By: Yesy Chavez
Making healthy choices while in school is hard. We sometimes don’t have the equipment to cook our own meals or don’t have the time. It seems easier to buy some chips or burgers from a fast food place and call it a day. However, if you want a responsible, healthy, and debt-free college experience, it would be better for your health and pocket to make your food. Here are five recipes that are easy, delicious, and won’t break the bank that can be stored in a mini fridge or dorm. Number 3 is simple but always gets the job done.
Tuna Salad Sandwich
Ingredients:
- Tuna (water-based is healthier)
- Mayonnaise
- Celery
- Onion
- Mustard
- Bread
Preparation
- Cut the amount of Celery and onion you are going to use.
- Wash the celery and onion pieces you are going to use.
- In a bowl cut the celery and onion into finely chopped pieces.
- Open the tuna can.
- Drain out the water.
- In the bowl with the celery and onion add mustard, mayo, and the tuna.
- Mustard and mayo are added according to taste. Some like more mayo some like more mustard. It is up to you.
- Take 2 pieces of bread and spread your tuna mixture.
- Enjoy.
Cracker, Cheese, and Ham
I know what you are thinking. “This is not a meal, ” but just give it a chance. It is a charcuterie board. If you want to add more things you can. Things like fruit, different cheeses, and meats like prosciutto, salami, etc. The possibilities are endless. You can even add toppings like honey, or hot sauce. Make it your own. Experiment.
Ingredients
- Your choice of crackers (I like Ritz) but you can use pretty much any.
- Cheese (American, provolone, swiss)
- Ham (turkey, bologna, chicken, pork)
Preparation
- Take your choice of cheese and cut it into small pieces. About the same size as your cracker or a bit bigger.
- Take your choice of ham and do the same.
- Grab one or two pieces of cracker and stack the ham and cheese.
- For more savory options you can also add small tomato slices, salt, and pepper.
- Enjoy!
Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich
Yes, I get it. You are thinking a simple PB&J sandwich is not going to fill you up. However, it can and it is a good source of protein. Peanut butter has more protein in one spoonful than most protein shakes. Plus you can dress up your sandwich. Add fruit. PB&J with bananas or apples is delicious. Get tired of peanut butter, try Nutella. Mix and match. Try it out. Cut the bread into small pieces and top them. Pretend you are at a fancy dinner and these are the orderves.
Ingredients
- Bread (any)
- Jelly (strawberry, peach, raspberry, apple, grape, etc)
- Peanut Butter (smooth, crunchy)
Preparation
- Take 2 slices of bread
- Take one slice and spread Jelly on it
- Take the other slice of bread and spread peanut butter on it
- Put the 2 slices of bread together (jelly and peanut butter facing each other)
- Enjoy!!
Avocado Toast
Avocado toast is good and you cannot complain. I have seen people order these for $10 and you can make it for a lot less and eat many more times for $10.
Ingredients
- Bread
- Avocado
- Salt
- Pepper
- Red Pepper Flakes (optional)
- Tomato (optional)
- Egg (optional)
Preparation
- Cut the Avocado in half and remove the pit (seed)
- Take a spoon and scoop out the Avocado from the peel into a bowl.
- Smash the Avocado with a fork.
- Add Salt and pepper to taste.
- Add red pepper Flakes for more flavor
- Take a slice of bread and spread the Avocado mixture on it.
- If you want more flavor Add a tomato slice or two.
- For an even more fulfilling sandwich Add a scrambled egg.
- (Scrambled Eggs can be made in a microwave. Take a microwave-resistant bowl, crack the egg into the bow,l, and microwave for 30 seconds, remove stir, and repeat until you like the consistency of the egg)
- Enjoy
Have leftover cooked chicken that you bought at the market from the day before? Make a
Chicken Salad Sandwich
Ingredients
- Shredded leftover roasted chicken (you can heat or eat cold. Choice is your)
- Mayonnaise (Greek yogurt)
- Mustard
- Celery
- Onion
- Salt and pepper
- Bread or Tortilla
Prepare
- Similar to the tuna salad take the celery you will use and a piece of onion and wash them
- Cut or chop into small pieces
- Place into a bowl.
- Take your Shredded chicken and put it in a bowl
- Add Mayonnaise or Greek yogurt ( for an even healthier option)
- Add mustard
- Add Salt and pepper
- Salt, pepper, Mayonnaise, and mustard are up to your taste.
- Take two slices of bread or Flour Tortilla
- Spread the chicken salad and place the two pieces of bread together or roll up your wrap
- You can heat your tortilla for 10 seconds just to make it a bit more flexible
- Enjoy
Conclusion
Delicious food does not have to be expensive, and convenience food doesn’t have to be unhealthy. Try it out. You are surely to enjoy yourself making these easy recipes and if you are looking for cheap, multifunctioning bowls I will leave a few links here below. These are affiliate links from Amazon, so I do earn a commission if you purchase.
- Rubbermaid Food Storage is great if you have a dorm mini fridge. Prep, cook, and store with a single type of container.
- Reusable Cold Packs for your lunch make taking your lunch on the go easier and worry-free. Simply refreeze in your mini fridge or use the dorm shared fridge just make sure you put your name on them. This SUPVAN E10 is a great Bluetooth, waterproof label maker.
- Don’t have a mini fridge the mini fridge is a great cheap choice.