Being a student in Nigeria isn’t easy at all, because talking about classes, assignments, projects, and extracurriculars, many students forget to eat! Some find it stressful to cook healthy meals because of financial constraints, limited options, laziness, or busy schedules, and sometimes, a pack of biscuits and a bottle of Coke just feels like the best option.
But eating well doesn’t have to be expensive or stressful. With a little creativity and proper budgeting, you can make tasty, filling meals without breaking the bank, especially considering how tough the economy is these days. Below are some simple, affordable meal ideas that you can prepare within minutes, even when you’re exhausted or short on time.
1. Bread and Akara (Beans cake)
Bread and Akara, also known as “Nigerian Burger or beans cake,” is one of the most classic and satisfying food combinations.
You can make Akara with less than ₦1,000, especially if you already have vegetable oil at home. All you need are beans, pepper, and onions. Soak the beans for about 30 minutes, peel off the skin, blend with pepper and onions, add salt, and fry in hot oil until golden brown.
For extra flavor, you can add crayfish or beat an egg into the batter.
Too tired to cook? Buy already-made Akara on the street. ₦500 worth of bread and ₦300 worth of Akara can be a filling, affordable meal. You can also enjoy leftover Akara with pap or garri.
2. Noodles
This is every student’s go-to meal. You can enjoy noodles for less than ₦2,000. Depending on your portion size, you can buy two or three packs for about ₦1,200. Spice it up with pepper, onions, suya, or boiled egg.
To make it more nutritious, add vegetables like carrot, green beans, or spring onions.
3. Porridge (Beans, Yam, or Sweet Potato)
Porridge is one of the most versatile and affordable meals for students. With less than ₦2,000, you can make beans porridge, yam porridge, or even sweet potato porridge.
For beans porridge:
Wash and boil beans until soft, then add palm oil, pepper, crayfish, seasoning cubes, and salt. You can eat it with bread, garri, rice, or enjoy it on its own.
For yam or potato porridge:
Peel and dice the yam or potatoes, add water, palm oil, pepper, onions, and your preferred seasoning. Cook until soft and thick, mash lightly, and add diced vegetables for a balanced meal.
4. Stew
Stew is a must-have in every student’s kitchen. It’s a multipurpose lifesaver. With ₦1,000–₦1,500, you can make a pot of tomato stew that’ll last several days depending on the quantity.
Blend tomatoes, pepper, and onions, then fry in palm oil or vegetable oil until the oil floats on top. Add seasoning cubes, salt, and any protein of your choice — fish, meat, ponmo, chicken, or boiled egg.
You can pair your stew with rice, spaghetti, bread, fried yam, or even eba.
5. Okro (Ila Alasepo)
Okro soup is another one-pot, highly nutritious, and affordable meal. With about ₦1,000, you can make a delicious pot of okro.
Buy okro sticks, palm oil, pepper, locust beans (iru), seasoning cubes, and any protein you prefer. Chop or grate the okro, fry your pepper mix with palm oil, add your protein, and stir in the okro.
Serve with eba, amala, semo, fufu, or wheat; quick, tasty, and budget-friendly!
6. Concoction Rice
Concoction rice is a quick, easy meal that doesn’t require many ingredients. With a cup of rice, ground pepper or leftover stew, vegetable oil, and seasoning, you can make a pot of delicious concoction rice in under 30 minutes.
7. Garri
Can we really talk about affordable meals without mentioning garri?
Garri is the ultimate student lifesaver, especially on rainy days. For less than ₦500, you can have a filling bowl of garri. Just buy garri according to your portion size, add sugar and groundnuts, and you’re good to go.
If your budget allows, you can add milk, coconut, or chilled water for extra taste.
Budget Tips for Students
Buy in Bulk: Buy food items with friends and split the cost. Buying in bulk saves money in the long run.
Reuse Ingredients: Repurpose leftovers. That leftover stew can serve as a base for jollof spaghetti or concoction rice.
Cook in Batches: You don’t need to cook daily. Prepare meals that can last at least two days.
Avoid Food Waste: Learn portion control, only cook what you can finish.
Use Alternatives: When cooking gas finishes, switch to a hotplate or firewood if possible. Adapt and stay flexible.
Being a student doesn’t mean surviving on snacks or starving yourself. With a bit of planning and creativity, you can prepare tasty, healthy, and affordable meals within minutes, without draining your wallet.
Next time you’re wondering what to eat, pick one of these meals and thank yourself later!
