Since 2021 started, my roommate and I have turned a page in our cookbook and started eating a lot healthier. It isn’t that we ate bad before. We have always had a meal more on the healthy side than most college kids would have, but with our intense workout routine that we started, we figured we needed meals to complement our workouts. Not only that, but we needed healthy meals that were not hard to make since we both have school and other activities that keep us busy. So, here are a couple of meals to make that are not only healthy for you but are also cheap and easy to make. I should preface, everyone’s body is different, and getting into shape is about what you eat just as much as it is working out. These are a few recipes that my roommate and I love, but you can make them any way you want them.
1. Salmon with asparagus and rice
For this recipe, all you need is a salmon filet, sriracha sauce, honey, and some seasoning. Marinate the salmon in ¼ cup sriracha, 2 tbsp honey, and season with salt and garlic powder generously. After you are done, stick it in the air fryer for 14 minutes while it cooks at 390 degrees. Pair with your choice of rice and vegetable, but we found asparagus goes the best.
2. Teriyaki chicken bowls
This recipe is simple to make and still delicious. For this meal, you need chicken breasts, teriyaki sauce, rice, and broccoli. Cook the rice to your preference and have that be the base. Then, marinate the chicken in the teriyaki sauce and stick it in the air fryer until it looks good and crisp. Lastly, steam the broccoli and top on top of your chicken and rice. This meal always fills me up, but not to the point where I feel too bloated and cannot move.
3. Chicken fajita tacos
This recipe is a bit more complicated but still super easy and one of my personal favorites. You will need tortillas, chicken breasts, fat-free refried beans, non-fat Greek yogurt, taco seasoning, salsa, and onion. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. In a large pan, heat the chicken, onion, taco seasoning, and cilantro together over medium heat until the onions are tender. Then, add the refried beans, Greek yogurt, and salsa. Mix together and heat for a couple more minutes. While that finishes cooking, heat up the tortillas and fill. This meal is my favorite because Mexican food is my weakness, but I know it is not the worse thing for me.
4. Homemade chipotle bowl
Once again, Mexican food but a little less bad for you. All you need for this recipe is ground beef, taco seasoning, black beans, Mexican corn, and rice. Of course, it can be whatever you want with it, so I usually add some salsa or guacamole. This meal is so easy to make I cook it in between classes. All you have to do is cook the ground beef -make sure you add the seasoning- cook your toppings in a separate bowl, and then mix them together. What you put with it is entirely up to you. You can go as simple as just beans and corn, or go all out and add some lettuce, onions, and even more. This recipe usually makes so much that my roommate and I can eat it for lunches throughout the week.
These are just a few of the meals that my roommate and I cook. We use Pinterest, TikTok, and even Instagram to find our ideas, so don’t be afraid to branch out and try something new. Chances are, there is a healthier way to make your favorite food. Since we started doing this, we have both seen noticeable differences in ourselves. And—it’s fun roommate bonding time!