Healthy Recipes Healthy Lifestyle Diets 25 Easy, Cheap & Healthy College Meals By Devon O'Brien Devon O'Brien Instagram As EatingWell's former Senior Food Editor, Devon handled all things weeknight dinner and fast meal solutions. She also worked in the EatingWell Test Kitchen developing and testing recipes and shooting how-to videos. In her current position at Allrecipes, she's focused on all the hottest food trends, new products and ideas and best hacks pertaining to cooking. EatingWell's Editorial Guidelines Updated on October 20, 2022 Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos Eating healthy on a college budget isn't only possible, it can also be absolutely delicious. For those nights when the dining hall isn't calling your name try one of these healthy recipes you make in your dorm room. The Greek Salad Nachos and Vanilla-Cranberry Overnight Oatmeal are simple and delicious. Find easy microwave recipes, no-cook meals, healthy snacks and even a mug cake to satisfy all your cravings—no kitchen required. 01 of 25 Greek Salad Nachos View Recipe This vegetarian nacho recipe is a fun combination of two favorites--nachos and Greek salad. It uses whole-grain pita chips instead of the tortilla chips used in traditional nacho recipes, and it's loaded with the classic fresh vegetables in Greek salad as well as creamy hummus and salty feta cheese. And it doesn't even need the oven! Easily doubled, this makes a great appetizer or light dinner. Watch Video 02 of 25 Classic House Salad with Chicken View Recipe Leftover chicken or rotisserie chicken gets put to good use as a boost of protein in this healthy salad to pack for lunch. The classic chicken salad combines all the basics of a great house salad--greens, tomatoes, cucumbers and croutons--all tossed with a tangy red-wine vinaigrette. 03 of 25 Creamy Blueberry-Pecan Overnight Oatmeal View Recipe In this no-cook overnight oatmeal recipe, just quickly reheat the oats in the morning and top with berries, maple syrup and pecans for an easy, on-the-go breakfast. 04 of 25 Salmon Salad-Stuffed Avocado View Recipe Good-quality canned salmon is high in protein and brain-loving omega-3 fatty acids. Mix it with pesto-spiked yogurt and pile it old-school style into a halved avocado for a quick healthy lunch. 05 of 25 Peanut Butter-Banana English Muffin View Recipe Peanut butter and banana are the original power couple. Top a simple toasted English muffin with the duo, then sprinkle everything with a hit of ground cinnamon for a healthy breakfast of champions. 06 of 25 Fruit & Cheese Bistro Lunch Box View Recipe This fruit, cheese and cracker box inspired by Starbucks' bistro boxes is a fun and healthy alternative to your standard sandwich. It's the perfect personal-size cheese plate to pack for a work lunch or a picnic in the park. 07 of 25 Mug Brownie View Recipe You might want to keep a copy of this recipe in the pantry beside the cocoa for those moments when you crave a chocolaty treat. Cook this fudgy brownie in a mug in the microwave and it's ready in less than a minute! 08 of 25 Apple "Donuts" View Recipe This so-simple 3-ingredient recipe turns apple slices into "donuts." Topped with nut butter and coconut, they make a satisfying no-added-sugar dessert or healthy snack. Watch Video 09 of 25 Greek Salad Wraps View Recipe Zesty Greek salad packed with tomatoes, cucumber and olives--plus chickpeas for a protein punch--gets tucked into a whole-wheat wrap for a healthy vegan lunch that's easy to pack for work. It's so flavorful and satisfying, you won't miss the feta! Watch Video 10 of 25 Peanut Butter, Blueberry & Oat Energy Squares View Recipe These one-bowl, no-bake energy squares ensure a quick way to refuel during long meetings, tough workouts or that mid-afternoon energy slump. Feel free to swap the blueberries for your favorite dried fruit and the pistachios for your favorite nut--but keep the maple syrup as is; we found using less than 1/2 cup resulted in crumbly bars. 11 of 25 Classic Cobb Mason Jar Salad View Recipe Pack classic Cobb salad "upside down" in a mason jar for a healthy lunch that won't get soggy while sitting in the fridge all morning. Or pack it up the night before for an easy grab-and-go lunch in the morning. 