Confused about cycling....

What if I just put a pinch of fish food in the tank and let it go?

 

I used the shrimp and a damsel..
If you use a shrimp put it in a mesh bag and pull it out after a week or two. It's going to get really nasty.

I did have one live rock to start some coraline but watch out for unwanted critters living in there.
A Typical Break-In Cycle

 

I'm sure this is probably a repeat question. But do I want my skimmer on during cycling? What about my lights? I'm debating about whether to do a fishless cycle now or use this damsel my buddy wants to give me....

 

No lights or skimmer. There's nothing to skim in a new tank so it doesn't need to be on and the lights will just promote and early algae bloom.
You don't need a fish in there but it was nice to have something to look at. I wouldn't put a fish in after the cycle has started it may shock the fish and kill it.
Also after you get some ammonia going it may take several days for it to show up on the cards.