One perk of living in a dorm is having a meal plan. You never have to worry about waking up extra early to make breakfast, coffee or meal prep for the day. Although the dorm lifestyle is very convenient, the freedom of being in your own housing allows you to create and control what you eat.

You might have to take a little more time to go grocery shopping, to plan out what you want to eat and to make your food, but it can be much healthier for you in the long run.

Here are some easy ways to stay healthy and creative with your meals throughout the day.

Breakfast

This meal is most essential for a productive day and making it is easier than you think. Living in an apartment or house can be very useful because you can use the stovetop to make eggs, boil water for your coffee and tea or make pancakes. If you have early classes, you most likely don’t want to wake up extra early to make yourself a full breakfast.

Try making overnight oats. You can prep them the night before, and leave them in your fridge until the morning. This is a simple and healthy way to stock up on energy and nutrients for the day.

Overnight Oats Recipe

Add one cup of rolled oats

Add one cup of desired milk (2 percent, 

almond, soy, etc.)

Add peanut butter or almond butter

Add chia seeds

Add honey or your favorite sweetener

Add fruit or nuts

Leave overnight in a cup or container

Mix and enjoy in the morning

Lunch

This meal can be tricky because sometimes you don’t want to go all the way home if you are in between classes. In that case, try meal prepping your lunch in the morning.

A very simple and easy-to-make lunch could be a sandwich or wrap. Or you could make a larger batch of a dish so you will have lunch for the week. Soups, chilis and casseroles are good options and there are a variety of recipes online. A healthier, greener alternative could be making a big salad. If you want to make the salad last longer, don’t put your dressing on until right before you eat it. Nobody likes a soggy salad. 

Greek Salad Recipe

Add desired greens (lettuce, kale, spinach,      etc.)

Add chopped tomatoes

Add slices of avocado

Add slices of cucumber

Drizzle olive oil

Sprinkle desired cheese

Mix and enjoy

Dinner

Since this meal is in the evening, you might have more time to make it how you want it. Once again, living in a house or an apartment comes with the advantage of kitchen appliances. For example, a super easy way to prepare a meal that will last a while would be making your favorite pasta. But what is pasta without veggies?

Roasted vegetables are delicious, healthy and pair well with pasta. Clean your veggies, glaze them with olive oil, add some salt and pepper and bake them for 15-25 minutes. Or make kale chips. They are yummy, healthy and take about 15 minutes at most to make.

Crispy Kale Chip Recipe

Preheat oven to 275 F

Wash and dry desired amount of kale

Remove the ribs of the kale

Chop into 1-inch pieces

Place them on top of a metal pan with alu

minum foil

Sprinkle olive oil and salt

Bake until edges are brown, but not burnt

(10-15 minutes)

Although it is easy to walk to Green Street to grab your favorite franchise meal, don’t give in.

Molly is a junior in LAS.

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