Times Of TIU

Author: Karen W.

Editor: Anju N.

Translator: Ferano Ramadhan Kabinawa

The spring semester has begun, and I am sure you are now getting used to the whole new, different lifestyle here in Japan. Those of you who have started living on your own before may find it easier. However, I actually just started sharing a room this spring, and there is one thing I cannot get used to: cooking for myself. I usually eat out, and that is why I have a pretty hard time saving up money. Also, with the recent price hikes in Japan, I am more concerned about my expenses than before. Besides, I still want to enjoy my three meals a day without worrying about money or health.

Therefore, I talked to the CG team and some of my friends to find out how often TIU students cook for themselves or eat out.

E-Track

Mr. R: I cook for myself. I don’t enjoy cooking by myself, but I save money on food so that I can buy what I want.

Mr. F: I cook for myself. It would cost a lot of money if I don’t. Also, if I were rich, I would love to not cook by myself at all.

Mr. A: I eat out. I don’t want to eat alone, so I eat out with friends.

Ms. S: I eat out. There are many inexpensive restaurants in Japan, and I don’t have time to cook.

Mr. T: I eat out. It takes time to cook at home, and it is hard to clean up afterwards.

J-Track

Mr. H: I cook for myself. It costs less than eating out, and when cooking is a hassle, I cook simple dishes that can be done in a microwave oven. Right now, I recommend one-pot meals, which are easy to make.

Ms. A: I eat out. I eat out a lot because of socializing. I don’t go home very often, so I only keep meals that won’t spoil, like frozen foods.

Mr. R: I cook for myself. I have what I want, and I don’t have a lot of money.

Mr. K: I cook for myself. I like to cook!

From what I have heard, the majority of the CG team were food-serviced people. I, the writer of this article, am also a restaurant eater because I put my life on the line to go out and eat delicious ramen every day. However, since I can no longer afford to continue eating out, I have recently switched to a self-cooking style. Besides, student life is so busy that they don’t always have the time to cook for themselves as much as they would like. However, if you are aware of certain things, you can have a healthy self-cooking diet.

Next, let’s consider which is a healthier diet: cooking your own food or eating out? Let’s take a look at my diet for two days and see how I can improve it.

Day 1

Breakfast: Curry Bread

Lunch: Yakisoba Noodles Cup

Dinner: Izakaya with friends

Day 2

Breakfast: Vermicelli Soup

Lunch: Self-cooked lunch (White Rice and Stir-fried Vegetables)

Dinner: Hakata Ramen from a store

What do you think of this diet? Even though I am a food-serviced person, I can highlight the problem in terms of nutritional balance in this diet. The daily calorie requirement for a college student is said to be roughly 2,000 to 3,000 calories, although it varies depending on physical characteristics and frequency of exercise. Looking at my first day’s meals, I found that I consumed only 680 calories for the day: about 150 calories for curry bread, 530 calories for cup yakisoba noodles, and I will exclude calories from izakaya (Japanese-style pubs) because they are impossible to calculate. This is not even about one-third of the minimum daily calorie intake goal of 2,000. Besides, one needs to eat many meals a day as shown in the chart below. My diet over the past two days has been far short of vegetables, protein-rich meat, fish, and eggs, as well as a dearth of other items.

Now, let’s compare self-cooking and eating out from a cost-effective standpoint. The average person has three meals a day, or about 30 times a month. If a person cooks all meals by themselves, the daily food cost is 900 yen, which is about 27,000 yen per month. On the other hand, if you eat out for all meals, the cost is 1,700 yen per meal, which is about 53,000 yen per month. With this difference of about 26,000 yen, one can go to Disneyland about three times. Even if the cost of food varies from person to person, if the difference is this great, cooking for oneself is very cost-effective.

(Reference from the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries https://www.maff.go.jp/j/syokuiku/zissen_navi/balance/features.html)

Finally, here are some tips on how to keep cooking for yourself. Many of us do not have much opportunity to cook until we live alone. For those of us who do, there are four tips for cooking for ourselves for cosmetic and health reasons.

The first tip is not to try to make lavish dishes. When you are at home, you may feel that you have a large number of ingredients and a large repertoire of meals. That is the result of your parents’ efforts. I believe you do not have enough experience or even time to do it as well. So, just try to focus more on protein and vegetables, and don’t worry about anything else.

Second, try not to make your stomach growl. Your body will not be able to sustain an overstuffed diet just because it is Instagram-worthy or fashionable, and it will lead to unnecessary spending on sweets and other unnecessary expenses. Therefore, try to make fried rice, curry, or other dishes that will fill your stomach with a single dish. This will naturally increase your cooking experience and skills, and you will be able to try other dishes.

Third, make use of the microwave. When you look at recipes on your phone, you may be surprised to find that there are many situations where you can use the microwave. Besides, many leafy greens and beans can be eaten simply by heating them up in the microwave. Using a microwave oven is a great way to save cooking time. However, there are some foods that cannot be microwaved, so make sure to avoid using them.

Fourth, do not force yourself to use a knife. If you use a knife when you are not very familiar with cooking, you may cut your hand. I usually cook for myself and find it a hassle to get out a knife and cutting board, so I try to tear tofu and soft vegetables by hand. This reduces the number of dishes to be washed and lowers the hurdle to cook. Some recipes, even those that seem difficult, do not really require a knife. Cooking for yourself should be fun and easy to do so that you can continue to cook.

(Reference source: Rooch. Should you save money by cooking for yourself if you live alone? Cheaper than eating out! Includes sloppy recipes! (https://00m.in/E6Os6)

While I have emphasized the benefits of cooking for health and dietary reasons, there are times when you simply crave authentic cuisine. During such occasions, it’s perfectly fine to take a break from preparing your own meals and opt to dine out instead. Doing so can enhance the satisfaction of your diet and contribute to an overall sense of well-being. As we enter a season when illnesses are more prevalent, it’s crucial to prioritize a nutritious and balanced diet!