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I'm British and I eat appropriately (also having strict parents who were insistent on this). I hold my folk in my left and hand and knife with the right hand, I do not 'shovel' food. Sometimes I go for dinner at friends houses and have to ask for a knife so I can eat my food. I often receive complements on how well I eat.

As a native of England (now living in Canada) I sometimes miss the traditional Sunday Lunch that my mother would serve up relentlessly every week. If my friend are lucky I will treat them to this traditional affair: roast beef, yorkshire pudding, roast potatoes, carrots, peas, broccoli all smothered in delicious homemade gravy. mmm....

This is not the best roast chicken recipe. For years now I have made Nigella Lawson's Roast Chicken; over time I have added my own variations to it (herbs, etc.) but the basic principles remain - lemon, butter, olive oil and salt & pepper; the lemon tenderizes and keeps the chicken moist during cooking without overpowering the chicken. The recipe can be found in "How to Eat: Pleasures and Principles of Good Food" (1999)

I don't usually cook anything unique even if it's just for me. Last night I had roasted chicken with yellow peppers served with a fresh Green herb Salad. Perfect summer meal!

Slow-cooked courgettes on toast

I often cook courgettes like this - they lose most of their moisture and become a thick, fragrant, chunky mass. They can be used as a pasta sauce (just add a little cream) or the base for a lovely soup (just whizz up with a little stock and/or milk). But they also make a great toast topping - which of course the Italians would call bruschetta. Serves six as a light lunch.

3 tbsp olive oil

3 garlic cloves, peeled and chopped

1kg courgettes, finely sliced

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

For the toast/bruschetta

6 slices of coarse country bread

1 garlic clove, cut in half

Extra-virgin olive oil, or butter

Parmesan, or other grateable cheese (optional)

Heat the oil in a large saucepan, then add the garlic, courgettes and a little salt. Cook gently, so the courgettes soften without browning. As they release their water, turn up the heat to bubble it off. When they become more concentrated and pulpy, turn it down again. Stir whenever they begin to catch on the pan, and do not allow them to brown more than a shade. Keep cooking until they are rich and oily, but not watery. Check seasoning.

Grill the bread, rub each side with garlic, and trickle with olive oil or melted butter. Pile a mound of the hot courgette mixture on top, grate over a little cheese, if you like, and serve.

In restaurants I eat American style, though I occasionally switch back to the European style I used for that year I lived in France without realizing it. In Europe I definitely only use European style. In Asian restaurants that use chopsticks, I use chopsticks.
AND in Filipino restaurants or at home I often use a spoon in the right hand, fork in the left. Yes, this is the aforementioned shovel style. And it's the absolute best way to pick up rice, meat, and sauce all in one bite. If people haven't seen it before, it freaks them out.
I have one nephew who prefers to eat with his hands (the way his grandmother eats at home) and it's just fine by his parents as long as he doesn't do it at school where everyone assumes it's bad manners.
Nothing wrong with learning all styles, it helps you understand a culture. For instance, French people are freaked out by American style because you put your hand in your lap while you're eating, and it makes them wonder what you're doing with that hand! European style always keeps both hands on the table.

Yeah I would investi in Costco or otherwise. Are they 21? happy hours at bars have real good deals, here in Seattle Schmick and McKormicks has this deal that at happy hour you get a 1/2lb steak cheeseburger with all the trimmings and fries for $1.95 (booze not required) but you have to be 21. That is only the tip of the iceberg what is on that happy hour menu for $1.95. Tell them to keep eyes open on weekly sales at various supermarkets. But if they add things such as rice, pastas, ramen or made stews they can stretch it alot further.

I would suggest that as a gift from either you or the BF's parents, that someone buy these two a Costco or Sam's Club membership. Not sure what part of the country you are in, but GFS Marketplace also has great prices with NO membership fee.

As an ex-professional starving student (13 years of university...) here are my 2 cents:

To really save money:

Eat vegetarian most/all of the time at home
Eat meat (if you want) at other people's houses and at restaurants (for some weird reason veggie entrees are not cheaper there...)
Shop according to the fliers and buy pantry items on sale
Buy no-name or store brands exclusively
Eat fruits and veggies in season
Make large batches of soup/chili/curries/pasta sauces and freeze in portions
Freeze everything freezeable so that there is no waste (incl. milk, bread, pitas etc...)
If you have a friend with a car go with them grocery shopping in a larger supermarket (the small places in student areas are more expensive)
Entertain pot-luck style
Bring your own tea bags everywhere you go - I calculated that this last tip saved me about 300$ a year for over 10 years - 3000$ saved on tea alone!
(Only a small dent in my student loans....)

Good luck!

I love that the original recipe stated one pound of pasta for 6 servings, while this new improved version is a more realistic 1 pound of pasta for two!!