Shopping eco-friendly may sound expensive, but you’ll find it’s easier and cheaper than you realize. Instead of driving to the grocery store, try riding your bike or walking. If you have to buy more items than you can carry, plan to drive with a few other people so you can all make one big trip and save on gas. Driving less is not only good for the environment, but it also gives you exercise and saves money. It’s also a good idea to invest (and by invest, I mean spend $1) on a cloth bag to take with you. Plastic is horrible for the environment, and paper kills trees. When the cashier asks if you want paper or plastic, tell them you brought your own reusable bag in a loud voice so the person behind you hears too. Maybe you’ll guilt them into bringing their own bag next time.

Buying organic food is great if you have a little extra money, but there are alternative options if you don’t. The produce at the farmer’s market is often cheaper, and it is locally grown which saves gas (from transportation). Fresh produce also tastes better, and farmers will often give you free stuff. If you buy regular produce from the grocery store, check the sticker to see where it’s from. Produce that traveled to your basket from another country caused more pollution on the way.

Cooking food means you’re going to make dirty dishes. Cleaning them can waste a lot of water and toxic soap. Most grocery stores sell environmentally friendly dish soap for the same price as regular soap. Also, when you’re doing the dishes, don’t leave the faucet running the whole time. Try filling the sink with soapy water or just turning the faucet on when you need to rinse a dish. There are people around the world that struggle to find clean water, so it’s important that we conserve the water we have.

There are several other things you can do to be eco-friendly. Going green is easier than people realize, and you don’t need to give up bathing to do it. Driving less, using reusable bags, wasting less water, and using less electricity can all make a difference in the long run. We only have one world, and it is important that we all do what we can to keep it clean.

You might already be cooking ethnic food without realizing it (or maybe you are fully aware of it), but it doesn’t hurt to try some new recipes. By the way, Kraft macaroni and cheese and frozen grocery store pizza do not count as Italian food. Most recipes make several servings, so if you don’t want leftovers for a week, invite your friends over for a dinner from around the world.

From PHX Rail Food

Since Mexican food is so popular here, and because it’s one of my favorite kinds of food, we’ll start with a few dishes inspired by our neighboring country. Enchiladas are perfect when you need some comfort food. You can make them with chicken, beef, pork, or even just cheese. I personally like recipes that use ground beef, because it is cheap and easy to work with. Tacos and burritos are probably the easiest Mexican dishes. You can pretty much just throw whatever you want into a tortilla, and you’ll have a great, hearty meal. One of my favorite things to eat as a snack or an appetizer is guacamole. It’s really easy to make, and it’s perfect for parties or just for people who really love avocados.

Chinese food is great to experiment with when you want something other than hamburgers. If you’re allergic to dairy, it’s perfect because most dishes don’t have any dairy in them. If you’re allergic to peanuts though, I don’t recommend eating Chinese food. Chinese Chicken Salad is one of my favorite ways to get in some greens. It’s light, but also filling. Orange chicken is also a great Chinese inspired dish. And if you make it yourself, it will probably taste better than it does at a fast food restaurant. Plus, you’ll know a stranger didn’t sneeze on it or leave it sitting out all day.

I’m part Italian, so naturally I’m drawn to pasta. One of my absolute favorite Italian dishes is lasagna. It’s like eating pasta, but better. Spaghetti is probably the easiest pasta you can make. Tomato sauce isn’t difficult to make, but there are some decent canned sauces out there too. Parmesan chicken is also easy to make, and it’s perfect for dinner. There are tons of great pasta recipes, but this post would be never ending if I listed them all. If you love pasta but you’re sick of red sauce, try searching for some other ideas.

So next time you’re craving an ethnic dish, don’t spend money somewhere like Olive Garden or Panda Express. You can make a dish that is just as authentic, if not more so, at home for less money. Plus, you’ll get more than one meal out of it, which is a total bonus.

Trying to go green on a budget? Tune in next time for some tips on shopping and cooking eco-friendly.

Until then, eat healthy, cook quickly, and please don’t eat orange chicken with lasagna.

