University is already expensive enough as it is, so adding food to the list can make it even worse. That said, no matter what, we have to eat, right? Here are five of the easiest meals I have made for myself over the last year on a budget.
1. Stir-fry
Cook time: 15 minutes.
Now, this can be chicken stir-fry, steak-stir-fry or just plain vegetable stir-fry: to each their own. My personal favourite for this one is chicken stir-fry mostly because you can buy chicken in bulk and then freeze the remaining ones for all sorts of other meals. The best thing about this meal is that it tastes just as good as leftovers and there are always tons. Not only is it relatively cheap and healthy (hello, that’s lots of vegetables!), but it also only takes a maximum of 15 minutes!
Ingredients:
Minute rice
Steak or chicken (cut into pieces)
Vegetable oil
Stir-fry sauce (or your choice of seasoning)
Frozen vegetables (my personal favourite is stir-fry medley)
2. Beef Tacos
Cook time: 15 minutes
If you feel like you haven’t been eating enough meat while you’re away at school, this is your chance to make Taco Tuesdays a thing with your friends! The bonus is there is always leftover ground beef which you can either freeze for another taco night or put in the fridge for leftovers on a different meal!
Ingredients:
Ground beef
Salsa
Lettuce
Onion
Tomato
Taco kit (seasoning, taco shells)
3. Homemade Sushi
Cook time: 25 minutes
I know this one sounds like it might take a bit more work but trust me, it’s so worth it. Although it’s a bit pricier because of the salmon, it can be a more occasional meal for when you are really craving sushi and don’t want to order it. This one is not only healthy but also really filling without making you feel like you can’t move after eating it all. It can be a snack for busy days at school or a good lunch when you have another class in an hour or so. All you have to do is make the rice while the frozen salmon is cooking in the oven, then mash the avocado and the salmon (or tuna) into the rice and use the cucumber to scoop it into your mouth. It isn’t like freshly made sushi, but it’s a good substitute when you don’t have time for a meal.
Ingredients:
Avocado
Frozen Salmon (or tuna)
Minute rice
Cucumber
Seaweed (optional)
4. Pasta
Cook time: 10 minutes
Pasta is one of the absolute easiest things to make. Not only can you make all different kinds of sauces and add the veggies or meats that you like, but it has so many different varieties for such a cheap price! With all these different possible combinations, my personal favourite way to eat pasta is with penne noodles, garlic, tomato sauce, ground beef (leftover from the tacos!) and shredded cheese on top.
Ingredients:
Bag of pasta noodles (maybe get different kinds to switch it up)
Sauce of your choice (my personal favourites are rose sauce, Bolognese sauce and garlic and tomato sauce)
Shredded cheese (optional)
Ground beef (optional)
Chicken (optional)
Bacon (optional)
5. Grilled Cheese and Soup
Cook time: 10 minutes
If you don’t know this one, you’re really missing out. This three-ingredient grilled cheese with some soup is the easiest quick meal to make for lunch or dinner. If you’re ever craving something greasy, this is the perfect thing to have on those days. The tomato soup is an easy dippable side to the grilled cheese and adds a little more to the meal. However, if you really hate tomato soup, maybe opt for some ketchup instead.
Ingredients:
Bread
Butter
Sliced cheese of your choice
Tomato soup
These meal ideas aren’t for everyone; however, I hope this gave you a few ideas of what to eat when you feel like you’ve had the same thing one too many times. And with the ease of only taking approximately 20 minutes total, out of your day to make a whole meal, I feel like they’re more than worth it!