Easy Recipe Ideas

Information on this page:
  • Recipes
    • Avocado Toast
    • Brown Rice and Turkey Bowl
    • Stuffed Sweet Potato
    • Lettuce and Shrimp “Tacos”
  • USDA Budget-Friendly Recipes
  • Video recipes for dorm microwaves
  • Cheap and easy meal prep video

 

 

Many college students avoid cooking for themselves because they don’t think they have the skills or the time. Another issue is that healthy recipes often include expensive ingredients that student’s can’t afford. 

To ease this problem, this website includes a wide range of recipes —  from cookbooks to videos to instagram pages — that students can use to build their skills.

USDA's Healthy, Thrifty Meal Cookbook

Click the link above to take a look at the USDA’s cookbook. The goal of this resource is to show ways to cut back on fat, sugars, and salt while not breaking the bank. It has sample meal plans, recipes, and grocery shopping lists all tailored to a small budget. Below are a few of best deals, but there are so many more!

A low sodium take on a classic.

Makes 4 one-and-a-half-cup servings.

Prep time = 25 minutes, Cook time = 30 to 45 minutes

 

Steps:

1. Heat oil over medium heat in large sauce pan. Add minced onions, carrots, celery, and garlic powder. Cook until onions are tender, about 3 to 5 minutes.

2. Sprinkle flour and oregano over vegetables; cook about 1 minute.

3. Stir in chicken broth and potatoes. Cover and cook until tender, about 20 minutes.

4. Add chicken, milk, and noodles. Cover and simmer until noodles are tender, about 10 minutes.

With this recipe, you won’t have to order Asian food from Uber Eats!

Makes 4 servings of one-half-cup of pork and vegetables and one cup of rice.

Prep time = 20 minutes, Cook time = 25 to 30 minutes

 

 Steps

1. Heat broth and water to a boil in sauce pan; add rice and return to boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer until tender, about 15 minutes.

2. Heat 1 tablespoon of oil in skillet. Add broccoli, carrots, onions, and garlic powder. Cook until crisp-tender, about 5 minutes. Remove from skillet. Add mushrooms. Cook for 1 minute and set aside.

3. Heat second tablespoon of oil in skillet. Add pork; cook until pork no longer remains pink. Drain liquid.

4. Add soy sauce and stir until mixed; add vegetables to pork mixture. Cook until heated, about 1 to 2 minutes.

5. Serve pork mixture over cooked rice.

Note: Sodium level can be reduced from 799 milligrams to 532 milligrams by reducing soy sauce from 4 to 2 tablespoons.

 

 

what Stuffed with so much cheese-y goodness, and only 250 calories!

Can be made in a microwave!

Makes 4 servings (two potato halves)

Prep time = 20 minutes, Cook time = 30 to 40 minutes in an oven, 5 to 10 minutes in a microwave

 

Steps:

OVEN METHOD:
1. Preheat oven to 400˚ F.
2. Place potatoes in oven and bake until tender, about 30 to 40 minutes.

MICROWAVE METHOD:
1. Pierce potatoes by using fork prongs.
2. Cover potatoes with waxed paper. Heat on high until tender, about 5 to 10 minutes.

TO STUFF POTATOES:
1. Slice each potato in half, lengthwise. Using a spoon, scoop out pulp, leaving about 1/4-inch thick shells, saving what you scoop out.
2. Blend cheese, milk, and onion. Add potato that you scooped out; mix until light and fluffy.
3. Fill potato halves with mixture. Sprinkle paprika over potatoes.

Note: Return to oven or microwave to reheat, for
a few minutes, if desired.

References:

1. Marie Telling Feb 10, 2018. (2019). 19 Healthy Dinners Under $10 You Should Make ASAP. Retrieved November 19, 2019, from https://tasty.co/article/marietelling/healthy-meals-under-10-dollars.

2. 10 Tips for Eating Healthy on a Budget. (n.d.). Retrieved November 19, 2019, from https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/10-tips-eating-healthy-budget.

3. 10 Healthy Dinners for About $10. (n.d.). Retrieved November 19, 2019, from https://www.foodnetwork.com/healthy/photos/10-healthy-dinners-for-about-10.

4. Healthy Eating On A Budget. (n.d.). Retrieved November 19, 2019, from https://www.choosemyplate.gov/eathealthy/budget.