What are some quick easy foods that college students can make?

Two easy snacks that college students can make right in their dorm rooms are trail mix and (excuse the name) Puppy Chow. To make trail mix you can just throw together some peanuts, raisins, granola, and M & M’s. Puppy Chow is a little more complex, but also easy: 1) melt one bag of chocolate chips in a microwave-safe bowl, 2) add 1/2 jar of creamy peanut butter to the chips and heat until melted, 3) in a CLEAN shopping bag combine one box of Chex cereal mix and the melted chocolate/peanut butter concoction and SHAKE LIKE CRAZY! 4) Add 1/2 bag of powdered sugar and SHAKE LIKE CRAZY again! Once your hall-mates taste this snack you will have more roommate requests than you can handle

When I was in graduate school, my roommates and I were too busy and poor to keep perishables like milk or butter around, so we would mix the Kraft Macaroni & Cheese cheese packet with water—definitely an acquired taste. I also ate my share of ramen noodles, canned soup, Spaghetti O’s, and frozen burritos. If I could go back to college now, I would opt for more fresh fruits, salads, and sandwiches. Bananas, apples, bread, peanut butter, baby carrots, yogurt, and other staples are easy to keep on hand. Overall, plan on sticking to meals that don’t require many ingredients or you’ll never make them!

Ramen noodles are always a favorite of students. Cheap and versatile with what you can do with them. Check out this blog from Rasmussen College. Mac and Cheese boxes are another standby for many college students. Canned soup is also a good option. Get low sodium kinds if at all possible. Quick and satisfying. Also the cans can easily be stored in the room and won’t draw bugs! Keep in mind a potato. Students can microwave them and add salad dressing as a topping and eat with baby carrots or broccoli florets. EASY!

Assuming students have access to a kitchen, I suggest you buy the Joy of Cooking. Here are a few fast and healthy meals: lettuce, cucumber, red onion with cottage cheese or sliced chicken and oil and vinegar broiled chicken with steamed broccoli and brown rice pasta with fresh tomato sauce (saute tomatoes in olive with chopped onions and add some fresh basil Omelets with chopped vegetables and cheese soups: tomato, vegetable, butternut squash

If you have a cupboard, mini-fridge, and microwave, there are plenty of options. Ramen noodles, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, soups, veggie burgers, tuna sandwiches, veggies (there are brands that have microwaveable frozen veggies)… use your imagination, and remember to microwave food in glass containers!

Anything you can cook in a microwave or eat out of a can, a box, or a jar. Stock up on staples from your parent’s pantry when they’re not looking!

Tortillas, cheese and spaghetti sauce made in a heated skillet. Yummy college comfort food.

Pasta seems to be the universal food group on campus. The price point, combined with ease of preparation, variety of shapes and sauces make it highly versatile. Marinara, pesto, cheese and olive oil will all create a delicious meal. Baked potatoes are another option with opportunity to tailor to your taste: cheese, butter, sour cream, salsa, beans, bacon, just to name a few. A green salad can be topped with any number of protein choices to make a complete meal. Consider chicken, tuna, bacon, beans, cheese, or that leftover piece of steak from when dad was visiting and took you out to dinner! Soup has always had a place in the student budget. Whether you purchase canned and ready to heat or take the opportunity to mix things up a bit with what you have on hand; there’s nothing like a warm bowl of soup on a cold day.

When I was in college we lived off of pancakes. They were easy to make, only required water, and were filling. You should keep bread, peanut butter, and jelly. Microwave meals and frozen dinners can come in handy. I know this may not sound like the most appealing meals, but keep in mind you will not have to eat like this once you get a good paying job!

PB&J is always quick and easy, also grilled cheese doesn’t take too long either. Another thing would be canned food maybe like soup that you just have to heat up or baked beans, and good canned chili too.