Budget Meal Prep Ideas for College Students
Meal Prep can be made easy and affordable for that student life! Here are some tips and great budget meal prep ideas for college students!
Meal planning and doing some meal prep will lower your grocery budget, get organized (hello less stress), reduce food waste, save time and energy during the week, and you will likely make healthier food choices!
Tips for Cheap Eating on a College Student Budget
- Save money by going meatless at least once a week.
- Frozen fruit and veggies are a less expensive choice for items not in season.
- Check to see if your grocery store will price match. There are some great apps out there to help with this.
- Utilize the same ingredient for multiple meals, like, 1 Rotisserie Chicken, 4 Easy Prep Lunches
See my How to Save Money Meal Planning post for more details on this topic.
This post is full of inspiration for simple, low ingredients, no microwave, portable meal prep ideas to keep you fed, while on a college student budget!
Simple Ingredient, Easy Assembly Breakfasts
Breakfasts that you can prep ahead of time, mean you can catch a few more minutes of sleep and not prep breakfast every single day. When I was in college, sleep seemed to always trump breakfast making!
Here are my go to simple breakfast preps to make on Sunday, and grab all week long!
100's of Make Ahead Breakfast Bento Box Ideas {with only 3 ingredients}
Half the battle of meal planning is deciding what to make.
With this, the decisions and prep are so simple.
Each week I prep a dozen hard boiled eggs, I select 1- 2 cheese types, and 1-2 types of fruit from my printable cheat sheet / inspiration page.
Prep Ahead Mason Jar Omelettes - 4 Ideas!
Mason Jar Omelettes are a prep ahead, fully customizable, single serve breakfasts, loaded with veggies and ready in under 5 minutes!
English Muffin Breakfast Box
English muffin breakfast box is assembled in minutes and makes eating breakfast on the go healthy and delicious!
Low Carb Bacon & Eggers
A perfect breakfast meal prep idea where you can prep your 3 ingredients once, and have low carb bacon & eggers all week!
Loaded Sweet Potato Toast (using your toaster!)
Loaded Sweet Potato Toast using a toaster is a super easy meal prep breakfast that can be prepped once, and be ready for breakfast for the next 5 days.
Chocolate Chip Pancake Mix Cookies
These Chocolate Chip Pancake Mix Cookies are a cross between puffy pancakes and soft muffin tops! With a few easy ingredients, they’re simple to make with any ‘just add water’ pancake mix!
{Prep Ahead} Espresso Oat Breakfast Smoothie
Breakfast and your morning coffee kick… at the same time! This Prep Ahead Espresso Oat Breakfast Smoothie is a filling and oh so amazing way to get your day started!
Mint Chocolate Protein Smoothie Freezer Packs
A protein packed smoothie that tastes like a milkshake. OK! This protein packed mint chocolate smoothie is easily made into a make ahead freezer pack too!
No Microwave, No Problem Lunches
Eating on the fly in between classes? Yes, I remember those days! Those days when I didn’t have access to a microwave for lunch.
You don’t need a microwave when you have these budget friendly meals prepped for your school week!
The Best No Microwave Make Ahead Lunches
No microwave. No problem. You can still have some really great make ahead lunches! Here are some amazingly delicious No Microwave Make Ahead Lunches for your meal plan this week!
Buffalo Chickpea Pinwheel Meal Prep
Buffalo Chickpea Pinwheel Meal Prep is a no cook, quick and easy vegetarian lunch box for your on the go life. Prep these for 3 days and just grab and go in the morning!
Low Carb Chipotle Tuna Snack Box
Is there anything you can’t put chipotle peppers in and not make it better?! Ok, probably, but certainly not this super easy Low Carb Chipotle Tuna Snack Box!
Chicken & Hummus Plate Lunch Meal Prep
This Chicken & Hummus Plate Lunch Meal Prep is so simple yet incredibly filling and delicious! Get back to basics with fresh cut bell pepper, carrot, cucumbers, paired with a perfect portion of chicken breast, cheese slices, and grapes for a touch of sweetness.
