College life is busy, but you should not let food take a back seat. You must keep yourself nourished to make it through the study sessions.
To keep hunger at bay, you can follow some easy recipes to prepare nutritious meals. They involve simple ingredients and don’t require fancy kitchen tools (college student gift ideas). Let’s jump right in!
Spinach Feta Grilled Cheese
1 1/4 Tbsp olive oil
2 1/2 clove garlic
1/3 lb frozen cut spinach
Pinch of salt and pepper
5 ciabatta rolls
2 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
2 1/2 oz feta cheese
pinch red pepper flakes (optional)
Mince the garlic and then add olive oil. Cook under low heat until it softens. Next, add frozen spinach and cook for about 5 minutes. Once the excess moisture has evaporated, add salt and pepper. After that, cut ciabatta roll into half and add the feta cheese at the bottom. Add the cooked spinach and top with a pinch of red pepper. Carefully flip the sandwiches and transfer to a non-stick skillet. Cook under low medium heat for 2-3 minutes. Serve while hot.
Damper Bread
3 cups all-purpose or bread flour, plus more as needed
2 teaspoons instant yeast
2 teaspoons coarse kosher or sea salt
1/3 cup olive oil
1 tablespoon fresh rosemary leaves
Pour the flour in a large bowl. Add rosemary, oil, salt, and water. Mix together until it forms a ball. Use your hands to gather all the bits. Dust a clean board with flour and place the dough. Add olive oil at the center and bring the edges towards the center. Now that everything is ready, preheat the oven to 200C and place the baking tray. Place the dough on the warm baking tray and bake for 30 minutes.
Damper may be popular at Australian universities since it is an Australian recipe. Enjoy the damper bread with your favorite drink.
Bacon Cheeseburger
2 tablespoons finely chopped onion 2 tablespoons ketchup 1 garlic clove, minced 1 teaspoon sugar 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce 1 teaspoon steak sauce 1/4 teaspoon cider vinegar 1 pound ground beef 4 slices sharp cheddar cheese 4 hamburger buns, split and toasted 8 cooked bacon strips Optional toppings: lettuce leaves and healthy tomatoes, onion and pickle slices
Add the first 7 ingredients in a bowl and crumble the beef over the mixture. Transfer the mixture in a lightly greased baking dish, grill for 5-7 minutes and then top with the cheese. Grill for another two minutes until the cheese melts. Remove it from the oven and let it cool.
Enjoy with your favorite salad. Suggest you practice making this, so it’s like healthy fast food, without having to go out and spend dollars.
Greek Style Chicken Salad
1/4 tsp. of ground cumin
Cooking spray and oregano oil
Pita chips
1 whole wheat pita
1 tsp. of lemon juice
2 tbsp. Of red-chopped onions
One cup of parsley salad
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Prepare the pita chips, coat with cooking spray and combine oregano oil. Bake at 400° for 10 minutes or until toasted. After that, prepare the chicken salad by combining with 2 tbsp. of chopped red onion. Next, prepare the parsley salad by mixing the remaining ingredients in a bowl.
Pizza Roll Ups
3 mozzarella cheese sticks
4 small flour tortillas
1/2 cup pizza sauce
Olive oil
20 slices of pepperoni
Preheat the oven and spray the baking sheet with a layer of your favorite cooking oil. Place tortillas, microwave for 20-30 seconds and cover with a damp paper towel. Slice mozzarella sticks in half and place on top. Fold the sides of the tortilla and roll them up tight. Bake the pizza rolls for 10-15 minutes until they turn light brown. Serve immediately.
Healthy Options
The above recipes are easy to make, healthy, and budget-friendly for any college student. Keep in mind you can prepare them even if you have little space in your kitchen.
While there’s a temptation at college to go for cheap and nasty — i.e. unhealthy — food choices, these recipes can be modified to improve their nutritional quality. A light coating of olive oil spray and a non-stick frypan, for example, is a great alternative to deep frying. PBWorks has more ideas for converting simple recipes into healthy ones.
Dessert – Microwave mug cake
Ingredients:
- 4 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 3 tablespoons milk
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
- 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
- A pinch of salt
- Optional: Chocolate chips, nuts, or a drizzle of syrup
Instructions:
- In a microwave-safe mug, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt.
- Add in the milk, vegetable oil, and vanilla extract, stirring until the batter is smooth.
- Mix in any optional add-ins like chocolate chips or nuts.
- Microwave on high for 1-2 minutes, watching closely to avoid overflowing. The cake is ready when it has risen and set in the center.
- Let it cool for a minute before enjoying directly from the mug.
This quick mug cake is one of the most basic desserts – perfect for a late-night study snack or when you’re craving something sweet. Minimal ingredients and a microwave are all you need!