My $100 Trader Joe’s Grocery Haul as a College Student
With academics, campus involvement, a social life, and working on personal development, it can be really hard to stay on track with your nutrition goals as a college student. One minute you’re doing fine, and the next, it’s midterm season—you’ve spent $30 a day on DoorDash and haven’t cooked a real meal in weeks. Trust me, I get it.
Over time, I’ve found a rhythm with grocery shopping and making meals I genuinely enjoy—all while sticking to a $100 weekly budget. Below is what I typically buy (with price breakdowns), the total cost, and some easy meal and snack ideas that take under 30 minutes to make (including cleanup)!
What I Bought:
Produce
Bananas (3) – $0.87
Spinach – $2.49
Beets – $2.29
Sweet potatoes (3) – $2.97
Strawberries – $3.99
Blueberries – $4.99
Avocados (3) – $5.97
Teeny tiny tomatoes – $1.79
Produce Total: $25.36
Protein
Eggs (1 dozen) – $2.99
Canned garbanzo beans – $1.19
Organic ground beef – $7.50
Grilled chili lime chicken breast – $7.99
Dry toasted slivered almonds – $3.49
Protein Total: $23.16
Grains & Carbs
Gluten-free tortillas (6 pack) – $2.49
Organic couscous – $1.79
Hemp seeds – $6.49
Grains & Carbs Total: $10.77
Dairy & Alternatives
Cottage cheese – $2.79
Greek yogurt (nonfat plain, small tub) – $0.99
Brie cheese bites – $4.49
Shredded Mexican-style cheese – $3.99
Dairy Total: $12.26
Pantry & Extras
Spicy honey sauce – $2.99
Medjool dates – $5.99
Taco seasoning mix (2 packets) – $0.99
Pantry & Extras Total: $9.97
💵 Total Spent: $81.52
That’s over $18 left in your weekly grocery budget, perfect for an iced coffee or stocking up on something fun you’ve been wanting to try.
Meal Ideas from This Haul
Breakfasts
1. Greek Yogurt Bowl
Ingredients:
Greek yogurt
Strawberries + blueberries
Hemp seeds
Chopped Medjool dates
Instructions:
Top yogurt with berries, dates, and a sprinkle of hemp seeds for a protein-packed breakfast.
2. Breakfast Egg Wraps
Ingredients:
Eggs (2)
Gluten-free tortillas (2)
Strawberries + blueberries
Avocado (½)
Instructions:
Cook eggs to your liking and wrap in tortillas. Serve with fruit and avocado on the side.
Lunches
1. Ground Beef Tacos
Ingredients:
Ground beef
Taco seasoning
Gluten-free tortillas (3)
Avocado (½, mashed)
Shredded cheese
Greek yogurt (as a sour cream substitute)
Instructions:
Sauté ground beef with taco seasoning. Serve in tortillas with mashed avocado, shredded cheese, and a dollop of Greek yogurt.
2. Chickpea Wraps (Vegan)
Ingredients:
Gluten-free tortillas
Garbanzo beans (mashed)
Spinach
Avocado
Teeny tiny tomatoes
Taco seasoning
Instructions:
Mash chickpeas with taco seasoning. Fill tortilla with chickpeas, spinach, avocado, and tomatoes. Serve fresh or grilled.
Dinners
1. Chicken & Sweet Potato Bowl
Ingredients:
Chili lime chicken (microwave 1 minute)
Spinach
Sweet potatoes (cubed and roasted at 415°F for 25 minutes)
Seasoning: cumin, garlic powder, chili powder, paprika, salt, pepper
Teeny tiny tomatoes
Spicy honey sauce
Instructions:
Layer chicken, sweet potatoes, spinach, and tomatoes in a bowl. Drizzle with spicy honey.
2. Couscous Power Bowl
Ingredients:
Couscous (prepared per package)
Ground beef (cooked with taco seasoning)
Spinach
Avocado
Spicy honey sauce
Instructions:
Layer couscous, beef, spinach, and avocado in a bowl. Drizzle with spicy honey sauce.
Snacks
Cottage Cheese Fruit Plate – Cottage cheese topped with fresh fruit and hemp seeds
Brie & Beet Bites – Sliced beets with a brie bite on top
Eating well in college doesn’t mean surviving on granola bars and energy drinks. With a little planning and a solid grocery list, you can fuel your body, feel your best, and still keep things quick and realistic—no extensive meal prep or endless frozen dinners required.
