As a student living away from home, you often feel like time is limited, especially when you have to cook every day. But that doesn't mean you have to settle for unhealthy food or fast food that makes you feel sluggish, right? Try this simple meal prep! With just a little preparation at the beginning of the week, you can enjoy healthy meals throughout the week without having to cook every day.
Here are 5 simple and practical meal prep ideas you can try at home!
- Hard-Boiled Eggs – Affordable Protein!
Hard-boiled eggs are a super practical and nutritious food that you can prepare in large quantities at once.
- How: Boil 4–6 eggs at once and store them in the fridge.
- Usage:
- Breakfast + toast
- Salad topping
- Mix with rice or as a side dish for lunch
- Hard-boiled eggs are a reliable, high-protein friend for the whole week at an affordable price!
- Simple Marinated Grilled Chicken
Grilled or pan-fried chicken with minimal seasoning can be a quick and tasty solution for healthy meals.
- How:
- Cut the chicken and marinate with garlic, soy sauce, and sesame oil.
- Grill or pan-fry until cooked.
- Store in a container, ready to be reheated.
- Usage:
- Breakfast + toast
- Salad topping
- Mix with rice or as a side dish for lunch
- Hard-boiled eggs are a reliable, high-protein friend for the whole week at an affordable price!
- Steamed or Stir-fried Quick-Cook Vegetables
Vegetables are an important source of fiber and vitamins, and you can prepare them easily.
- How:
- Choose vegetables like carrots, green beans, or broccoli, and steam them until half-cooked.
- Store in a container and reheat when ready to eat.
- Tip: Don’t over-steam vegetables to keep them fresh and preserve their nutrients! The prepared vegetables can be a healthy addition to lunch or dinner.
- Brown Rice or Oats for Carbohydrate Stock
Brown rice or oats are healthy carbohydrate options you can prepare in large quantities.
- How:
- Cook 2–3 servings of brown rice or oats and store them in the fridge.
- Brown rice: Perfect with chicken, tofu, or vegetables.
- Oats: Just add milk or hot water + toppings like banana, honey, or chia seeds.
With this prep, you can grab it whenever you need carbohydrates for lunch or breakfast.
- Store in Containers & Label Them
To keep your meal prep organized and easy to access, use food containers to store each prepared ingredient.
- How:
- Label each container with the day or portion size for easy selection.
- Try preparing all meals on the weekend, so on weekdays, you just "grab, heat, and eat!" This meal prep will save you time and also keep your budget safe.
Conclusion: Meal Prep, The Healthy Eating Solution for Students!
There’s no excuse for eating unhealthy even if you're a student living away from home! With just a little effort at the beginning of the week, you can enjoy healthy meals, save time, and definitely save money. Try this meal prep and experience the benefits for your body!