As a college student, it might seem that you always have to pick between eating healthy meals and not going broke. After all, a lot of junk food is delicious and doesn’t require you to spend much money. However, there is a better way that is good for both your wallet and your body. Read until the end for examples of 10 cheap and healthy meals you can enjoy as a college student.
10 Cheap and Healthy Meals for College Students
Whether you’re on a budget or looking for more health-conscious recipes for your diet, below are ten healthy and super thrifty meals you might want to consider as a student:
- Canned Meals
- Ramen
- Chicken and Veggies
- Smoothies
- Rice and Beans
- Peanut Butter & Jelly Sandwiches
- Mac and Cheese
- Baked Potatoes
- Burritos
- Eggs
- Canned Meals
Usually costing just a dollar or two, canned meals present the opportunity to create a soup by just combining two or more cans of veggies. For example, you can take some canned pork, corn, and beans. For just three dollars, you will have yourself a balanced meal.
- Ramen
With an individual pack costing about 25 cents, it’s hard to find something cheaper that is as nutritious as ramen. All you need is a pack and water. It comes with spices, and you can always spice it up with eggs or veggies.
- Chicken and Veggies
You can buy these ingredients or use leftovers from your other meals. Whichever the case, chicken and veggies are an affordable healthy combo for college students. Together they can make a nice sandwich you can carry to class or serve as a topping for rice or noodles.
- Smoothies
Smoothies not only look good but taste awesome as well. All you need is a gallon of milk, some fruit mix, and some protein powder for a truly complete meal. Imagine having a smoothie while waiting for your essay assignment to be handled by LetsGradeIt affordable and reliable writers. This is a great way to easily stay on top of your health and grades. Depending on your budget and access to a refrigerator, you can easily create smoothies to last a week.
- Rice and Beans
You can eat rice and beans before you go to class and likely won’t even need to eat lunch, as this meal is very filling. Aside from being affordable, you can also use the combination of rice and beans for other meals, like burritos. Just make sure to buy in bulk for the best deals.
- Peanut Butter & Jelly Sandwiches
This meal is not only delicious but also full of nutrients. For one, peanut butter is packed with protein, fat, and the energy needed to get through the day. It’s a light meal you can eat at almost any point during the day without worrying about feeling sleepy afterwards. For a healthy PBJ, swap the regular white bread for whole grain.
- Mac and Cheese
This is a very common meal among students and for a good reason. All you need for this dish is water, noodles, cheese, and some cream. The result is a filling combo of protein, carbohydrate, and fat. Make this favorite meal healthier by eating a veggie salad on the side and choosing whole grain macaroni.
- Baked Potatoes
Potatoes are inexpensive and very nutritious. You can get them almost anywhere for cheap, and they last a long time. While you study, potatoes can be prepared without needing too much of your attention. To prepare baked potatoes, you simply need an oven or even a microwave. Add spices and vegetable oil to make the potatoes richer and more flavorful.
- Burritos
While this might cost a little more than other meals on this list, it still falls under the cheap category. All you need is some rice, beans, cheese, vegetables, and chicken. This meal will leave you wanting more and provide nutrients the brain needs to get through the day as a college student.
If you feel like you are too overwhelmed to cook while in college because you have too much on your plate already (pun intended!), you can get an online paper writing service to finish some assignments for you. This will give you more time to make delicious and nutritious meals that will fuel you before class.
- Eggs
Eggs can make a perfect meal for college students. You can easily store them, and they are relatively cheap. In addition, as a great source of protein, eggs can be included in many meals. You can scramble them over toast, add them to rice, and fry them with veggies – you name it!
In Conclusion
You need to be healthy to perform at your very best in college. This means aside from taking time to exercise, you also need to be watchful of what you eat. The ten meals mentioned in this article are all affordable, healthy, and easy to make as a student. Spice up your diet with these simple recipes and enjoy a healthy lifestyle without fuss.
Author’s Bio
Christian Duke is a freelance writer and food nutrition expert. He is a health nut and a marathon runner. He enjoys cooking, learning about food, and sharing his insights in his articles. Christian considers himself an adventurer and loves camping.