Healthy but Cheap Food and Meal Ideas for College Students

Sending a kid off to college is stressful enough without having to worry about what he'll eat. Teach him how to make cheap, easy, nutritious meals.

College life is exciting for most students who have never lived away from home. They don't have to answer to anyone but themselves, which requires discipline. They can eat whatever they want, which is why many new college students put on weight that is jokingly referred to as the "Freshman Fifteen." Most of the extra calories come from desserts and snack food bingeing.

Whether living in a student apartment or dormitory, an unhealthy weight gain isn't necessary. When the student or even easy essay writer is too busy to eat in the campus or dormitory cafeteria, provide easy-to-prepare foods that can be cooked in a few minutes. Most student apartments are equipped with a refrigerator. Compact refrigerators can be rented for smaller dormitory rooms. Small microwaves are generally allowed in most dormitories. Stock shelves with a single-burner hotplate, pot, pan, small skillet, blender, bowl, plate, fork, spoon, and knife. Other items that come in handy are toaster ovens, portable grills and a coffee pot.

Provide a grocery store checklist to make the student's shopping a snap. A few pantry items that make eating easy and healthy include ramen noodles, canned beans, dry cereal, uncooked oatmeal, whole grain bread, tortillas, syrup or honey, condensed soups, vanilla extract, cooking spray, and coffee. Items that need to be refrigerated include fresh or frozen vegetables, fruit, milk, cheese yogurt, and eggs.

Healthy Ramen

Ramen noodles are cheap and filling, but they're loaded with carbs and sodium. That doesn't mean they should be off-limits to a college student. The food essay writer online suggests to use only half the flavor packet and add a few nutritious ingredients to turn them into a healthy meal.

Ingredients to add to ramen noodles:

• Leftover chicken, beef, or pork
• Frozen peas
• Sliced or diced carrots
• Onions
• Bell peppers
• Mushrooms
• Leftovers from a salad bar

French Toast

If made properly, French toast provides nutrients as well as flavors reminiscent of home. Teach the student how to make French toast before he takes off for college, and he'll be the hit of the dorm.

Ingredients:

• Cooking spray
• 2 slices of whole-grain bread
• 1 egg
• 2 tbsp. milk
• 1 tsp. vanilla

Directions:

1. Spray a pan with the cooking spray.
2. Place the bread in a single layer on the pan
3. Whip the egg, milk, and vanilla.
4. Pour the egg mixture over the bread.
5. Bake in a 350-degree toaster oven for 30 minutes or until browned.

Serve the French toast with syrup and fresh fruit.

Super Simple College Menu Ideas

All we know that students are short of time as well as money. So that the custom essay writing service worked out the following list of easy to cook meals:

Burritos are one of the easiest meals a student can make. Pile leftovers, beans, and cheese into a whole wheat tortilla, wrap it, and eat.

Make a yogurt smoothie by pouring vanilla yogurt, frozen fruit, milk, and honey or syrup into a blender. Turn it on and blend until it's smooth.

Grilled cheese sandwiches are easy to make in a toaster oven or a skillet. Just slap some cheese on some bread and cook it. Add a can of vegetable or tomato soup and a piece of fruit to have a nutritious meal.

Heat half a jar of spaghetti sauce with some leftover chicken or beef. Pour that on top of noodles for a spaghetti dinner. Save the other half of the sauce for tortilla pizzas with frozen vegetables and cheese.