12 of 25 No-Bake Peanut Butter Cookies View Recipe We gave no-bake cookies a healthy makeover, bumping up the peanut butter and cutting back on added sugar and butter. The result is a chewy, peanut buttery, oat-packed delicious cookie. It's easy to whip up a batch of these--only a few simple ingredients are needed to make these chewy peanut butter cookies and there's no baking required. Watch Video 13 of 25 Black Bean-Smothered Sweet Potatoes View Recipe For a quick and satisfying last-minute supper, it's hard to beat a sweet potato zapped in the microwave. The fragrant filling of beans and tomato adds protein, making it a nutritionally complete entree. Be sure to eat the potato skin; it's full of fiber. 14 of 25 Microwave Potato Chips View Recipe You don't need a deep fryer to make crispy potato chips. We toss thinly sliced potatoes with just a touch of olive oil, pop them in the microwave and voilà! Crispy, crunchy homemade potato chips with 8 grams less fat per serving than regular chips. Watch Video 15 of 25 Coconut Overnight Oatmeal View Recipe Make mornings a little easier when you soak oats overnight for a quick and easy breakfast. 16 of 25 Mason Jar Power Salad with Chickpeas & Tuna View Recipe This power salad will keep you fueled for hours, thanks to 26 grams of protein and 8 grams of fiber. Tossing the dressing and kale, and then letting it stand in the jar, softens it enough so you don't need to massage or cook it to make it tender. 17 of 25 Honey-Peanut Popcorn View Recipe This healthy snack recipe tosses together crunchy popcorn, salty peanuts and a touch of honey for the perfect sweet-salty snack to satisfy that afternoon, or evening, craving. 18 of 25 Pesto, Mozzarella & Egg Breakfast Sandwich View Recipe This healthy vegetarian breakfast egg-sandwich recipe is a delicious way to use up pesto and fresh mozzarella cheese and it's ready in just 5 minutes. Watch Video 19 of 25 Strawberry-Chocolate Greek Yogurt Bark View Recipe Lightly sweetened Greek yogurt gets studded with fresh strawberries and chocolate chips then frozen so you can break it into chunks just like chocolate bark (but healthier!). This colorful snack or healthy dessert is perfect for kids and adults alike. Use full-fat yogurt to ensure the creamiest bark possible. Watch Video 20 of 25 Chickpea Salad Sandwich View Recipe Photography / Caitlin Bensel, Food Styling / Ruth Blackburn This vegan chickpea salad sandwich is lemony, bright and surprisingly delicious. It's got all the flavors of a classic tuna salad sandwich—dill, lemon and a bit of garlic—but with chickpeas instead to add a vegan source of protein and a healthy boost of fiber. Celery brings a nice crunch. 21 of 25 Greek Yogurt with Fruit & Nuts View Recipe This simple snack with protein and healthy fat will get you through the afternoon slump. 22 of 25 Instant Egg & Cheese "Bake" View Recipe Johnny Autry Learn how to cook eggs in the microwave for a quick, delicious breakfast. Spinach and Cheddar cheese make these eggs even more filling. 23 of 25 Banana Energy Bites View Recipe Perfect for an on-the-go breakfast or snack, these energy bites will keep you fueled. 24 of 25 Vanilla-Cranberry Overnight Oatmeal View Recipe Overnight oats can simplify your morning routine while still providing a hearty, nutritious breakfast. You can prepare this in a 2-cup mason jar or other to-go container if you usually transport your breakfast. 25 of 25 Apple & Peanut Butter Toast View Recipe A pinch of ground cardamom punches up the flavor in this classic combo of apples and peanut butter on toast. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit