The thought of not being able to go to the dining hall for every meal this year scared the heck out of me. I was fully prepared to eat McDonalds every night for dinner. But, little did I know I would find a new love of cooking easy meals. I ended up experimenting and finding that creating my own meals is more fun than I thought… and I no longer have nightmares about opening the oven to a big burnt mess. So, if you were just as scared as I was, and you can’t think of easy dinners/lunches, fear no more: Here are a few simple ideas! Remember, most importantly, that cooking is an art. Don’t be afraid to add your own flare.
Teriyaki Stir Fry: Chicken & Veggies
- Thin chicken breast
- Teriyaki marinade
- Stir fry mix of veggies (you can buy frozen or in the produce section—it usually comes with chopped broccoli, carrots, snap peas, and cabbage)
- Brown rice
First, defrost the chicken. Then, add teriyaki marinade and keep in a plastic bag so it has flavor (I like the 30 minute marinades because they’re super easy). Add a drop of olive oil in a pan, and sauté veggies with teriyaki/stir fry sauce of your choice (you can also use soy sauce and little bit of garlic powder). Stir until the veggies are fully cooked and the sauces are blended. Take veggies out of pan and add another bit of olive oil. Cook chicken in the same pan until a little bit browned (you can cut it before hand if you would like). Add a side of brown rice if you desire! Pro tip: Uncle Ben’s packet rice microwaves in seconds and doesn’t require extra dishes!
Simple Lemon Garlic Tilapia
- 1 piece of tilapia
- Olive Oil
- Lemon
- Garlic Powder
- Sea Salt
Although it isn’t good to have this all the time because a lot of tilapia is farm-raised now, this is a nice alternative to chicken on occasion. First, defrost the tilapia. Preheat the oven to 405 and put tin foil on a baking sheet. Mix a few tablespoons of olive oil, a teaspoon of garlic powder, a SMIDGE of sea salt, and some lemon juice (I use a lot because I loveeee lemon) in a bowl. Slice up a few pieces of the lemon if you have extra and save these for later. After creating your mixture, put the tilapia on the tin foil and pour the mixture over it. Next, lay the lemon slices on top to maintain moisture. Bake for 15-20 minutes and add veggies or whatever side you would like! This dish is super simple and delicious.
Protein Snack Plate
- Whole wheat wrap
- Lunch meat of choice
- Cheese of choice
- Veggies
- Hummus
- Yogurt
This is something super awesome if you’re in a hurry or need to take dinner/lunch to go. I have these 60 calorie whole wheat wraps that are really delicious and keep everything together nicely. I started with some turkey and cheese and wrapped it up. Sometimes I like to add lettuce, tomato, and a dressing of some sort to the wrap, but it is good plain as well. This alone would not fill anyone up, so you can add your favorite veggies and some hummus and then maybe a yogurt for some added protein/something sweet. You can really combine anything you want. Sometimes I add nuts or fruit and switch it up with a sandwich. It’s really up to you, but it’s nice to have a little bit of everything!
Balsamic Tofu Salad
- Spinach
- Grape tomatoes
- Sesame sticks
- Seasoned tofu
- Cucumbers
Salads are a great, easy way to use up veggies and get lots of nutrients in one meal. I saw a sesame ginger cooked tofu in the organic section of my supermarket and I decided to try it in a salad. You can make tofu however you would like, but it is a great way to add some protein to a salad and again, is a nice alternative to chicken. Anyway, salads are obviously something everyone can do, just throw all of these ingredients in and you will have a nice crunchy treat! Something about all of these ingredients together really makes all of the flavors pop. As for dressing, I really enjoy just using balsamic vinegar and olive oil, but recently I discovered Brianna’s Saucy Ginger Mandarin dressing (organic aisle at the grocery store, DELISH!) so it is whatever you prefer!
