wrap to a crappy half-assed salad. 

Hey, I love my greens as much as the next person but there’s better ways to be getting in all your nutrients. So here are some simplistic ways to spruce up the at-home menu.

To give you the best advice possible I have enlisted the help of Jade from @tablespoon.of_tinks and Eve and Lucy from @budget.bitess.

Eve Tomlinson and Lucy Church started their vibrant foodie account in first year from their tiny Campus Key kitchen. Their motto: One ingredient, meany meals. Their advice to avoid food wastage, save some bucks, get in all that protein and then still have energy for exercise, socialising and studying, is that you should be buying multi-purpose foods.

This includes tortillas: can be used for wraps, pizzas, quesadillas, nachos.
Spinach: for smoothies, omelettes, pasta and scrambled eggs.
Chickpeas: for salads and snacks.
Rice: for bowls, stir-fry and fried rice.
Zucchini: for noodles, eggs and fries.
Greek Yoghurt (their personal favourite) for breakfast, sauces and over a delish black bean salad.

You do not have to buy them all, you can pick 3 and swap every week. Your chosen fruit and vegetable can vary as well. Bananas are something to reach for before a walk to varsity, trip to the gym or to use in scrambled oats and smoothies. Cauliflower, broccoli, butternut, aubergine and peppers are veggies they would pair with the above meals. Their biggest warning: do not buy ingredients for a specific meal. This is the quickest path to losing precious Rands and throwing away food that’s gone off.

Eve and Lucy encourage you to keep it real. Eve has no idea how to cook rice and that’s okay. Remember, YouTube is your friend, and if alll else fails, maybe invest in a rice machine. 

It’s also okay to be lazy and want to buy an easy pasta salad from Woolworths in busy times. However, the girls want to remind you that taking 20 minutes to make a meal for yourself, is the best de-stresser. Eve and Lucy have found the secret recipe to staying healthy in a way that’s doesn’t suck. Their simple and quick go-to’s have been attached for your leisure!

Not only are these recipes quick and easy, but these gurus have made their account super relatable, super authentic and ideal for students looking for some nutritional direction. For a dose of dopamine, be sure to check them out!

Jade Tinker is a 19-year-old food enthusiast and passionate creative. “Join me in my infatuation with food, one tablespoon at a time. All you need is a Tablespoon of Tinks to make those tastebuds tango. I’m found more often in the kitchen than in my lectures. Cooking it, plating it, eating it—it’s literally food for my soul.” These are three ingenious tips which Tinks has shared to elevate your meals. First, dry toasting. Whether it’s oats, spices, or seeds, toasting them adds an element of crunch and helps release the natural oils and boost flavour and aroma. Second, emulsify your dressings! Store bought is so last season, why not make a blended home-made dressing which is thicker and will go further. Using a blender, combine whole grain mustard, olive oil, red wine vinegar, garlic and fresh herbs to create your very own appetizing addition.

Third, use herbs intentionally. This is what can really transform a plain meal. Chopped parsley into rice, coriander into curries and mint through salads for an element of freshness. Invest in these three simple steps and you will see your satisfaction increase ten-fold. Her revolutionary chocolate scrambled eggs are a game changer. What should be a dessert is now a healthy and delicious breakfast (where you cannot taste the egg at all). Attached are original recipes for sticky chicken wings, versatile Poke bowls and of course the delish chocolate scrambled eggs.

Jade has opened the door to creating meals that are more mature and for those who have some time, a whole lot more interesting and dynamic. Her account is full of innovative ideas, joyful dining experiences and big smiles. It’s safe to say between these two accounts that I have given you some food for thought (pun intended).

If you want to stick to chicken and rice, by all means go ahead. Just remember, eating shouldn’t be a shlep. It should be a time to enjoy good food and wind down. Happiness can be based on a lot of things, let food be one of them. I can’t force feed you these tips and tricks but if you don’t use them, you really are…a dummy.