College Meal Prep Ideas for Students

Last Updated on January 25, 2021 by TheMealPrepNinja

College Meal Prep Beginners Guide

College Meal Prep (Yelling).Mum/ dad, what’s for dinner?

All of us asked such a question at some point in our lives. Such was the stress-free days when you strolled in from school, tossed away your backpack, and lazied on the couch on the cable. Well, you are all grown up now!

Sorry to burst your bubble, but you have to take the initiative of feeding yourself at some point in your life. And that starts with college. 

Transition to college is such an exciting time though most of us tend to be overwhelmed. Once your old folks get into the cruiser and bid you farewell on their way back home, you quickly snap back to cold and harsh reality. 

From mum, where’s my dinner to 100% dorm food, I need to feed myself and do it on a tight budget.

And that’s where, ladies and gentlemen, meal prepping in college saves the day. Meal prepping isn’t just a fad associated with health enthusiasts or nutritionists, as you may think. Its application is diverse and can be quite beneficial in situations such as college life. We get into the details of meal prepping in college and all that you need to know.

Are you looking for a great College Meal Prep Cookbook?

For starters, let’s look into

Why Meal Prepping in College is Essential 

Just as any other college student, you’ll definitely be busy- classes, assignments, maybe a part-time job, friends, and campus parties( sometimes…), or some extracurricular activities. With such a hectic schedule, you may find yourself making unfulfilled dieting choices such as ordering takeouts, dining hall meals, or worse still, making the vending machine your best friend.

Though there’s nothing wrong with such choices, you may feel a bit guilty mainly if you are weight conscious, not to mention unsatisfied, or simply not enjoying the meal. The resultant effect is you’d end up binging yourself to death.

Such benefits are associated with meal prepping in college.

• Save time by cutting down on your dining hall time. You could use this time to catch up on lost lecture time. 

• You can finally have satisfying and nourishing meals. Another reason is you won’t have to starve yourself and later binge eat.

• You need to get your head in the game during those long day classes. What better way to fuel up your body than a nourishing meal prep meal?

• Save money on campus takeouts, or better yet, steering clear of the gooey dining hall meals, and finally,

• Absolutely having no stress over what to eat. Let’s face it, hecting campus days usually get the best of us. The last thing you want to think of is what to eat once you hit your dorm.

As an add-on, meal prepping in college can be a source of comfort. As much as we would hate to admit it, college is a time full of exploration. It’s full of stressful things on top of the college stuff that you already have. Maybe you got dumped due to weight issues (sorry). 

Hey! Don’t beat yourself to a pulp.

Meal prepping can be a great avenue to release the stress. Whatever you are munching on, whether carrot sticks, cookies, or broccoli, you won’t get stressed about what you’re feeding on. Furthermore, it would be a great way to start your weight loss journey.

Jim, how do I pull this off. I don’t have a kitchen!

Starting Meal Prepping in College Without the Proper Facilities

You could work your way around the college boarding facility and policy. Most first-year college students tend to live in campus facilities, unlike their older counterparts. Most boarding facilities are ill-equipped since they typically use the college’s meal plan. I get it. Not having a proper kitchen or none at all for that matter sucks. 

However, if you are lucky enough, you may have a communal kitchen on every floor. In most cases, almost every institution will afford you one. You may have access to either a stove, fridge, or other kitchen appliances. Sorry, you’ll have to make do with what’s presently there. 

College meal prep doesn’t have to be an all or nothing situation. Meal prepping for either breakfast, lunch, or dinner can make all the difference while in college. You’ll just have to experiment and tweak what works better for you. A strategy that works for most is using your leftover dinners for the next day. Chances are that the ingredients that you’ll use will be in excess for a single serving. Why not make 2-3 servings to stretch you through the week?

What if I don’t like leftovers?

Well, you could prep up your ingredients for later cooking. Since chopping or prepping the ingredients eats into your meal preparation time, prepping them ahead of time will definitely make your next meal prep a breeze. Just try to ensure that your meal prep covers you for the next three days and monitor your routine from there. Tweak what works for you and keep changing it from week to week until you arrive at what works for you- always be gentle and flexible with yourself. Chances are that within the first week of learning, you’ll be able to incorporate your meal prep into your schedule. 

Here are just a few tips or tricks to navigating the no kitchen college scenario.

• This is the time to befriend those with access to kitchen facilities, no kidding. Chances are you’ll cement your friendship further by making them a few treats.

• You could tweak your meals depending on the kitchen amenities available. For instance, if the communal kitchen has a microwave, you could invest in microwave-only meals.

• Sometimes, the stove or oven that’s present not only takes time but makes the meal prepping process arduous. Investing in a crock/ instant pot would be an excellent idea and makes all the difference. It’s as simple as tossing in your ingredients and letting them cook as you catch up with friends or study for the next assessment.

• You could also come up with a few no-cook vegan meals and other recipes that don’t require you to have a kitchen. 

Now, for those that lady luck settled upon them and settled for institutions that provide kitchen facilities, the chances are that they are minimal in size or shared with way too many people. In the worst-case scenario, both may apply. While a kitchen’s presence may be a relief, some challenges are unique to college students centered around storage. Meal prepping in college, just like anywhere else, can be hampered by the inability of storage. Below are some of the few tips to ensure that your college meal prep goes smoothly;

• It’s not a shocker to find the communal fridge stuffed with moldy or rotting food. Such an instance should raise a red flag since the potential of food contamination is high. It also takes up crucial space that should have otherwise been put to good use. It would be best if you arrived at an amicable decision to frequently purge the fridge to get rid of the food beyond a specific date. For instance, foods that go beyond five days should automatically be tossed out by the owner. Beyond the five days, anyone is free to rid the fridge of the item. 

