The “College Bro's” Guide To The 5 Easiest & Healthy Meals You Could Possibly Make

What if eating healthy without breaking the bank and spending hours cooking was possible?

Never fear. We’ve got you. This article is for those who want to stay healthy while on a budget and don’t want to spend as much time in the kitchen as Gordon Ramsey. The criteria are that the food has to be healthy, taste good, be somewhat classier, be relatively cheap (cheap enough for a college bro), and be quick to make.

Let’s see if this list passes the test.

Here are five of the easiest and healthiest meals you could possibly make.

1. Creamy Chicken & Mushrooms

A comforting and protein-packed dish, this recipe combines tender chicken with earthy mushrooms in a creamy sauce.

Whether you scored wild mushrooms at the farmers' market, found cultivated maitake or shiitake at the supermarket, or just have some baby Bellas on hand, this healthy creamy chicken recipe is delicious with any of them.

Chicken is packed with protein to maintain gains, and mushrooms have many benefits, including boosting the immune system.

Serve over whole-wheat egg noodles or mashed potatoes.

Ingredients

-Four 4-5-ounce chicken cutlets
-4 cups mixed mushrooms, sliced if large
-½ cup dry white wine
-½ cup heavy cream
-Two tablespoons finely chopped fresh parsley

2. Spinach & Egg Scramble with Raspberries

This quick egg scramble with hearty bread is one of the best breakfasts for weight loss.

It combines protein-packed eggs and superfood raspberries with filling whole-grain toast and nutrient-rich spinach.

The protein and fiber help fill you up and keep you going through the morning.

Ingredients

-1 ½ cups baby spinach (1 1/2 ounces)
-Two large eggs, lightly beaten
-Pinch of salt
-Pinch of ground pepper
-One slice of whole-grain bread toasted
-½ cup fresh raspberries

3. Teriyaki-Glazed Cod with Cauliflower Rice

This healthy fish recipe comes together fast with just three ingredients you can always have on hand in your freezer and fridge.

Store-bought teriyaki glaze makes an excellent marinade for cod that doubles as a sauce for the cauliflower rice.

Ingredients

-Four (6 ounces) frozen cod fillets, thawed and patted dry
-¼ teaspoon ground pepper, plus a pinch, divided
-¼ cup teriyaki glaze
-Two tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided
-¼ teaspoon kosher salt, divided
-Two 10-ounce packages of frozen cauliflower rice

4. Grilled Salmon with Tomatoes & Basil

This recipe is so beautiful and yet so simple to prepare.

Salmon is healthy, affordable, and perfect for entertaining. It is also one of the most nutritious foods humans can eat.

Spread a side of salmon with minced garlic, sprinkle with fresh basil, and layer sliced tomatoes on top. Grill for 10 minutes, and you're done!

Ingredients

-Two cloves garlic, minced
-One teaspoon of kosher salt divided
-One tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
-One whole wild salmon fillet (also called a “side of salmon,” about 1 1/2 pounds)
-1/3 cup plus 1/4 cup thinly sliced fresh basil, divided
-Two medium tomatoes, thinly sliced
-¼ teaspoon freshly ground pepper

5. Quick & Easy Chicken Burrito

Leftover chicken finds a new home in this quick burrito.

Mix it with avocado and cheese before wrapping it up in a tortilla and cooking it. We’d take it one step further and add some peppers, onions, and maybe some greens to the filling. Of course, you can add salsa and whatever toppings you’d like.

Plus, you get the added health benefits of avocados.

Bonus: Make a few at once and freeze the extras for an even faster lunch next time.

Ingredients

-Two cups of cooked shredded chicken
-1/2 cup Mexican cheese blend or mozzarella
-One avocado diced
-Two tablespoons cilantro chopped
-Four large tortillas
-One tablespoon of oil

The BMM Takeaway

We place labels on topics without doing our research.

However, all the meals above are affordable and take less than 30 minutes to prepare.

At first glance, this list might seem expensive and not fit into a typical “college bro’s” diet.

We must remember, though, that health is wealth. And without it, we have nothing. That said, there’s absolutely no reason to break the bank or spend hours cooking to eat a well-balanced, nutritious diet.

Often, it’s not a lack of resources but a lack of resourcefulness on our part.

Follow the meal plan above and enjoy eating well while saving your money.