Easy and Healthy Recipes for College Students

College and healthy eating don’t always go hand-in-hand, but with these easy and healthy recipes for college students, you’ll soon be enjoying healthy meals that are easy to prepare.

Pita Pizza Bites

This is a quick college dinner that you can make in a matter of minutes. You can make it healthier by opting for low-fat cheese as well.

Ingredients:

• Preheat your oven to 400 degrees
• 1 Pita (whole wheat)
• 2/3 cup low-fat marinara
• 2 ounces mozzarella cheese – cubed or shredded
• 1 ounce of cheddar – sliced or shredded

Add the marinara to the whole wheat pita. Add the cheese in layers and place your pitas on a baking dish. Heat the pita pizza in the oven until the cheese is melted (around seven minutes) and enjoy!

This recipe allows you to make as few or as many as you want, and since they’re so easy, you can fix them for the whole study group for a snack to keep everyone’s energy up for those late night cram sessions.

Grilled Cheese Sandwiches

We all love mom’s grilled cheese, but they’re not exactly the healthiest option. These healthy grilled cheese sandwiches use whole wheat bread for fiber, and include a few healthy veggies to make a more balanced meal.

Ingredients:

• Whole wheat bread
• Spinach – shredded or whole leaves
• Tomatoes and onions – sliced or diced
• 1 ounce of sliced cheese per sandwich – You can use pepper jack to give your sandwich a kick, but any cheese of your choosing will do
• Salt and pepper to taste

Heat a medium skillet and spray with cooking or nonstick spray. Add the cheese to one slice of bread. Top with a mixture of the vegetables and season with salt and pepper. Add the final piece of bread. Cook the sandwich on both sides until lightly browned and slightly crispy and serve. Try combining different veggies to create new tastes – you’ll soon discover your absolute favorite.

Quinoa Energy

All those late nights add up, and sometimes you just need a healthy snack or power lunch to keep you going after that healthy breakfast runs out. This recipe is simple to make and each serving packs 14 grams of energy-giving protein.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup quinoa – cooked
• 1/3 cup black beans – drained and rinsed
• 1 green onion – chopped
• 1 tomato – chopped
• 1 teaspoon lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon olive oil
• Salt and pepper to taste

Place all of the ingredients in a bowl and lightly mix them together. You can even toss everything in, put the lid on tightly and shake gently until mixed. Grab a spoon and enjoy whenever you need an energy boost.

Healthy Burrito Bowl

You may love those burrito bowls from that trendy chain restaurant, but chances are, your wallet would feel better without them. The truth is, you can make your own much healthier version in less time than you think.

• 3 ounces precooked grilled chicken breast strips
• 1/2 cup red cabbage – shredded
• 1/4 cup black beans
• 2 tablespoons Greek yogurt – non-fat
• 2 tablespoons salsa
• 1 teaspoon low-sodium chicken broth
• 1 pinch each of cayenne, cumin and garlic powder
• 1 green onion – sliced
• Fresh cilantro – shredded

Mix the black beans, cayenne, cumin, garlic powder and chicken broth in a microwaveable bowl. Microwave for 45 seconds or until heated through.

Toss the heated mixture with the red cabbage. Add the salsa, chicken and Greek yogurt in layers. Top with the green onions and cilantro and enjoy!

A Word on Vegetables

If you want to make sure your meals are as fast as possible to make, take a little time after you go to the grocery store and chop or slice your vegetables ahead of time. Simply put them in containers or baggies that close tightly, and store them in the refrigerator until you’re ready to use them.

These recipes prove that there really are healthy recipes that are easy to make for any college student. Do you have any quick and healthy recipes you love? Do you know any tips for making meal preparation even faster? Make sure to share them in the comment section below so others can enjoy them too!