• Ensure that you further divide the pantry and fridge space to take advantage or effectively utilize the little space.

• Since the kitchen space is small, it can be quite hard for two or more people to cook at the same time. To ensure there’s no overlap, make your meal prep intentions known ahead of time. You could also come up with a timetable or specific days when each roommate uses the kitchen. 

• Minimize your storage to what you need or is necessary. There’s no need for storing a pot you haven’t used in over three months. Better yet, don’t store an appliance whose function can be performed by other appliances.

• Break down bulky storage into small fitting containers that can utilize the available space.

• Look into what can be frozen if your fridge is looking cramped. Freezing not only ensures you free up some space but also prevents food wastage. Your food stays longer until when required.

• You must keep track of your inventory so that you don’t waste money on double purchases. It will further aid you in saving up space.

Remember, you can meal prep your snacks without a kitchen. Having a snack on the go can make all the difference in your moods and energy levels. So, how do you ensure that you eat healthy during your stay on campus?

Easy Guide to Meal Prepping in College

In case you’ve just reported or are about to head out to college and wondering how to kick off your meal prep, the following simple guide will come in handy.

Plan and set a budget

The first step is to know what you are working with. Know your limits in terms of financials and come up with an appropriate budget. This entails coming up with a weekly or monthly food calendar before hitting the grocery store.

Go for interchangeable ingredients.

This is a common strategy among meal prep enthusiasts. It’s advisable to go for ingredients that get used at least once in coming up with different menus. It will help you in purchasing fewer ingredients and conserving or utilizing the minimal available space.

Bulk buying

Most of the time, college students are cash strapped. During the onset of the semester, it’s always advisable to buy your ingredients in bulk, which is cheaper in the long run and can come in handy during harsh financial times.

Keeping it simple

Always go for easy recipes. Most of the time, students get tempted to come up with sophisticated recipes, mostly due to cash availability. Don’t be frugal; it will definitely cost you down the line. I know it’s boring eating the same type of food now and then. However, you could spice it up and incorporate other ingredients to go with it. 

Storage

Glass containers are a perfect and advisable way to store food. However, in a college setting, such containers can be tricky to maneuver around in college. You’ll also need to consider the fact whether it’s an excellent addition to your backpack. A nice storage container should be easy to carry and leak-proof– doesn’t pose a threat to other items such as laptops.

Most students have less money to push them through the academic year, not to mention bills and rent. In most cases, you won’t even have enough left to enjoy your college years. Therefore, it’s essential to thoroughly scrutinize your grocery list to ensure you are not wasting money.

Essential College Grocery List For Students

You don’t have to be frugal with your grocery list. By reducing what you don’t need, you’ll be on the right track to making sound financial decisions. Most students are highly tempted to buy what they don’t need or won’t use. Be careful not to fall for this. So, how does an efficient college grocery list look like? Let’s delve in.

Coffee

By now, I’m pretty sure you are cursing. I know it looks hype holding that cup of mocha from your nearest Java every morning. Trust me when I tell you that you are much better off making your coffee in your hostel. It’ll go a long way in saving you the extra bucks you chuck off every morning. Grab a hold of an insulated travel mug and enjoy your coffee all morning.

Breakfast items

Breakfast is known to be the most important meal of the day. Items such as instant oatmeal, yogurt, and cereal can power up your day in unimaginable ways. Starting your day with a heavy breakfast can cut your lunch expenses and push you in time for dinner. Whatever your breakfast preferences are, make sure you thoroughly stock up on them.

Chicken breast

Including such an item in your grocery list makes economic sense since they are quick to cook and can be prepared in various ways. Other than being high in protein, it is also versatile.

Cheese sticks

This is one of the most common foods used to combat cravings. However, eating a whole block of cheese is unheard of. You could toss them in your bag and snack on them when out and about.

Trail mix

This is an energy snack packed with all the goodness to give you that extra oomph during the days when you have back to back classes. Composed of a mixture of fats, nuts, proteins, and fruits, you are sure to face anything thrown in your way. Throw in some chocolate, and you’ll have a blast.

Peanut butter and jelly

Need I say more? This should be the holy grail item on your shopping list. They are essential in almost all the dorm or hostel settings. They tend to be quite familiar with students since they can quickly whip up a snack, no matter the time.

Canned beans and fish, eggs, and veggie chips are among many other items you could include in your list. It all depends on your cash outlay or what you are willing to spend.

Easy Meal Prep Recipes

Here are a few quick and easy to make recipes that tastes amazing. Here are four breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks meal prep recipes.

Breakfast – Crockpot Breakfast Egg Casserole Meal Prep

Lunch – Healthy Burrito Bowl Meal Prep Ground Chicken Recipe

Dinner – Healthy Chicken Chili Slow Cooker Recipe

Snacks – Protein Chocolate Chip Cookies with Walnuts

College Meal Prep Cookbooks

If you are looking for more information or books related to meal prepping in college these books are great choices. You can also give these books as “off the college gifts.” The Instant pot is also a great gift for college students.

PREP: The Essentials College Cookbook

The 5-Ingredient College Cookbook: Easy, Healthy Recipes for the Next Four Years & Beyond 

The Easy College Cookbook: 75 Quick, Affordable Recipes for Campus Life

Final Thoughts

College meal prepping is relatively easy as long as it’s well planned and executed. At times, I know it may be hard to implement it partly due to your surroundings or peer pressure. Be warned, however, that the consequences can be quite damning, particularly during your mid-semester. When well-executed, you not only tend to eat healthily but save a huge chunk of money. Heck! You might even end up with a few admirers.

Meal Prep Tips and Tricks

Meal Prep On A Budget

Paleo Meal Prep Everything You Need To Know

Meal Prepping Vegetables: What You Need to Know

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