Nobody has time to cook, and your ATM always seems to be running on empty. Before you reach for the Lucky Charms, check out these easy recipes you can put together in a snap. Say goodbye to frozen, preservative-ridden meals and hello to healthy, simple recipes you can make for peanuts, just about anywhere—in minutes.
Most are no oven needed, so making these recipes in your dorm room or studio apartment is a piece of cake. If you have a microwave, you are golden.
Breakfast Meals to Jumpstart a Healthy Day:
Fruit & Yogurt Parfait
Ingredients:
1 apple
1 banana
1 orange
Optional: Chopped nuts
Pinch of sugar
Nonfat vanilla yogurt, or Greek yogurt
How to make it
-Wash apple then dice
-Peel banana, cut into ¼ slices, and then cut those in half
-Cut orange into ½ inch-wide crescents, and then cut those in two, remove pieces.
-Mix apple, banana and orange and add a pinch (or two) of sugar to the top. Combine with yogurt, add granola and berries on top as desired. Add a sprinkle of chopped nuts on the bottom for extra energy.
Avocado Smash
Ingredients:
2 slices wheat bread
2 tablespoons olive oil or coconut oil
1-teaspoon sea salt
1 ripe avocado
optional: 4 slices of tomato and/or cucumber
How to make it
-Toast bread in toaster
-Smash avocado with knife onto both pieces of toast (Of course, timing is everything with getting a ripe avocado)
-Drizzle olive oil or coconut oil (liquefied) on top of both pieces
-Add sea salt
-Optional: place vegetables on top of each slice
Lunch Break Hunger Blasters:
Caprese Salad to Go
Ingredients:
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 slices of wheat bread or pita
2 oz. mozzarella, sliced
6 grape tomatoes, halved
1/8 cup fresh basil leaves
1 pear
How to make it
-Spread ½ tablespoon olive oil onto one side of each slice of bread, add to nonstick frying pan on medium heat, let sit for 30 seconds then remove one slice. It’s already yummy.
-Add mozzarella, then tomatoes, then basil to the slice of bread still on the pan.
-Top with second slice. Leave sandwich on pan (medium heat) for 2-3 minutes, checking bottom of bread after 2 minutes.
-Flip and cook other side, serve with pear on side when finished
Grown-Up PB&J
Ingredients:
1 tablespoon of olive oil or coconut oil
2 slices wheat bread
2 tablespoons peanut butter
2 tablespoons honey
2 tablespoons jelly or jam
1 apple
How to make it
-Spread ½ tablespoon oil onto one side of each slice of bread, add to nonstick frying pan on medium heat, let sit for 30 seconds then remove one slice.
-Add peanut butter and honey, and jelly/jam to the slice of bread still on the pan
-Top with second slice. Leave sandwhich on pan for 2-3 minutes, checking bottom of bready after 2 minutes
-Flip and cook on other side, serve with apple when finished
Dinners on a Dime:
Pita bread pizza, easy, great for making in multiples
Ingredients:
1 whole wheat pita
2/3 cup marinara sauce
1 oz. cheddar, sliced or diced
2 oz. mozzarella, in pieces
How to make it
Put everything into the Pita bread. Cook in oven for 7 minutes at 400 degrees – can also be cooked in toaster oven
Penne & Marinara, classic comfort food
Ingredients:
1 ½ cup penne
½ cup marinara sauce
1 cup lettuce mix
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
How to make it
-Boil water in medium pot, follow instructions on box of pasta
-Once cooked, drain and return to pot – turn burner off.
-Pour in marinara sauce and stir
-Add cooked shrimp or broccoli as an nice extra, sausage if you have a frying pan
-Add balsamic and olive oil to lettuce mix, get some greens on the side
Dessert: Maybe not so healthy, but definitely sweet
Almond Butter Fudge
Ingredients:
1 cup raw creamy almond butter (unsalted)
¼ cup coconut oil, liquefied
1 ½ tablespoons raw honey
½ teaspoon fine sea salt
How to make it
-Mix all ingredients together in a bowl until smooth and creamy
-You can add chocolate chips for a little extra decadence, not that this needs it
-Transfer mixture to a square baking dish, or container, lined with plastic wrap. Smooth with spatula, and freeze until sold (about one hour)
Gooey Chocolate Cake in a Mug
Don’y know how this works, but it does!
Ingredients:
1 egg
¼ cup powdered sugar
1-2 tablespoons cocoa powder (depending on the level of your craving)
How to make it
-In mug, crack egg, add powered sugar and cocoa powder. Whisk together with a small whisk until well mixed. Microwave for 50-60 seconds, until cake is cooked through. Top with chocolate chips, hot fudge, whipped cream or ice cream!
Midnight Snacks:
Peanut Butter & Banana Rice Cakes
Ingredients:
Rice Cakes
1 Tablespoon natural peanut butter (creamy or chunky)
½ banana, sliced
How to make it
-Spread peanut butter on rice cakes, cover with sliced banana
Creamy Peanut Butter Dip
Ingredients:
1 container vanilla Greek yogurt (5.3 oz)
2 tablespoons natural peanut butter
½ tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder
½ teaspoon honey
1 apple, sliced
How to make it
-In a small bowl, mix all of ingredients (except apple) together. Dip with apple slices.
You don’t have to burn up your credit card to eat well. Bon appetite!