Let’s be real, money is tight in college. Eating healthy may be intimidating due to the cost, but it doesn’t always have to be. These are all meals that can be made under 10 dollars for five plus servings.
White Bean Chili
This dish is perfect for a cold winter evening cuddling with your significant other….or your teddy bear. It’s a forget-about-it-throw-in-a-pot or slow cooker kinda dish, so while it’s preparing, you could feel cozy with the warm, soft, aroma from the chili.
White Bean Chili (Average Ingredient Costs $4-8.50)
Ingredients:
3 cans of white beans
2 small cans of green chillies
1 diced red bell pepper
1 small onion
2 tsp of garlic
2 cans of chicken broth
chicken(optional)
1 tsp oregano
2 tsp cumin
½ tsp red pepper
Directions:
- First, start with cooking the onions and garlic with a little oil until the onions are translucent and the garlic is fragrant.
- If you are cooking over the stove, be sure to have your chicken already done and shredded. In this case, I bought a pre cooked chicken from the grocery store.
- Dump all the ingredients in a pot or slow cooker. Cover and cook for about five hours.
- Using the crockpot; after the chicken is thoroughly cooked, remove it from the pot, shred it, and let it rest.
- Add the chicken back to the pot and stir everything together.
Serve and enjoy.
Spaghetti
Spaghetti is a staple college dish. Students love it for it’s simplicity and of course, it’s cheapness. Here’s a recipe for this healthy, vegan/vegetarian friendly, and inexpensive spaghetti.
(Average Ingredients Costs $7-8)
Ingredients:
2 tbsp of olive oil
4 cups of vegetable broth
A can of diced tomatoes
12 oz of wheat spaghetti
8 oz of frozen chopped spinach
1 medium onion
4 cloves of garlic
½ tbsp basil
½ tbsp oregano
¼ tsp red pepper flakes
2 oz feta cheese (optional for non-vegans)
Directions:
- Place the vegetable broth and olive oil into a large pot.
- Then add your thinly sliced onions and garlic, spinach, basil, oregano, red pepper, and an undrained can of diced tomatoes.
- Break the spaghetti in half and place it into the pot also.
- Place the lid over the pot and bring the ingredients to a boil on high. Remove the lid and bring the heat down the medium.
- Continue to cook uncovered for 10-15 minutes. Stir every few minutes.
- When finished, add feta cheese if you wish and enjoy.
Kale Chips
Kale is one of the healthiest and most beneficial vegetables. It is high in fiber, calcium, potassium, vitamins A, K,C, and E. The taste of raw Kale can be very bitter and dense, but baking it makes it crunchy and delectable.
Kale Chips (Average Ingredients Cost $1.50)
Ingredients:
1 bunch of Kale
3 tsp Olive oil
Sea Salt to taste
3 cloves of garlic(optional)
Directions:
- Remove from stem, wash and dry well.
- Place the Kale into a large bowl. Toss the kale with olive oil, sea salt, and garlic.
- Lay flat on baking sheet.
Bake at 375 for 8-10 minutes. Or until the edges are crisp and light brown.
Banana Pancakes
Would you believe me if I told you that this recipe only calls for 2 ingredients? It simply takes 30 seconds to prepare and a minute to cook. Oh, and it’s also really cheap.
Banana Pancakes (Average Ingredients Cost $1-2.50)
Ingredients:
2 eggs
1 banana
Directions:
- Mash the banana in a bowl. Make sure that it is mashed well, because if not, then the pancake would turn out a scrambled mess.
- Then add the eggs. Feel free to add cinnamon or even baking powder to fluff it up.
- Mix it all together to create your pancake batter
- On a skillet, sprayed with non-sticking spray, pour 1/4 of a cup of batter. After about 30 seconds later, flip the pancake. After another 30 seconds later, repeat the process and serve how many as requested .
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