A piece of land or a slice of gourmet pizza? A plate of smashed avo or rent for the week? Sorting life’s priorities sometimes means sacrificing our brunch dates and cutting food expenses. We asked one of our writers to document his experience of how to be a responsible adult when it comes to food.
I woke up ready for the big day of study and procrastination ahead. After mindlessly scrolling through my socials, I got up for the most important meal of the day: coffee. I have the utmost respect for anyone that can function on the daily without coffee because I sure as hell can’t. Since my parents bought me a French press for Christmas, I’ve felt a bit above instant, so I go about brewing my caffeinated day-starter.
To break my breakfast barriers, I sometimes like to get a little fancy and invest in eggs. Eggs are the most versatile food and hangover cure: I could fry ‘em, scramble ‘em, and I could probably poach them if I bloody knew how. As Jess Day of New Girl so accurately states: “They’ll stop you from throwing up the rest of the day or you’ll throw up really fast. High risk, high reward.” Today I decide to scramble them and add some signature creative flair with onion, bacon, tomato and mushrooms. For condiment choices, salt and pepper are a given, and barbecue sauce is my ol’ faithful.
The next portion of my day consists of 15% studying and 85% choosing music to study to. This is an activity that requires the perfect snack, such as M&Ms or Pods. They’re royally expensive though, so when they’re not on special, some homemade brownies or cookies my Mum gave me from my last visit home comes in handy. Even better if you have a roommate that bakes to steal off. If worst comes to worst, you could probably just bake yourself.
About 30 minutes into this pointless exercise I slam my desk and go to continue my FIFA campaign that’s about as successful as my grades. Lunch is the only thing that can chill me out at this point. Perhaps a ham, cheese and tomato toastie. Cheese is my favourite consumable after all. But, wouldn’t you know it, I’m all out of cheese from completing this frustrating routine yesterday. All I have in the pantry is some tuna. Perth indie-rockers Verge Collection sing “It must be pretty nice living off something other than tuna and rice”. Well, Verge Collection, my life isn’t quite there yet, so I wouldn’t know. I do stand by the tuna and rice combination though. If I can’t be bothered to cook, I’ll just put the tuna on some crackers.
With this meal, I watch some Netflix. Master of None has been my go-to lately. Unfortunately, I don’t quite have the pasta-making expertise as Dev in season two, so bolognese in a jar will have to do. With some cheap sauce, home brand spaghetti and budget mince, I can feed myself for four days for less than eight bucks. If I find myself with some extra dosh, there are unlimited variations to this easy recipe. I might chuck in some grated zucchini, chopped onion, mushrooms, cherry tomatoes or make like Dev and concoct the sauce from scratch as best I can. Dinner sorted.
Of course, none of this tucker has the quality of my Mum’s cooking, but it goes pretty good for living out of home. Feeding yourself as a millennial doesn’t mean you should starve. Be smart with your dosh, shop the specials and you’ll be eating like a king*.
*If kings ate off $20 a week.
