Cooking With Verge: Dorm Friendly Recipes
Living in a dorm is a rite of passage for most college students. Living on your own for the first time can be scary, especially living in a dorm and having little access to a real kitchen. While dining hall food can be great, having the option to prepare your own food is always nice, especially if you prefer to eat plant based. Dining halls often lack the options you desire for an easy, nutritious meal. We have compiled a list of time-efficient, quality meals that can be prepared inside or outside of a dorm room.
(All meals can be easily modified to be vegetarian or completely vegan)
BREAKFAST: OVERNIGHT OATS
After reading this, the excuse of not eating breakfast due to not having enough time is invalid. Overnight oats take just minutes to prepare the night before you want them and can be kept in the fridge for up to five days. A basic overnight oats recipe only includes old fashioned rolled oats and any liquid you like, typically milk. Add-ins can be anything from chocolate chips to chia seeds, or even protein powder and fruit.
Basic Overnight Oats:
1/3-1/2 cup rolled old fashioned oats
1 tbsp chia seeds
1/2-3/4 cup milk (We use oat milk for a creamy, plant-based option)
Steps:
Add all ingredients to a mason jar/Tupperware container and shake or stir
Leave in fridge overnight (or at least 2-3 hours)
Optional Enhancements:
1-2 tbsp chocolate chips (Vegan chocolate chips if you like)
1 tsp cinnamon
Pinch of salt to taste
1/2-1 scoop protein powder (add about 1/4-1/2 cup more milk if adding protein powder because it thickens quickly!)
In the Morning/When You’re Ready to Eat:
Basic Option: Stir and eat
Extras:
1 tbsp peanut butter (try adding peanut butter to oats with chocolate protein powder)
1 handful of blueberries
1-2 tbsp granola
LUNCH: BUFFALO WRAPS
Buffalo wraps are a fan favorite of many college students. This recipe is fast and easy and can be easily changed to include any protein you want!
Buffalo Wraps:
Protein:
1/2 can of chickpeas or 1 cup shredded chicken
3-4 tbsp buffalo sauce, to taste
Tortillas
Veggies:
Lettuce, cucumber spears, or celery
Steps:
Add chickpeas or chicken into a bowl
Mash chickpeas or toss chicken in buffalo sauce to taste
Add desired veggies to a tortilla
Wrap it up and serve! (Serve with ranch if you’d like, there’s some great Vegan ranch options!)
SNACK: RICE CAKES 3 WAYS
Rice cakes are a great snack to prepare quickly and the possibilities for toppings are endless! The number of different flavored rice cakes that exist provides opportunities for each person to find something they enjoy. The options are endless, but our personal favorite toppings include peanut butter & banana, and other sweet and savory combos
3 Ways to Eat Rice Cakes:
Plain rice cake with nut butter & banana on top (& chocolate chips if you enjoy that)
Chocolate or caramel rice cake with Greek yogurt & fruit on top (blueberries, raspberries, strawberries)
Plain or white cheddar rice cake with avocado & everything bagel seasoning
DINNER: ELEVATED RAMEN
Ramen noodles are a college staple. However, the nutritional value isn’t always ideal. Adding some vegetables can elevate the meal in seconds and make it more satisfying for those long days of classes.
Elevated Ramen:
1 package of ramen noodles
1-2 cups of frozen vegetables
For extra protein, try adding the other half of the chickpeas or chicken from the buffalo wraps!
Steps:
Prepare the ramen how you normally would (microwave, stove, boiling water, etc.)
Add in the vegetables while cooking the ramen. You can steam the vegetables prior if you want, but they will cook in hot water too!
Stir in vegetables until fully cooked and tender, then enjoy!
Eating balanced meals without a full kitchen, or massive budget, can seem intimidating at first, but with the right tools, you’ll find that a few swaps can make all the difference!