Cheap & Easy Dorm Room Eats

One of the best things about living in a dorm is the dining hall. You don’t have to worry about cooking for yourself or doing the dishes. But dining halls have limited hours, and with pandemic restrictions on top of that, there will be lots of times when students want or need to eat but the dining hall isn’t an option. Because cooking in a dorm isn’t exactly easy—there’s only so much one can do with a microwave—lots of students turn to takeout or fast food. These options can be pretty unhealthy and it can get expensive. So Groupon Coupons came up with a stash of dorm-friendly food options can help keep both your diet and your budget in check.

Easy & Healthy Meals

Medifast Lean & Green Meals

These pre-made meals are the perfect for dorm rooms for several reasons: they’re easy to store (don’t need to be kept in the fridge or freezer), take only a few minutes to reheat in the microwave, and they’re nutritionally sound and made with whole ingredients. Save 10% with promo code GROUPON10, and each meal is less than $5.

Ramen Noodles

The epitome of college food, ramen noodles are cheap and easy to make. But there is essentially no nutritional value and a lot of salt. Make them more of a complete meal by adding in some frozen stir fry vegetables. It will add some nice crunch and fill you up for much longer.

Baked Potatoes with Frozen Vegetables

College students aren’t exactly known for eating their vegetables. But frozen vegetables, especially ones that are already pre-seasoned, can make it easier. All you need is a microwave to whip up both a potato and this broccoli, cauliflower, and carrots in cheese sauce for a satisfying and nutritious meal.

Oatmeal with Fresh Fruit

Oatmeal is hearty, but not that nutritious on its own. Add in some fruit—we like chopped up apples or raisins because they last a long time—and a sprinkle of cinnamon, and it’s a simple meal or snack that will also satisfy a sweet tooth.

Peanut Butter Rollups

Skip cooking altogether with this tasty morning treat. Spread peanut butter (or any nut butter) onto a tortilla or piece of bread and top with a banana, preferably one you snagged the last time you were in the dining hall.

This post was partially sponsored by Medifast.

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Dorm Room Snacks

Even though the recipes we suggested are simple and take just minutes, there are times when you’ll need more portable options. Snacks are great for mornings when you miss your alarm or if you just need to tide yourself over until you can get to the dining hall. These are some great snack options to stock up on for your dorm.

Nuts—a little expensive to buy, but a little goes a long way to filling you up.

Jerky—a good protein-packed option, but don’t overdo it because jerky is chock-ful of sodium.

Meal Bars—Medifast options like the S’mores crunch bar or the Caramel Nut Maintenance bar are great grab and go options.

Fresh Fruit/Veggies—These are practically free snacks that you can grab for later in the dining hall.

Hummus—The individual-size cups are more expensive than a big tub, so portion out a serving into a smaller container if you want the snack to be more portable.

Save Your Wallet with Easy (and Healthy) Dorm Room Eats