Breakfast is the perfect meal to get your daily dose of fruit in. It’s perfect on top of yogurt, cereal, and even pancakes or waffles. If you don’t have time to cut up any fruit, just drink it. Most juices provide you with a full serving of fruit. They also only take about a minute to drink a glass, so you have no excuse. Just make sure you’re buying 100% juice, because cocktails are usually full of added sugar.

One of my favorite ways to get some fruit in my diet is with smoothies. You can use frozen or fresh fruit, but frozen is often cheaper. Most fruits taste good together, so be creative. Pick a few of your favorite fruits, and add some ice. To make it more interesting, you can also add sorbet, juice, milk, or ice cream. If you love Jamba Juice, take note of what ingredients are in your favorite smoothie, and try replicating it at home. I love Jamba Juice, but you can make the same smoothies at home for about half the price.

Fruit is pretty easy to work into your diet, but for many, vegetables are a whole different issue. I’ve met a surprising number of people in my life that claim they hate most vegetables. If your only really had cold peas or raw broccoli though, I can understand why. Most vegetables are good steamed, but not plain. Try adding spices or lemon juice and butter to your steamed veggies to make them a little more interesting. Broccoli is also good with hollandaise sauce, and green beans are more interesting with some slivered almonds.

If you haven’t had any fruits or vegetables all day and it’s now time for dinner, make up for lost time by making vegetables the main ingredient in your meal. Stir fry is a great meal that features veggies, and so is green salad. You can make salads more filling by adding some meat, beans, or rice.

Believe it or not, you can even get in a serving of fruit for dessert. Try putting some fresh fruit on top of ice cream, frozen yogurt, or cake. Fruit salad is almost dessert by itself, but adding some whipped cream or chocolate syrup makes it even more decadent.

Sick of American food? Tune in next time for some ethnic recipes.

Until then, eat healthy, cook quickly, and please don’t feed your cauliflower to your dog.

I understand that most college students are not chefs. Honestly, it sometimes takes me hours to get through complicated recipes. But practice makes perfect, right? You have to start somewhere. And if your date really likes you, they’ll be forgiving if your mashed potatoes are a little lumpy. If you’re anxious about conquering a meal on your own, ask your date to come over and cook with you. You can chop and chat at the same time, and your date will probably enjoy helping you out.

I’ve discovered quite a few good recipes over the last few years that are perfect for special occasions. Whether your date is a vegetarian or a carnivore, you should be able to find something to please them. I recommend shopping for everything you need the day before you plan on cooking to make sure you don’t forget anything. Also, clean up your apartment before your date comes over. He/she will not be impressed by a heaping pile of dirty dishes or a table covered in trash.

If your date eats red meat, steak is easy to cook and costs less at a grocery store than in a restaurant. You can even buy it already seasoned, so all you need to do is throw it in the oven. Trader Joe’s sells seasoned steak for about $15 which can feed five or six people (or two people three times). I like putting baby potatoes in the pan with the steak. The potatoes absorb some seasoning from the steak, and you don’t need to do anything to them because they’re already bite sized. Just steam your favorite vegetable to go with the meat, and you have a restaurant meal for a lot less money.

Chicken and pork are also perfect meats to dress up for date night. Both are cheap, and they are easy to cook on the stove or in the oven. Salsa Chicken, Tomato Chicken Parmesan, and Baked Teriyaki Chicken are all classic, interesting recipes. Pork chops are also extremely easy to make because most recipes don’t require you to do much to them.

Pasta is easy and cheap, but it can be really impressive and fancy. I don’t mean boxed pastas like macaroni and cheese or Hamburger Helper. I can pretty much guarantee your date won’t be impressed by Kraft. Recipes like Chicken Fettuccini Alfredo, Cajun Seafood Pasta, or Spinach and Sun-Dried Tomato Pasta will look and taste like you ordered them from a five star restaurant. I wouldn’t suggest making spaghetti for a first date unless you don’t mind red sauce all over your face and outfit.

So next time you hesitate to ask out the pretty girl or nice guy in your biology class because you have no money, be creative. Everyone eats, and most dates would love a home cooked meal.

If you have trouble getting enough fruits and vegetables in your diet because you still think they are gross, tune in next time for interesting ways to eat them.

Until then, eat healthy, cook quickly, and don’t forget to put the forks on the left when you set the table.

