My Favorite Feel-Good Meals That Are Actually College Budget-Friendly
Ever since I was a kid, I loved cooking and baking. Honestly, I was pretty good at it too for a 13-year-old. I used to take over the kitchen and whip up random dishes I saw after binge-watching Barefoot Contessa (my Ina Garten phase).
Then I hit a bit of a dry spell. I still cooked here and there, but it wasn’t something I really cared about. Mostly because I didn’t have a reason to. When I started college, it was straight out of the stereotypical college handbook. Ramen noodles and dining hall mush. My freshman dorm had a tiny kitchen with just a stove and a sink, but with a meal plan, no one was doing any serious cooking.
Sophomore year is when things changed. I moved into an off-campus apartment, and that’s when I really started to cook again. At first it was out of necessity, but I ended up falling back in love with it.
Cooking is a lot of work, sure, but it can also be really fun and kind of therapeutic. If you’re anything like me, that’s the best part. It almost silences my brain. I get so focused on chopping, stirring, and timing things right that every other thought just... goes away. Basically a life hack.
And the best part is that cooking becomes way more enjoyable once you actually start to love the food you make. Some of my favorite go-to meals are super simple, especially once I’ve made them a few times. I usually pick a few meals to rotate during the week, and I’ll stay obsessed with them until suddenly I can’t look at another burrito ever again.
So today, I’m sharing a few of my favorite feel-good meals that are budget-friendly, easy to make, and perfect for college life. These are the meals that make me feel full, happy, and a little more put together.
Breakfasts That Don’t Require a 7 AM Wake-Up Call 🍳 🍯 ☕️🥞🌞🫧
Mornings are rough. But here are my go-to quick and easy breakfast meals.
Yogurt bowl – Greek yogurt + honey + granola + some frozen or fresh berries
Egg muffins - These are seriously so easy to make and such a good meal prep option for the week. All you need is eggs and whatever toppings you like, baked in a cupcake pan. I usually do ham, spinach, and cheese.
Loaded Oatmeal Bowl - I do oatmeal + banana + peanut butter + chia Seeds + I also add Trader Joes mini peanut butter cups and omg it takes it to a whole another level.
Avocado Toast with Egg - Basic? Yes. Still a favorite? Absolutely. The only downside is that avocados can be a little pricey, but the combo of creamy avocado and a perfectly cooked egg is worth it.
Banana pancakes - Surprisingly really yummy and healthy. Just mash 1 banana, mix with 2 eggs and some flour, and cook like regular pancakes. I like to add cinnamon or chocolate chips to mine.
Breakfast burrito - Okay, I don’t think this one is quick to make, but it’s my go-to almost every morning. I use sausage, spinach, peppers, eggs, and cheese all wrapped in a tortilla. If you want to make it a quick breakfast, make a batch ahead of time and just reheat them during the week.
Peanut butter banana toast - simple and easy.
Midday Meals 🥒🥪🥡🥗🤸🥟
Lunch is always a little awkward with my class schedule. I’m either rushing between classes or absolutely starving by noon. Here are my go-to lunches for when I actually have time to make something decent.
Wraps - I love a classic chicken caesar wraps or a turkey wrap with spinach, carrots, feta, and a drizzle of dressing (you can also substitute with a lettuce wrap)
Chicken pesto sandwich - on some sour dough bread with mozzarella
Chickpea salad - Chickpeas, cucumber, pepper, onion, avocado, feta, balsamic, vinegar
Tuna. tuna. tuna. - Um if you’re not eating tuna wyd?? Such good protein and so delicious. Tuna sandwich, tuna salad, tuna on cucumber, the options are endless
Pasta salad - Any pasta shape, tomatoes, cucumbers, cheese, onion, peppers, dressing
Snack Plate - Sometimes I’m not in the mood to cook, so I just throw together a snack plate with whatever I have in the fridge. My favorite combo ever is Peppers with cream cheese and Everything but the Bagel seasoning. I seriously eat this every single day.
Other things I’ll throw on my plate: fruit, veggies, hummus, crackers, cheese, yogurt, hard-boiled eggs, turkey slices, etc. It’s one of my go-to lunches when I don’t have time (or energy) to make something more involved.
Chicken Cheese Quesadilla - I usually use leftover rotisserie chicken (this is so great!! its cheap and you don’t have to cook up chicken yourself), shredded cheese, and throw it all in a tortilla. Optional to add avocado.
Trader Joes frozen meals - my favorite lazy lunch cheat.
Real Food for Really Tired Nights 🥦 🍱 🍝🥘🍅🥖🍽️
Dinner is my favorite time of the day. Here are some of my favorites.
Pasta with meat sauce - A classic. I usually brown some ground turkey or beef, toss in a jar of sauce, and pour it over pasta. Add cheese on top.
Stir -fry - A go-to when I have random veggies in the fridge. I sauté everything with soy sauce, garlic, and ginger, then serve it over rice or noodles. Super customizable.
Tacos - Taco night never misses. I rotate between ground turkey, chicken, or black beans for the filling. Just add your favorite toppings.
Burger bowls - Think all the burger vibes without the bun. I do ground beef or turkey over lettuce with pickles, cheese, tomatoes, and a little homemade sauce. So good.
Chili - Perfect for colder days. I throw together ground beef, lots of beans, diced tomatoes, jalapeño, peppers, and chili seasoning. Let it simmer and you're golden. Also pretty customizable.
Salmon and rice - It feels fancy but takes 20 minutes. I pan-fry or air-fry the salmon, season it up, and serve with rice and a veggie.
Shrimp tacos - I cook frozen shrimp with some taco seasoning and top with slaw or avocado. I usually use a lettuce wrap for these. A little on the pricier side with the shrimp.
Grilled Cheese and tomato soup - easy and a classic.
Sweet Treats Because Dessert Is Self-Care 🍫🍪🍬🍩🤸🧁🍭
Dessert bowls - my roommates and I love to make dessert bowls (or DBs as we call it). I include popcorn, chocolate chips, and usually some other form of chocolate treat I probably got from Trader Joes.
Homemade Strawberry Shortcakes - Okay this might be niche, but if you know those little dessert yellow cake cups from the store… my all-time favorite thing is topping them with strawberries and whipped cream. That’s literally it, and it’s insanely good. You have to try it at least once. I’ll include a picture so you know what I’m talking about.
Chocolate covered bananas with peanut butter and sea salt - Yum!!!
Cookies!!! – I probably make cookies every other night. You will never catch me without a tub of cookie dough in my fridge. It’s 100% my guilty pleasure to an extreme level. Trader Joe’s cookie dough seriously makes some of the best homemade-style cookies. But don’t even get me started on cookies in general… I won’t stop talking.
Frozen fruit + whipped cream – Mango, strawberries, or blueberries with a dollop on top.
Frozen yogurt covered fruit - easy and healthy.
