Cheap Food Every Boarding House Student Should Always Have

Living as a boarding house student often requires strong adaptability, especially when it comes to managing finances and daily meals. With a limited budget, minimal cooking facilities, and a busy schedule, students need to be smart in choosing foods that are affordable, practical, filling, and still nutritious. This article discusses in detail various cheap food that should always be available in a boarding house room.

1. Instant Noodles: The End of the Month Savior

Instant noodles are almost always a staple for boarding house students. Besides being inexpensive, they are easy to find and very quick to prepare.

Why they are a must have:

• Affordable for all budgets
• Only require hot water to cook
• Perfect for emergencies or the end of the month

To avoid boredom and improve nutrition, instant noodles can be combined with eggs, vegetables, or tofu. Although practical, consumption should still be limited to maintain good health.

2. Eggs: Cheap and Versatile Protein

Eggs are one of the cheapest sources of animal protein and are ideal for boarding house students.

Advantages of eggs:

• Easy to cook with simple equipment
• Filling and nutritious
• Can be cooked using a rice cooker

Boiled eggs, fried eggs, or omelets are simple side dishes that provide enough energy for daily activities.

3. Rice: The Foundation of Student Meals

For most Indonesians, a meal is not complete without rice.

Practical options:

• Cooking rice with a rice cooker
• Storing instant or ready-to-eat rice

Cooking rice yourself is clearly more economical and can be paired with any side dish.

4. Tempeh and Tofu: Affordable, Nutritious, and Filling

Tempeh and tofu are favorite side dishes among boarding house students because of their very low price.

Main benefits:

• Good sources of plant-based protein
• Easy to prepare
• Can be purchased daily as needed

Simply frying or stir-frying them with soy sauce and chili is enough to create a delicious meal.

5. Cheap and Long Lasting Vegetables

Vegetables are often overlooked by boarding house students, even though they play an important role in maintaining health.

Recommended budget-friendly vegetables:

• Cabbage
• Carrots
• Water spinach (kangkung)
• Mustard greens

These vegetables are relatively cheap food, easy to find, and can be stored for several days in the refrigerator.

6. Canned Fish or Sardines

For students who rarely cook, canned food can be a practical solution.

Advantages of canned sardines:

• Long shelf life
• Rich in protein and omega-3
• Ready to eat after heating

Sardines can be eaten directly with rice or turned into a simple spicy dish.

7. Frozen Foods (Nuggets and Sausages)

Frozen foods are popular because of their convenience.

Why they are popular:

• Easy to store in the freezer
• Quick to cook
• Suitable as emergency side dishes

However, frozen foods should not be consumed too frequently.

8. White Bread: An Alternative to Rice

White bread is suitable for breakfast or a quick snack.

Favorite combinations:

• Jam
• Eggs
• Chocolate sprinkles

Bread helps students stay fed even when they are in a hurry.

9. Chili Sauce, Soy Sauce, and Basic Seasonings

Simple seasonings can make cheap food taste much better.

Essential seasonings for boarding house students:

• Bottled chili sauce
• Sweet soy sauce
• Salt and pepper

With these seasonings, simple meals will never taste bland.

Conclusion

Living as a boarding house student does come with challenges, but with proper meal planning, daily food needs can still be met without draining your wallet. Stocking up on cheap, practical, and nutritious foods is a simple step toward maintaining good health while saving money. With the right combination of ingredients, boarding house students can still enjoy tasty, filling, and healthy meals even on a limited budget.

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