As a college student, there’s a good chance that you’ll spend some time in the dorms before you graduate. Living in cramped quarters is a great way to meet new people, but when it comes to cooking for yourself, creating the simplest of meals could end up being quite the difficult task. So instead of hitting the dining hall for the fourth time this week, we recommend opting for these easy-to-make and healthy meals instead.
Breakfast Options
1. Flavored Oatmeal
For mornings when you’re short on time, oatmeal is a great option. If you’re like us and prefer a little flavor in your oatmeal, reach for some of your favorite mix-ins. We love bananas, blueberries, chocolate chips or peanut butter added on for some extra sweetness.
2. Egg and Cheese Sandwiches on Whole Wheat English Muffins
This sandwich is the healthy equivalent the highly popular Egg McMuffin (and we think it tastes better, too!). All you need is a whole wheat English muffin, a slice of your favorite cheese and an egg. Cook the egg in whichever style you’d like, place cheese on top, toast the English muffin and voila! Enjoy this delicious sandwich over a pile of textbooks or on the walk to class- it’s just like fast food!
3. Yogurt with Granola
Yogurt is probably one of the easiest go-to food options for those busy mornings when you have less than 15 minutes to roll out of bed and get to class. There are so many flavor and texture options (think blueberry or strawberry and Yoplait or Greek yogurt), so feel free to get a little creative! For a little added texture, throw in some flavored granola or a handful of fruit. Yogurt is quite the versatile snack!
Lunch Options
4. Peanut Butter and Banana on a Whole Wheat Tortilla
We all loved peanut butter and jelly sandwiches as a kid, so why not try this twist on your favorite lunchbox sandwich? All you need to do is grab a whole wheat tortilla, add the peanut butter of your choice and a sliced banana. Wrap it up and enjoy this protein-packed meal on the go!
5. Grilled Cheese and Tomato Soup
Grilled cheese sandwiches and tomato soup are classic staples for cold winter days and can easily be made within minutes to enjoy right before class. All you need is a can of your favorite soup, two slices of whole wheat bread and a slice of cheese. For an even tastier experience, try dipping your grilled cheese into the soup!
6. Tomato, Pesto and Mozzarella Panini
Sandwich cafes such as Panera and Crispers are known for their Paninis, but instead of spending $7 for a sandwich, why not try creating your own signature sandwich? All you need is tomato, a small container of pre-packaged pesto sauce, a slice of mozzarella and two pieces of whole wheat bread. Combine all ingredients and press on a George Foreman grill, and you’ve got the perfect Panini!
Dinner Options
7. Individual Veggie Pizzas on Whole Wheat English Muffins
As college students, pizza is pretty much a staple in our diets. However, in order to avoid the extra carbs and calories, we recommend making them at home, mini-sized! You’ll need two whole wheat English muffins, a jar of pizza sauce, sliced veggies of your choice and shredded mozzarella cheese. Place all of the ingredients on top of the sliced English muffins and bake for 10 minutes at 450 degrees. When done, pull them out and enjoy!
8. Cheesy Chicken Quesadillas
Quesadillas are one the easiest meals to make when it comes to dinner. If you have a microwave, this meal is now even simpler! Place shredded cheese of your choice along with pre-cut and cooked chicken breast strips on a whole wheat tortilla. Add another tortilla on top and microwave for two minutes. Look at that, a meal that takes less than five minutes to create!
9. Whole Wheat Pasta with Marinara Sauce
Home-cooked meals are hard to come by when living in the dorms, but with this meal, it’s almost as if you’re bringing home to the dorms! Spaghetti is a classic favorite, so invite some friends over for this one! Pick your favorite type of pasta (we love whole wheat penne) and grab a jar of pre-packaged spaghetti sauce. For some extra flavor, add some of your favorite protein into the sauce such as ground beef, chicken breast or sausage. Who knows, you may even concoct a better recipe than Mom!
10. Sliced Chicken Breast with Roasted Veggies
If you’re a veggie lover, this is the meal for you. Instead of steaming your veggies, we recommend roasting them in the oven for a little added flavor. Just throw your favorite veggies in a bowl, add a little bit of olive oil and salt and pepper and mix together. Throw the newly mixed flavored veggies in the oven for 20 minutes at 400 degrees. Once done, add some pre-cut, pre-packaged chicken breast strips to the veggie mix and enjoy!
These meals are great for when you’re cramped for time and space but can easily be made in the luxury of your own kitchen if you live off-campus. Cooking in the dorms isn’t the easiest of tasks, but we hope you’ll find these meal ideas to be easy to make and delicious!