Easy and Cheap Meal Prep Ideas for College Students

College students are often short on time and culinary skills, but that doesn't mean they should skimp out on nutritious, delicious meals. The Internet is full of easy recipes catering to the needs of busy individuals. Cookbooks specifically designed for college students can also be found in most bookstores for a low price. YouTube tutorials featuring simple meal ideas are also an excellent option for college students looking to expand their repertoire in the kitchen without investing too much time or money in the process.

Eating healthy and getting enough rest can be difficult for students with packed schedules filled with assignments. Fortunately, finding quick recipes online is a great way to save time for meal preparation. There are also numerous websites that provide a safe buying experience for college students and allow you to buy essays online; try this option the next time you're stuck on an essay paper. Instant availability of an essay has tremendous benefits, such as reducing stress levels and giving more free time to develop proper eating habits.
College students no longer need to survive on ramen noodles and take-out; with research and some essential kitchen equipment, cooking from scratch has always been challenging.

Gather Meal Prep Ideas

The Internet is filled with helpful resources if you're looking for quick and easy recipes. There are numerous ways to build your own cookbook of basic recipes, ranging from well-known cooking websites and apps for creativity to tasty social media accounts. Whether you're looking for breakfast, lunch, dinner, or snack ideas, various popular recipe websites provide detailed instructions, including everything from preparing ingredients to plating your meal. Numerous food blogs are also a good source of simple recipes; search for one in your area or look at the list compiled by a major magazine such as Better Homes & Gardens or National Geographic so that you can get a feel for what's out there.

Meal Planning Apps

Meal prepping doesn't have to be daunting. Despite being a college student with limited time and resources, meal planning apps for smartphones, tablet PCs, and laptops are here for the rescue. Make your life easier by downloading one of these apps today that are compatible with iOS or Android.
● Yummly
● Foodprint
● Pepperplate
● Cookpad
● Spoonacular
● Tastemade
● Moocho
● Bigoven
● Epicurious
● Mealime

Easy Meal Recipes

College can be a challenge for nutrition, but there are plenty of tasty ways to survive. Whether it's college dorm kitchen staples or simple meals that require only a microwave and hot plate; these recipes will make sure you never have an empty stomach during finals week.

Vegetarian Pizza with Bell Peppers and Zucchini

● Prep Time: 15 minutes
● Cook Time: 15 minutes
● Total Duration: 30 minutes
● Serves: 6 servings

Ingredients

• 1 large seeded flatbread or pizza crust
• ½ cup marinara sauce
• ½ cup shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1 cup shaved Parmesan cheese
• 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 zucchini, very thinly sliced
• 1 yellow bell pepper, diced
• 1 green bell pepper, diced
• 1 pint cherry tomatoes, halved
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper
• Fresh basil leaves, for garnishing

Cooking Directions
1. Set the oven to 450 degrees. Put the pizza crust on a baking sheet, and then evenly distribute the marinara sauce on top of the crust.
2. Combine the tomatoes, peppers, and zucchini in a big plastic bowl. Salt and pepper the veggies, then add the olive oil and toss all vegetables until they're evenly coated.
3. Evenly place the vegetables on the pizza, then cover the veggies with mozzarella.
4. Bake for 9 to 11 minutes, or until the sauce is bubbling and the vegetables are soft. Before slicing and serving, top with basil and Parmesan shavings.

Buckwheat Noodles with Peanut Sauce

● Prep Time: 15 minutes
● Cook Time: 15 minutes
● Total Duration: 30 minutes
● Serves: 6 servings

Ingredients
Spicy Peanut Butter Sauce

• ¾ cup smooth peanut butter
• 2 teaspoons sesame oil
• 3 tablespoons soy sauce
• ⅓ cup water
• ¼ cup rice vinegar
• 1 teaspoon Sriracha
• Juice of 1 lime
• 1 tablespoon agave
• 2 teaspoons minced ginger
• 2 garlic cloves, minced

Noodles

• 2 bundles soba or buckwheat noodles
• 1 bunch scallions, thinly sliced
• 3 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
• 2 cups trimmed snap peas
• 2 tablespoons white sesame seeds
• 1 tablespoon black sesame seeds

Cooking Directions
1. Spicy peanut sauce prep: Mix all of the ingredients in a food processor or blender, and process on pulse until smooth. Add extra water, one tablespoon at a time, if the sauce remains too thick. Place aside.
2. Noodles prep: Heat a sizable pot of salted water to a rolling boil. Cook the soba noodles for 5 to 6 minutes, or until they are soft. For an additional 30 seconds, stir in the snap peas. Drain, then totally cool.
3. Combine the cooled-down peas and soba with the spicy peanut sauce in a big bowl. You can now add the scallions, sesame seeds, and cilantro to the combination. Chill in an airtight container in a refrigerator and serve cold.

Turkey Taco Bowls

● Prep Time: 20 minutes
● Cook Time: 50 minutes
● Total Duration: 1 Hour 10 minutes
● Serves: 1 serving

Ingredients
Rice

• ¾ cup brown rice
• ⅛ tsp salt
• 1 lime, zested

Turkey

• ¾ lb lean ground turkey
• 2 tablespoons homemade taco seasoning
• ⅔ cup water

Salsa

• 1 pint cherry tomatoes halves
• 1 finely chopped jalapeno
• ¼ cup finely chopped red onion
• ½ lime juice
• ⅛ teaspoon salt

Extra garnish

• 12 oz can corn kernels, drained
• ½ cup shredded mozzarella

Cooking Directions
1. Cook the brown rice per the instructions on the package and add salt and lime zest to the cooking water. Let the mixture cool slightly before you distribute it into portions.
2. Cook the turkey for approximately 10 minutes on a pan on medium heat while breaking the meat.
3. After adding the water, sprinkle the taco seasoning on the turkey meat. Stir and cook the sauce for a few minutes, or until it has thickened.
4. Stir and cook the sauce for a few minutes, or until it has thickened. Now remove from heat and let cool slightly. Divide into portions. Toss together all the salsa ingredients.
5. Distribute the ingredients equally among the four 2-cup meal prep containers before assembling the lunch bowls.

Concluding Thoughts

As you can see, there are various easy, cheap meal preparation ideas for college students. With a bit of creativity and planning, you can save time and money while still enjoying delicious and nutritious meals.

There is no need to be intimidated by the thought of meal preparation for college students; with these easy and cheap meal preparation ideas, you can quickly whip up delicious meals that fit your budget and schedule. Be sure to stock up on pantry staples, get creative in the kitchen, and plan to make meal preparation a breeze. Bon appétit!