lazy quick meals

By Carli Meltzer

Do you ever find yourself snacking or eating the closest food nearby when you don’t have the time or energy to cook? It is so easy to fall into this habit, but fortunately I have some delicious and nutritious staple meals that can be prepared with ease and efficiency. I am definitely no chef, but I do pride myself on the meals I can prepare in the absence of a kitchen. Here are some of my go-to easy and healthy meals…

Avocado Toast

Avocado toast is without a doubt one of my favorite foods because it has so many variations and you can never go wrong with it. My favorite bread is Dave’s Killer Bread (specifically the 21 Whole Grains And Seeds THIN-SLICED kind).

I always start by toasting one or two slices of bread and then spreading an avocado on top. I then generously sprinkle the Trader Joe’s Everything But the Bagel seasoning and usually top it off with a protein of choice. My go-to is thinly-sliced turkey, lox, or packaged hardboiled eggs from the supermarket. Finally, I finish it off with balsamic glaze from Trader Joes.

Another reason why avocado toast is my #1 easy meal is because of its versatility. You can eat it for breakfast, lunch, or dinner and always feel satisfied. Try varying the toppings by adding more vegetables and different types of protein. You can even swap out the bread for a rice cake to limit the time even more!

Yogurt Bowl

Recently, I have really gotten into yogurt bowls because they are so quick to make and are delicious.

There are several brands of yogurt to choose from at the supermarket. My favorite one is the Light + Fit Vanilla Greek Yogurt. I put about ¾ cup into a bowl and then mix a variety of toppings into it.

Usually I add granola, sliced up bananas, blueberries and sometimes almond butter. I love making yogurt bowls because they are nutritious and filling and are a great option for breakfast or lunch when you are in a time crunch. They could even pass as a healthy dessert! One of the quickest breakfast options that I always look forward to is overnight oats. Anyone that knows me knows how much I love my morning overnight oats. To make them, I use old-fashioned oats, unsweetened vanilla almond milk, banana, and chia seeds. Pro tip: the riper the banana, the sweeter the taste!

After mixing all these ingredients together, I let the oats sit overnight in the fridge so that they are ready to eat in the morning. Usually I top the oats off with goji berries, which are like a healthier type of raisin, blueberries, and almond butter.

Oats are super nutritious because they are packed with important vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. In addition, they’re high in fiber which makes them very filling and improves digestion.

Prepared Salad Kits

In college, I eat prepared salad kits for lunch and dinner all the time. With a Target across the street from me, these salads are so convenient.

They come in a bag filled with lettuce and different toppings and dressing in individual packets. After mixing the salad kit together, I usually add my own pre-made protein like hard-boiled eggs or turkey. Throwing in some nuts like almonds or pistachios adds a little crunch to it and adding in fruit like blueberries or strawberries adds some sweetness. These salads are so healthy and take a maximum of 5 minutes to prepare.

Bottom Line

As a busy college student, sometimes cooking is the last thing I want to do, but I also know that I need to limit how much I spend on ordering meals. We all have lazy and low-energy days, but these simple, nutritious, yummy, and quick meals leave me feeling satisfied within no-time.

These recipes only require a microwave, toaster, fridge, and any ingredient that can easily be found in a local supermarket or that you might already have in your kitchen. Maintaining a balanced diet is so important, so don’t let laziness and exhaustion stop you from staying happy and healthy!