My first piece of advice is to buy most of your frozen goods at Trader Joe’s. I’ve discovered that most of their food is healthier and cheaper. Most importantly, it tastes way better than the frozen meatloaf you’ll find at Vons or Ralphs. Frozen fruits and vegetables tend to taste the same wherever you get them though. They are also relatively the same price everywhere, so those are okay to get at a store like Ralphs.

Everyone loves spaghetti, and it’s easy to make with frozen meatballs and canned sauce. Most grocery stores carry both for a decent price. I buy the frozen turkey meatballs (they have less fat) at Trader Joe’s often, and no one who I’ve had them with could tell they were frozen. If you don’t know how to boil water, you can even buy frozen spaghetti noodles.

Frozen meat is great for hectic weeks. Most grocery stores have a variety of sausage in the frozen or refrigerated section that only cost about $4 per package. Chicken sausage is perfect if you want something low in fat. Ground beef or turkey can be eaten several different ways, and isn’t very expensive. It’s perfect in tacos, casserole, or just with rice, and it will hang out in your freezer for a while without going bad. Chicken is also cheap, and there are limitless ways to cook it. You can buy it in bulk or on sale, and throw it in the freezer until you’re ready to eat it.

Pre-made, frozen entrees can be a little more difficult to shop for than peas or chicken. Let me warn you that a lot of the food facts will lie to you. Several of them claim they are healthy or delicious, and usually they are neither one. Again, I would recommend making Trader Joe’s your go-to place for frozen entrees. Some of my favorites there are the potstickers, orange chicken, and taquitos. All you have to do to cook them is stick them in the microwave, oven, or a frying pan. It doesn’t get much easier than that.

Since none of the food I’ve already mentioned will fill up your second (dessert) stomach, you’ll probably also need to head to the frozen dessert section. Ice cream is not the only thing you’ll find there. I know ice cream is the sixth food group, but sometimes you need something to go with it. Trader Joe’s has a large selection of cakes, tortes, pies, and pretty much any other sugary food you may want. I highly recommend grabbing some cheesecake or pie to reward yourself for acing those midterms.

Need to impress a date, but don’t have the money for a $100 meal? Tune in next time for recipe ideas that will (hopefully) get you a second date without draining your savings account.

Until then, eat healthy, cook quickly, and don’t forget to put your frozen food in the freezer.

As kids, most of us probably claimed that we had a second stomach, just for dessert. Even when we were too full to finish our peas, we had plenty of room in our tummies for cake and ice cream. Well, I don’t know about you, but I’m pretty sure I really do have a second stomach for dessert (which is bigger than my regular stomach).

Some dessert recipes are easy to make, and don’t require many ingredients, but some can be very involved. I’ll try and stick with cheaper, easier dessert ideas for this blog. I have to say though; sometimes putting in a little extra time will allow you to make a dessert that is completely worth the effort.

Rice Krispies Treats are always a hit, and they only require three ingredients. They don’t take long to cook, and anyone who can turn on a stove can make them. The amount of Rice Krispies, butter, and marshmallows you need will depend on how many treats you need. If you want to make them a little more interesting, try adding chocolate chips, peanut butter, sprinkles, or any other candy.

Cookies are the best comfort food when you have a stressful week. Instead of buying them from the grocery store, make your own. Basic baking ingredients aren’t very expensive, and cookies taste so much better when they are fresh out of the oven. There are countless cookie recipes out there, so you should be able to find one for your favorite cookie. If you don’t have much experience baking, I’d suggest starting with a more basic recipe for a sugar or chocolate chip cookie. Once you get the hang of it, try more exotic recipes like Homemade Oreo Cookies, Peanut Butter Blossoms, or Chocolate Espresso Cookies.

Valentine’s Day is coming up soon, and cupcakes are the perfect way to show loved ones you care. They may also be a good way to get strangers to love you. Cupcakes can be made with a mix or from scratch, but mixes tend to be a little quicker if you’re short on time. Strawberry Cupcakes and Red Velvet Cupcakes are perfect for Valentine’s Day since they are red. I’ll tell you a secret though. You can make pretty much any cupcake red with food coloring. Frosting is the best part of cupcakes and fortunately, it’s really easy to make. Most cupcake recipes also give you a recipe for frosting.

