Healthy Meal Prep Ideas for Students on a Budget

Today, you rush to lecture without having your breakfast, tomorrow, you skip lunch because sandwiches in the nearest cafe are unreasonably expensive, and the day after tomorrow… You don’t eat at all! How long can you survive on pure coffee? You need healthy food to stay healthy. Simultaneously, you’d like to save money. No restaurants on this week’s schedule! The only option is to prepare meals yourself, but how when you are already too busy? Let’s discuss several tips and helpful recipes! 

Everything starts with communication

Talk to your housemates. Delegating tasks makes miracles, whether it’s splitting meal prep responsibilities with friends or choosing to pay for homework. In both scenarios, you reach the same outcome by saving your time and mental health. You may live with family, friends, or almost strangers, but don’t blindly assume they are not interested in a healthy diet. The suggestion to cook in turns and split the budget sounds appealing to most. Furthermore, you can motivate each other to stay on track and avoid fast food and harmful snacks. 

It goes on with planning

Actually, any plan is optional, but writing down things is another form of motivation. Don’t you feel more inspired while sorting everything out on paper? Using your phone notes is also an option, but physical lists make everything feel more… real. They also serve a practical purpose. For instance, you can pin them on your fridge and check what meals are next on schedule. You can also write down necessary products and calculate further spending. Cooking is a sphere where you would like to avoid unpleasant surprises. 

Shopping list and other preparations

You’ve already listed the meals you are going to cook, so it’s time to go shopping! Shopping lists are not useful only in cartoons. You actually need one to stay focused and spend time productively. Consider what you may need besides products. A new skillet? Meal containers? Pay extra attention to those since they must be reliable. Spilling soup on your books is the last thing you want! Other preparations include scheduling cooking. Consider when is the best time for you to dedicate time to this activity. Maybe you are constantly busy besides Saturday morning. 

Outlining your goals

Those may include:

• Saving money.
• Developing a healthy diet.
• Trying new foods.
• Advancing your cooking skills.
• Managing time effectively.

Setting priorities is critical since they define the whole course of your actions. For example, you may want to spend extra time in the store to choose exotic products that will perfectly complement the latest discovered recipe. Or your only wish is to keep things simple. You don’t have time to explore new recipes and consciously choose to stick to the ones you already know. Next, we’ll share some cheap and easy recipe ideas you may like to integrate into your routine. 

Breakfast dishes

Although toast and cereal are universal options, you still can keep things interesting. Have you tried cooking high-protein oatmeal? Rolled oats or instant oats can be combined with all kinds of fruits, berries, and seeds. Nut butter is another excellent topping idea. Although almond milk is a bit more expensive than a regular one, you can try it once in a while. Sometimes a pleasant taste is worth all the money. Still not inspired? All healthy breakfast ingredients can become a tasty veggie burrito. Wholemeal tortilla wraps allow you to endlessly experiment with a filling. 

Pasta dishes

Like wholemeal tortilla wraps, pasta remains tasty regardless of the other ingredients. You can experiment with various types of meat, including chicken or tuna. You can also replace meat with vegetables and tofu: it is extremely tasty when fried and spiced. Add tomatoes, broccoli, mushrooms, or avocado, and enjoy pasta as a daily meal without making it trivial. Finally, remember: cheese improves every dish, and pasta should definitely be covered in it. 

Chicken and rice meals

Well, maybe you should think twice about whether cheese improves rice. You should also start by preparing it since it will take most of your time. Next, you can turn your attention to chicken, which gets ready pretty quickly on a heavy-duty pan or skillet. Finally, broccoli! Adding them guarantees that your meal includes all possible nutrients. You can sort it into containers, put them in the fridge, and be chill about your lunches during the week. 

Wrapping up

Many refrain from healthy diets, considering them too expensive or plain. However, such meals can actually help you save money, while ingredients taste wonderful even on their own. A bit of planning and preparation will help you keep cooking interesting, simple, and inspiring. What can be better than dedicating some time to your mental and physical health? A tasty and healthy meal is a guarantee of productivity in other spheres. 

Credits: Lisa Fotios