Simple Curried Chickpea Salad Meal Prep
Full of flavor, this delicious, no cook, curried chickpea salad will have you falling in love with the simplicity of meal prep.
Sweet Chili Chicken Instant Mason Jar Soup
Sweet Chili Chicken instant mason jar soups are not just for looks, prepping your jars on Sunday, and adding water each day at lunch makes for a fresh lunch without cooking everyday!
Easy and Delicious Dinners
Pro tip – prep the ingredients for dinners on Sunday, then just assemble your dinners during the weeknight so you don’t feel like you are eating leftovers all of the time.
Look for one pot meals, or if you have an Instant Pot, check out these one pot Instant Pot meals too!
Low Carb Cheeseburger Stir fry {Meal Prep}
Low carb cheeseburger stir fry is ready in less than 15 minutes, and has all the flavors of a cheeseburger, but without all of the carbs.
Italian Sheet Pan Gnocchi {20 minute dinner}
Italian Sheet Pan Gnocchi is a caprese inspired recipe. The perfect combination of refreshing flavors and comfort foods, this is definitely a dish for every season.
Easy One Pot Linguine with Italian Sausage
Easy One Pot Linguine with Italian Sausage is what your weeknight dinner dreams are made of. This super simple pasta dish uses only one pot, and will be loved by everyone!
Sheet Pan Peanut Chicken Curry Bake
Sheet Pan Peanut Chicken Curry Bake recipe will surprise you with its simplicity and layers of flavor. Delight your taste buds in just 30 mins.
Quick and Easy Grab n Go Snacks
Skip the cafeteria and vending machines and keep your energy up all day with these budget friendly snacks!
Thai Peanut Hummus
Thai Peanut Hummus is that perfect mid day snack. Made with simple ingredients, all in a blender, this version is quick to make, and perfect to pack for lunches or snacks.
Peanut Butter Rice Krispie Breakfast Bars
These Peanut Butter Rice Krispie Breakfast Bars are a recreation of classic Rice Krispie Treats that you can make-ahead for a quick breakfast or snack! Packed with coconut flakes, dried cranberries, sunflower seeds, and no baking required, everyone will love these bars!
Easy No Bake Energy Bars
Easy No Bake Energy bars are soft, chewy, and come together in under 10 minutes for your 3 pm snack attack.
Easy Healthy Meal Prep Snack Ideas
Looking for some Easy Healthy Meal Prep Snack Ideas? Here are 4 meal prep snack recipes for work, school, or home! Healthy snacks for both adults and kids.
Kitchen Tools and Budget Meal Planning for Students
No need to be buying new, check out your local thrift store or parents basement for these “old school” favorites.
Slow Cooker– Save money by opting for a cheaper cut of meat. The lower heat and longer cook time will help with tenderizing it.
Toaster Oven– Utilize your toaster oven for baking just like you would your regular oven. Check out sheet pan recipes to start. You will have to half recipes, but if you are feeding just yourself that that is perfect!
Shop around and wait for sales. The most expensive doesn’t necessarily mean the best product.
Here is my list of meal prep tools that I use and love. But, don’t feel like you need all of these tools too!
Recipe Inspiration for Budget Meal Planning
The internet is a great place to find endless budget friendly meal ideas. Check out just a few of my favorite blogs that focus on low ingredient, low cost meals!
$5 Dinners : Erin posts free recipes that feed her entire family for under $5
Budget Bytes I am a big fan of her “Quick” menu… hello Southwest Beef and Cabbage Stirfry and Cheesy Gnocchi Skillet!
Frugal Foodie Mama Inexpensive meals do not need to be boring, and you can still have a great culinary experience on a budget!
Eating on a Dime My favourite part of this blog is the “How to Save Money” section
For more recipe inspiration for meal planning on a budget, you can check this previous post out!
There you have it, tips and recipe inspiration for your college student, budget friendly meal plans!
Let me know your tips for Meal Planning on a Budget for Students. Tag me @mealplanaddict on Instagram, or come post a photo in the Meal Plan Addict Community and inspire someone’s meal plan!