Fruit is the perfect ingredient for dessert. Let’s face it; most fruit practically tastes like dessert on its own. Add sugar, and you have the perfect combination of sweet and sour. Strawberry Shortcake is one of my favorite desserts to make. It doesn’t require many ingredients, and it will definitely impress a date (or friends). You can buy Angel Food Cake that is already made if you don’t want to make your own. Strawberry Shortcake is also low in fat, which means you can eat more and feel less guilty. Apple Crisp is another great way to get in a serving of fruit. I tried making apple crisp the other night, and it came out horribly. I used a recipe with very few ingredients and directions to save time. (Don’t worry; I didn’t link you to that recipe.) It didn’t taste anything like the apple crisp my mom makes. I learned my lesson after eating dry crisp with chewy apples. When you want a recipe to taste like your mom’s, call your mom. Parents have more experience cooking, and they are usually happy to help you with cooking advice.

I could go on talking about dessert all day, but I’ll let you find some of your own recipes to try. Next time you are craving sugar, make your own dessert, and share it with your study group. Maybe they’ll be more likely to help to get an “A.”

If you are always eating in a hurry, tune in next time for a guide to cooking with frozen food.

Until then, eat healthy, cook quickly, and don’t forget to brush your teeth after you consume all that sugar.

I don’t know if you know this, but the key to being popular is food. If you make good food, you will have lots of friends. Making food for parties doesn’t need to be expensive or difficult. Your unique dish will probably get you invited to more parties than the guy who brought eight bags of plain potato chips.

If you need to bring an appetizer or a snack dish, dips are an easy way to go. 7 Layer Guacamole Dip isn’t difficult to make, and the ingredients aren’t very expensive. I would suggest making extra if you are going to a big get-together, because it will likely be devoured in minutes. If you want a low-fat version, make it with non-fat beans, low-fat sour cream, and light cheese. Hot Artichoke and Spinach Dip is great on chips, crackers, or bread, and will definitely make your friends smile. If you really want to impress everyone, try making Super Simple Crab Dip.

Spinach artichoke dip

Popcorn is a perfect snack food, and it’s cheap when you aren’t buying it at the movie theater. Instead of just popping a bag of extra butter flavored popcorn, turn it into a masterpiece by adding sweet or savory toppings. If you have a sweet tooth, Almond Toffee Popcorn, Kettle Corn, Peppermint Popcorn, or Butterscotch Almond Popcorn Mix will taste like heaven. Savory popcorn is also great for parties. Try making Popcorn with Herb Butter, Nacho Popcorn, or Cheesy BBQ Popcorn, and I guarantee you’ll get at least one high five for your effort.

Bread and crackers are perfect little trays that allow you to be creative with toppings and spreads. If you don’t have time to make your own spread, buy a couple jars of tampanade or bruschetta (Trader Joe’s has some great ones), and spread them on a sliced, toasted baguette with olive oil and cheese. You could even impress your friends from Wisconsin by making Baked Brie with Amaretto, Smoked Salmon Spread (with cream cheese), or Parmesan Garlic Cheese Spread.

Addictive, crunchy snacks are always a hit at parties and get-togethers. Instead of bringing something boring, like plain pretzels, make something your friends have probably never had. Roasted Chickpeas are healthy and easy to prepare. They can be seasoned with just about anything, but they do take a little while to actually cook. The wait is well worth it though. Cheese Straws are also a great party snack, because they are like store bought cheese crackers, but better.

So next time you go to a party, you have no excuse for bringing a bag of potato chips. If none of the recipes I mentioned appeal to you, just search for party or snack foods online and find one that looks good. The web is full of recipe ideas that will taste way better than any snacks you’ll find at the grocery store. If the party host is not happy with your homemade creation, they can personally take it up with me. I will fight for your dip.

Like sugar? Tune in next time for the blog that will make you drool the most. That’s right; I’m going to find you some dessert recipes to satisfy that sweet tooth.

If you want to hear about foods I haven’t yet discussed, feel free to leave a comment suggesting a topic. I will gladly find you recipes for that zucchini or chicken sitting in your fridge that you can’t decide how to cook.

Until then, eat healthy, cook quickly, and don’t forget to take your apron off before you leave for the party.

Audio interview