I was obsessed with budget meal prepping videos in college. I loved seeing the catchy titles, “How to meal prep for one hour and eat for a whole week” and “How I eat for an entire week for just $40”.
Of course, most of the time I found out it took me much longer than 1 hour to prepare my meals, and I always ended up spending more money than the people in my favorite videos.
Why? Because I was a college student with no idea how to cook (why it took so long), and I would always mess up the recipes and just get takeout (why I spent over my budget).
Meal prepping is a smart way for college students to save money while still eating healthy. Preparing meals at home can help you avoid the extra cost of frequent takeout, making it easier to stick to both a budget and a balanced diet.
Luckily, we have a few tips and tricks to share with you so you don’t have to go through the same struggles.
We will talk about how to plan your busy week to include time for meal prepping delicious and healthy recipes, how to add variety so you don’t get bored, and example meals to get you started. You will find that meal prepping is an easy way to live healthy while you are busy in college!
Why Meal Prep in College?
Meal prepping is the ultimate healthy eating hack that saves both time and money. It sets you up for success. No matter how busy your week gets, how many last-minute conflicts come up, or how tired you are by the end of the day, you will always have a healthy meal ready for you.
The Two Types of Meal Prepping
Some people like to prepare a variety of ingredients to pair in different ways (think one pot of pasta to use with various sauces), and others like to create grab-and-go meals (like homemade frozen meals). Check out our original How to Meal Prep for Beginners blog to decide which option is best for you.
5 Steps to Meal Prepping on a Budget
With this easy 5-step routine, you can make meal prepping your new favorite habit.
1. Choose the Recipes
When you start meal prepping, you want to make sure you cook foods that reheat well. Specifically, you’re looking for recipes that fit these characteristics:
- Reheat well in the oven, microwave, or air fryer
- Stays fresh over time
- Easy to make recipes with simple ingredients
- Time efficient
This includes pastas, casseroles, soups, and burrito bowls!
2. Make Your Grocery List
A grocery list is the most important part of meal prepping, but it is also the easiest to forget. Making a grocery list ensures you stay on task at the store and don’t forget anything, which saves a lot of time in the long run. The last thing you want is to get home, ready to meal prep, and realize you forgot an important ingredient. You will also avoid impulse buying foods as you browse the aisles.
3. Set a Time
Set aside a couple of hours in your calendar for uninterrupted meal prep time. Schedule it out like you would schedule a class! It is important to save this time to set yourself up for a healthy week. If you can’t find enough room in your schedule to comfortably prep for the entire week at once, consider breaking it into two shorter sessions. For example, you could do some meal prepping on Sundays and finish up on Wednesdays to carry you through the rest of the week. To make meal prepping easier, take care of some tasks in advance. For example, you can thaw frozen meat or let foods marinate ahead of time. This way, you can dive straight into meal prepping when you’re ready.
4. Cook Your Meals
Here are my tips & tricks to making your cooking time a breeze:
- Turn on some music – I thoroughly enjoy my meal prepping time, even though I don’t love cooking. Why? I turn on my favorite music, keep a show running in the background, and remind myself how much I will thank myself later.
- Have a buddy – Enlist a friend you can meal prep with. Split the cost of groceries, make double the portions, and you both take some home. Sounds like a win-win to me!
- Eat before you cook – There’s nothing worse than being hungry while you’re cooking, especially when you’re cooking food to store for later meals. Avoid this by eating something before you begin, so you (and your belly) are in a good mood.
5. Store the Food
You will want to choose different storage methods based on what you meal prep for the week.
- Make use of your freezer if you don’t think you will finish all your leftovers within four days. If you prefer not to eat the same meal every night, you can store some leftovers in freezer-safe containers and freeze them for up to three months.
- Some foods are better stored in separate containers. For example, with a burrito bowl, I store the toppings and meat in different containers. This way, I can reheat the meat while keeping the veggies cold to add on top.
Meal Prep Friendly Breakfasts for Busy College Students
To ensure you eat breakfast, make sure it’s something you can grab when you’re late and rushing out the door (not that I know what that’s like).
Ham and Veggie Frittata
This recipe features affordable frozen vegetables so you can skip all the chopping that comes with fresh veggies. Enjoy this frittata with less than 15 minutes of preparation!
Vanilla Blueberry Muffins
If you don’t like a heavy breakfast, these vanilla blueberry muffins are perfect for you. Add a swipe of almond butter for some extra protein.
Meal Prep Friendly Lunches for Busy College Students
Because we know you probably don’t want to carry your lunch box around campus or worry about finding a microwave in the middle of the day, we made sure these lunches fit easily in a backpack and don’t need to be heated up.
Black Bean Chicken Burritos
Make the filling ahead of time, and roll it into a burrito before you head out the door for optimal freshness.
Chicken Tabouli Salad
This lunch is the perfect meal prep. Allow your chicken to marinate as you focus on preparing other foods, and return to cook it afterwards.
Meal Prep Friendly Dinners for Busy College Students
Between friends, late-night study sessions, and work, nights can be hectic for college students. Make the most of your time with these simple make-ahead recipes.
Margherita Chicken Pasta
Featuring tomatoes and parmesan, this recipe is perfect for a quick dinner between study sessions.
Smoky Sheet Pan Salmon Potatoes
It’s incredibly easy to add all your ingredients to a sheet pan and put it in the oven – you’ll have your meal without dirtying any extra dishes.
Conclusion
Meal prepping was a lifesaver for me when I was in college, and it will be life-changing for you too. Find out for yourself how easy it is to make a week’s worth of meals, save time, save money, and take care of your health.
Instead of searching around the back of your refrigerator this semester, use this meal prepping guide to pave the way to a healthier lifestyle.
Do you have meal prepping tips or inspiration to share with us? Drop it in the comments section!