5 Healthy and Tasty Snacks You Can Make in Your Dorm Room

maine blueberry yogurt parfait @ JAVAMONKEY
Over a month into the new semester and you’re probably already bored with your go-to snacks and looking for any excuse to avoid the dining hall. However, many college students (especially underclassmen) don’t have stoves, so this makes eating well harder for them. But that doesn’t mean they have to resort to ordering greasy pizza or scarfing down cookies to get some yummy food! Here are 5 quick and healthy snacks you can make in your dorm room with only a microwave!

1.)    Pizza Bagels– Just because you want to eat healthy doesn’t mean you have to give up things you love. You can make your own mini pizzas in your dorm room with just a microwave. All you need are bagels, a jar of pizza sauce, and a bag of shredded mozzarella, and (optional) pepperoni. Spread some pizza sauce on the bagel halves and top with some cheese and pepperoni, then heat in the microwave for about a minute or until the cheese is melted. If you want a more healthy option, get whole wheat bagels or bagel thins.

2.)    Chicken Quesadillas- This is surprisingly easy and can be your lunch or dinner when you only have a few minutes before you have to run out the door. All you need are tortilla wraps, shredded cheese, and pre-cooked chicken (you can normally get these packs in the refrigerator section at your supermarket). First heat up the wrap on a plate in the microwave for about a minute. Once it’s soft and hot layer chicken and lots of cheese on it. You can also add any vegetables such as onions or peppers if you want extra taste. Then fold it over and heat for another 1-2 minutes or until the cheese is melted. Add some salsa and sour cream on top and you have a 5 minute snack or meal.

Be careful if you decide to use a stove top instead – cooking a quesadilla in college can go disastrously wrong… watch the video to see how.

3.)    Yogurt Parfait- This is good for any time of day, and there are hundreds of combinations. All you need is vanilla yogurt, granola, and whatever kind of fruit you like. The best way to make it is in a cup, but you can also make it in a bowl. When you’re looking for a quick and tasty treat just layer the yogurt, granola, and fruit and enjoy. The best part is that you can change up the combination every time so you never get bored!

4.)    Microwave Potato Chips- Craving something salty and crunchy? Instead of buying a bag of processed chips why not make your own? All you need are potatoes, vegetable oil, and a microwave safe bacon tray or casserole dish. You also have the option of adding any spices you like such as, garlic powder, seasoning salt, cayenne pepper, etc. so you can figure out what you like best. For the step-by-step detail check out the recipe here.

5.)    Peanut butter banana oatmeal- This recipe was given to me by a friend of mine and it makes a great breakfast or snack on a cold day. To make this you will need a packet of plain oatmeal, a mashed banana, and some peanut butter. Make the oatmeal as instructed on the packet then add the mashed banana and mix it up. Microwave for another 30-45 seconds and then top with peanut butter or any other toppings you want to add. And in less than 5 minutes you have a delicious and healthy snack.

Use these recipes to get you started on healthy snacking. Be open to experimenting until you find something you really like – you won’t feel like you’re eating healthy at all!

For more information about how to be prepared for the challenges college might throw at you and about cooking safety, visit GradGuard.