Cooking in College

Eating in a dorm is hard! You don't have your own kitchen, or a normal size fridge to be able to prepare meals like you could when you lived at home. You also don't want to eat microwave mac and cheese for 4 years, so here are some tips of how to use what you have and prepare meals in a dorm.

If you have a communal kitchen, which most dorms have, then use it for sure. However, make sure that you go when it isn't as busy so that you know you'll have the time to cook what you need. I like to prep my meals for the week on Sunday night after I do my weekly grocery run, and the kitchen is usually bare of people. 

What I like to make:
Chicken: I am definitely not a vegetarian! Chicken is cheap and easy to make and can be prepared many different ways. I boil my chicken for around 20 min, or until there is no more pink. 
From there you can make it BBQ chicken, by baking with BBQ sauce or just marinating it for a few hours then heating up. 
I also love salsa chicken. Again, boil the chicken then top with salsa and cheese. 
You can buy chicken strips and shake and bake them as well.

Pasta: This is a staple because it is easy and can be stored for a while in my fridge. 
I cook my pasta for about 10-13 mins depending on the type and how much I am making. 
After it is cooked I divide it into microwave containers and then can add sauce and heat when I am ready.
Adding meat is also an option, such as chicken or beef.

Keep fruit: I love fruit and keep sliced strawberries, honeydew, or whatever fruit is in season in my fridge every week; along with bananas. I get my love of bananas from my dad and eat them almost everyday, but also use them in my overnight oats.

Overnight Oats: These things are the best and so simple and filling. 
You take 4 oz of cooking oats and put them in a cup with a lid. (I love mason jars because they tell you how many ounces you have filled on the side, plus are super cute)
Then add 4 oz of almond milk, regular milk, water, or whatever you like. (I use Silk Vanilla Almond Milk)
You seal the cup or jar and let them sit in your fridge overnight.
In the morning you add whatever you like to flavor them.
I love using half of a mushed up banana, with coconut extract, and a little bit of cocoa powder. I have also used strawberries, almond butter, peanut butter, shredded coconut, and blueberries. 
Basically use what you like to flavor them!
You can also eat them cold or hot. I prefer mine cold, but heating won't mess anything up.

These are just some suggestions of how to survive in college, but eat actual food.