Moving into your first grown-up apartment comes with new challenges and new responsibilities. For example, how do you fill the pantry? Here’s a basic overview of how to grocery shop when you’re newly on your own.

Step 1: The Plan

All good grocery lists start with recipes. If you’re a cooking amateur, and the thought of having multiple recipes makes you feel completely lost, fear not. You don’t need to have Gordon Ramsay-level expertise to plan your grocery trip. All you need is a general idea of what you like.

Say you’re craving something with chicken this week. A family pack of chicken might last you much longer than a week, and you can stretch it into a variety of meals. Chicken alfredo? Add pasta and sauce to the list. Chicken tacos? Add tortillas and cheese. Fried chicken? Add panko, flour, eggs and seasoning to your heart’s delight.

Try to alternate your main proteins and vegetables week by week. This way, you won’t get bored of eating the same foods, and you’ll have a variety of nutritious meals to choose from.

Step 2: The Bulk

Buying in bulk is a great way to save money. Especially if you shop at stores like Sam’s Club or Costco, you may only have to stock your bulk items once or twice a semester.

When figuring out what to buy in bulk, consider shelf life. These are foods you want to keep in your pantry or fridge for a long time, without worrying about whether or not you’ll have a mold problem. The best foods with long shelf lives are dry, canned or frozen. Consider rice, pasta, beans, frozen veggie mixes or even long-lasting vegetables like potatoes and onions.

Once you have your pantry staples sorted out, you’ll have the foundation for a lot of good meals. A family-sized jug of cooking oil can be used for breakfast, lunch and dinner all semester long. Processed snacks, like chips, often have long shelf lives and can be great to have around in case you’re in a hurry.

If you’re a coffee or tea drinker, you can stock up on your favorite beverage mixes in bulk. Any caffeine addict knows the struggle of waking up and finding out you ran out of K-Cups — again. Buying the biggest box you can find gives you more bang for your buck, and ensures that you won’t be worried about running out for a long time.

Step 3: Spicing It Up

Now you’ve mastered the art of basic recipe planning, and your bare necessities are covered. Next, it’s up to you to tweak your grocery list based on your personal taste.

Having a solid spice cabinet is a great way to start. If you’re a big fan of mild flavors, maybe salt, pepper and a couple dry herbs are all you need. If you like to crank up the flavor all the way, you might want to invest in unique ready-made spice mixes to give your food a quick and easy boost.

Some flavor bombs can go with almost any meal. Jarred garlic can last a couple months; bouillon cubes can last a couple years. Vinegar, soy sauce and hot sauce all go a long way in adding that zing to a sauce or stir fry.

words, illustration&design_jay moyer

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