It’s a big adjustment when you make the switch from living at home to living in the dorm. You’ve got to say goodbye to fresh laundry every day and say hello to communal washer and dryers. You’ll also shop for groceries for yourself and cook for yourself, maybe for the first time ever.
A lot of college students find it exciting when they think about setting up a kitchen and making meals every day, but the reality is a bit different. If you don’t have any ideas as to what you’ll cook, it’s hard to choose the right groceries to bring home. And if you don’t choose the right groceries, before you know it you’ll be in the cafeteria eating French fries and burgers or freezer burritos will be your new best friend.
Let’s start with breakfast
The most important meal of the day, having a solid breakfast helps you think well in class and during exams. If you don’t have a rumbling stomach, you won’t be as tempted to eat poorly when you study either.
Making a great breakfast in your dorm room doesn’t have to be hard. Just take a look at these recipes and you’ll see that making a healthy breakfast before school is easy.
A dorm room staple, to make overnight oats you’ll need to have your own refrigerator and a mason jar. Other than that, it’s just a matter of putting the ingredients in the container and letting it sit overnight. Photo and recipe from college.usatoday.com
| Ingredients: 1 cup almond milk (or milk of your choice)
½ cup rolled oats 1 tablespoon chia seeds 1 tablespoon liquid sweetener (maple syrup, honey, or agave work) 1 pinch salt |
Directions
Put all the ingredients in a mason jar, or any jar with a cover, and shake until the ingredients are thoroughly combined.
Leave in the fridge overnight.
In the morning top the oats with your favourite fruits, nuts, granola, or any other toppings you enjoy.
Coffee protein smoothie
Some mornings are really crazy, and when you don’t have time for coffee or breakfast, you’ll love this coffee protein smoothie. You’ll need a small blender in your dorm room to make it. Photo and recipe from spoonuniversity.com
| Ingredients: 1 frozen peeled and sliced banana 1 cup cold black coffee 1 scoop vanilla whey protein powder |
Directions
Brew coffee and let cool. Highly recommend sticking your coffee in the freezer for a few minutes or buying instant iced coffee.
Place banana, coffee, and protein powder together in blender.
Blend together and pour into glass or to-go cup.
Egg muffins
This is not your standard fast food egg muffin. If you’ve got a small hot plate and toaster oven in your dorm room you can create these make-ahead egg muffins. Put them in your freezer and heat them up when you need a quick breakfast. Photo and recipe from allrecipes.com .
| Ingredients: 1/2 pound bulk sausage
12 eggs |
Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease 12 muffin cups, or line with paper muffin liners.
Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat and stir in sausage; cook and stir until sausage is crumbly, evenly browned, and no longer pink, 10 to 15 minutes; drain. You can also cook sausage according to the directions on your microwave if you don’t have a hot plate or stove.
Beat eggs in a large bowl. Stir in onion, green pepper, salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Mix in sausage and Cheddar cheese. Spoon by 1/3 cupfuls into muffin cups.
Bake in preheated toaster oven until a knife inserted near the center comes out clean, 20 to 25 minutes.
Scrambled eggs in a cup
You don’t need a frying pan to make scrambled eggs. All you need is a microwave safe mug and your microwave. This is one recipe that will stick with you well past your college years. Photo and recipe from the incredibleegg.com.
| Ingredients: 2 eggs 2 tablespoons milk 2 tablespoons shredded cheese salt, pepper, and any other herbs you choose to use |
Directions
Coat a 12 oz. microwave safe coffee mug or other dish with cooking spray. Add eggs and milk and beat till blended.
Microwave on HIGH for 45 seconds; stir.
Microwave until eggs are almost set, 30 to 45 seconds longer.
Top with cheese and season with salt, pepper, and herbs.
DIY Cereal Bar
Don’t have time for a bowl of cereal? Try these cereal bars. You can make them from any type of cereal and they’re a nice morning treat. Photo and recipe from Undressedskeletontumbler.com.
| Ingredients: 1 Serving Cereal Of Your Choice
2 Tbsp Mini Marshmallows |
Directions
Spray a microwave safe bowl along the inside with cooking spray
Combine cereal and marshmallows in the bowl
Microwave for 30 seconds.
Mix together cereal and marshmallows until they are combined
Let the mixture sit in the bowl for 1 – 2 minutes so the marshmallows can harden.
Take your hands and run them under water to keep the mixture from sticking to your hands.
With your hands grab the cereal mixture and start to form into a rectangle.
If they are not sticking together let the marshmallows harden more or run your hands under water again. Let set for an hour before eating. To keep fresh, put in plastic wrap.
If these dorm room breakfast recipes sound easy, that’s because they are. All you need to do is try them a few times and you’ll see that keeping up with a healthy eating plan and making sure you eat breakfast at college is really easy. Tune in next week when we’ll take a look at dorm room lunches that won’t have longing for a nap after eating them.
Wondering how to stock your dorm room? There’s been some great posts on appliances this past month on Best Buy.
Rae showed us how a toaster can be your go-to appliance for dinner too |
 What kind of coffee maker is best for students? |
 If you’re wondering what to stock your dorm room with, here are 6 appliances you should bring to school |
