Grocery Shopping

Most people don't face the task of going grocery shopping until after their freshman year, but just in case, I will make a post about it for everyone. :)

I used to live in the backyard of Wal-Mart, which is a one-to-one parts blessing and curse. Things were just a quick 3 minute drive away, and that was awesome.

I remember this HUGE guy behind the checkout counter, who was busy eying my purchases. I told him, sheepishly, that you probably shouldn't EVER go grocery shopping while you're hungry (and a small Asian). He laughed, and I laughed. But at the end of the day, Wal-Mart had the last laugh. I easily spent $100 every time I went there. *blush*

Lesson #1: Do not go grocery shopping when you are hungry.

Lesson #2: Try to make a grocery list around the refrigerator to stop from impulse buying.

Lesson #3: Try to coordinate with your roommates (provided that you share your food) because you could save money. Food is surprisingly expensive.

Lesson #4: Last but not least, try to resist the gravitational forces pulling you to the soda and chips aisles. Stay in the fresh produce, dairy and cereal sections. Cereal is going to quickly become your best friend (except for my friend B because he is too picky -_-;;;).

Freshman Food (and Avoiding Gaining Weight)

Freshman year is usually filled with (groan) weight gains and dining hall food.

If you are weight conscious, this buffet style is usually a killer unless you go in knowing that you can control your portion size.

I think I scared people when I would carry 3-4 bowls of noodle soup, but hey! I'm Vietnamese and those bowls were tiny! I became good friends with the people at Ford Dining Hall that worked in the 3-4-5 [Asian] Market. I even keep in touch with one who moved to Japan, and I always, ALWAYS (even as an upperclassman) scouted for Chicken Udon days. Shameful, but TRUE.

Go eat with at least one friend!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I wholeheartedly believe that people are inclined to eat more when they are by themselves. When you have someone to talk to, you take more time to eat, but you allow your stomach more time to "let you know" that it feels full. Everyone (ok most people) has heard of the 20 minute gap between eating and feeling full [true? I'm not sure.], so try to go with your roommate or a friend.

If you're eating alone (which is perfectly fine! No shame!!), do the bad thing and bring a book - or at least, distract yourself. You don't have to count how many times you chew, but when you're getting food, go for about 3/4 amount that you actually want to get.

I didn't gain the freshman fifteen!

Making Your Friends Happy

There was great satisfaction in doing things for my friends. Throwing a get together or baking cookies (or in my case, lemon bars) for someone goes a LONG, LONG way.

If you want to really wow a group of friends, bake a birthday cake or bake a pie. Be adventurous. If it doesn't turn out well, try to figure out what went wrong and try to correct it.

Unfortunately, this doesn't work with chemistry experiments. If you're working with flammable compounds, and the experiment doesn't turn out well...RUN!

You can go to www.marthastewart.com and find great recipes. Try keeping a scrap book of things that you have cooked (a picture, recipe, and comments).

Find a place to eat that makes you happy. Or at least, warm and snuggly inside.

For me, it was a place called Red Seven on 2nd and Main across the bridge in West Lafayette. For places around campus, it was Egyptian Hookah, Blue Nile, Joo Joo and Gaza.

Go with a buddy.  Don't go to this place too frequently, but go here when you need some good food.

You can always go home and stock up with food made by our awesome parents, like I did. :)