Healthy (and Quick) Dinner ideas?
 

Hi everyone,

I'm a grad student studying for finals right now. This means I'm in the library all day and all night, till about 12, 12:30. I need a dinner idea that I can make quickly in the morning and bring with me to school. Any ideas? Also, I have a subway relatively close, and I think that may be my go to fast food stop.

Thanks!
Annie

You could:
bake up a bunch of chicken breasts and keep them in the freezer. Grab one, make a quick salad, maybe some pita bread and you are good to!

I like to make Bento type lunches with various fruits, veggies, chicken cut into strips, some cheese etc... munchie type foods.

Make a soup during the weekend (turkey veggie for example) and pack that with whole grain bread and a laughing cow wedge.

Nice. Thanks. Would you recommend keeping the frozen breasts in tupperwares or those freezer bags? I know it's a silly question, but I almost never cook.

I don't know if you have access to a microwave during the day, but chili is always my fall back food. I make a quick and easy chili that is super filling, and low calorie.

Quick and easy chili
1lb of ground turkey (buffalo if I can get it fairly inexpensive)
2 large cans of crushed tomatoes
4 cans of black/kidney beans
2 cloves of garlic
1/2 c onion
1/2 tbsp cumi
3 tbsp chili powder
salt-to taste

Brown meat, add garlic and onion. Sweat onions until clear. Add everything else. Simmer for 1-2 hours uncovered.

There is almost always a few containers of this in my freezer. For awhile I was making this weekly, then eating every day for lunch.

Most colleges will have a microwave available someplace but it may not be convenient for you. If you can get to the microwave you have more options. If you take meat, put it in a lunch bag with a freezer pack.

*You could take a recooked Mesquite Chicken Breast Fillets in a lunch bag with a freezer pack to keep the fillet cold. I buy them at Walmart. Combine with a light wheat bun for a chicken sandwich.

*Morning Star frozen veggie corndog

If you can't use a microwave you could carry those packs of tuna that do not need refrigeration.

With or without a microwave you can carry carrots or other veggies, and a piece of fruit.

I hope this helps.

Thanks everyone. I do have a microwave at school - no fridge though. Amanda, that chili recipe sounds great. I even have ground turkey in the freezer now. I'm going to make that in the next day or two and tell you how it goes.

I'm trying to find foods that will help me feel satiated all day, so I don't run to the vending machine. I'm also planning on not bringing any cash with me to school for the next couple of days, as that will prevent me from using vending machines.

Please, keep the ideas coming!

I buy the already prepared (cooked) chicken breast strips by Pilgrim's Pride. They are tasty and very lean.

In a pinch I will eat canned soup. You can eat the big can of Campbells Veggie Light soup--the whole thing--for 100 calories and throw your chicken in too.

Another idea too that keeps me satiated is boiled eggs--I just throw out the yolks. They are only 17 calories each for the white. Another idea is a small handful of raw almonds--15-20. They are 7 calories each and are remarkably filling to me.

My favorite on the road meals and snacks:

Wrap with smoked turkey, feta cheese, lettuce, peppers and onions
Green apple with 1 slice of swiss cheese
Yogurt with frozen cherries, walnuts, 1T mini chocolate chips and raw oatmeal mixed in. The frozen cherries are thawed by the time I eat it at noon. Keeps me full forever!
2 large pretzel sticks with 1 slice of hot pepper havarti cheese
Clementine oranges
Coffee thermos with sugarfree hazelnut creamer...I couldn't stand coffee until I discovered creamer....if only I had known during 8 years of college!
I keep high protein Marathon bars in my vehicle in case of emergency. If I drink a bottle of water with one of these bars it keeps me full for 4 hours.
Celery...keep in a cold pack container so it's cold and crunchy.
Almonds,walnuts, peanut butter, hard boiled eggs soaked in vinegar then seasoned
Hope this helps....I remember the late night studying! Best wishes.
The key for me is organization...having the items on hand and packing the night before since I'm always in a hurry in the AM.

Here's some ideas for dorm cooking:

No cooking required easy snacks and meal components (that also keep pretty well):
- Apples, Bananas, Baby Carrots
- String Cheese, Yogurt, Cottage Cheese
- Crackers, Bagels, sliced loaf of bread/s
- Lunch meat
- Cereal, Granola bars, Instant oatmeal/grits

Minimal effort required:
- Frozen pizza, TV dinners, Ramen
- Mac & cheese, Spaghetti, Pasta with butter
- Microwave or stove-top cooked frozen veggies

A little more effort required:
- Tuna salad (depending on how you like it), Egg salad
- Hamburger helper, Chicken and yellow rice

Go to amazon and type in "dorm cooking" under "all departments." You'll find some good books there on this subject :)