I don't have a kitchen. What are some cheap, healthy, easy-to-make meals?

Question

I live in a dorm and don't have access to a kitchen. The building does have a dining hall, but it is closed for the next couple weeks. I am a vegetarian (and semi-lactose-intolerant), and I need to find cheap, healthy meals (both to bring to work and also to eat at home). Any suggestions? Thank you!!

Answer 1

Lots and Lots of Raw veggies and dip,fruit salads,Sandwiches(dont know if vegans eat PB&J but it would be an option)Sprout Sandwiches(you can grow the sprouts on your window sill)
Cucumer or tomato Sandwiches.Salads( Baby spinach mandarin oranges tofu or cheese) if you have a fridge and a Microwave you would have more options.if you have an Iron you could make grilled Sandwiches,it works!just put foil on the iron..set on cotton and "iron"sandwich voila(try fried banana sandwiches maybe with peanutbutter)

Answer 2

Here are a few ideas that may work

Gazpacho (cold tomato-based soup)

- 1 garlic clove
- 3 cups low sodium tomato/veregtable juice (i like using "garden patch" from trader joes
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 1 cucumber chopped in small pieces
- 1/4 cup greeen onion chopped small
- lemon juice to tast

Cut all ingredients as small as you can and mix with the juice and olive oil (if you have a blender it's easier, but you can do it by hand also).
Add some salt, cayenne pepper, and lemon juice to taste and voila... Healthy and quick. Could can add some chunks of avocado if you like.


Many salads are also easy to make with few tools. For example:

Walnut-Apple salad:
Combine some lettuce or chopped raw cabbage with an apple cut in pieces, walnuts, cranberries, and a bit of (vegan) mayonnaise. Many other options you can add such as some chopped garlic, pepper, chopped green onions, cut cucumber, tomatoes, etc.

If you have a toaster you can make some quick quesadillas with cheese (or a soy cheese if that works better for you). Take a tortilla and put some hot sauce on it (salsa, ot something similar). Then put cheese and fold it in half. Stick it in the toaster with the folded side down (so that the cheese doesn't drip into the toaster when it melts). With my toaster it works well on the middle setting (3). There are many variations you can try, for example, using pesto instead of salsa, or adding some roaster bell peppers (they sell them in jars).

These quesadillas go really well with some chips and salsa, or you can make Guacamole:
Mash an avocado, mix with some diced tomato, a chopped clove of garlic and some green onion and chopped cilantro. Add lemon or lime juice to taste.

You can also use a toaster to heat up (frozen) garden burgers, and other burger-like meat substitutes.

If you have a microwave, you can make lots of things. For example, many vegetables cook really well (and preserve all their flavors when you rinse them and put them in a bowl with a lid, or between two plates with whatever water stick to the veggies. Put the bowl or plates in the microwave on high until the veggies are done (often 3-5 minutes). This works really well for asparagus, green beans, and broccoli. I have a full kitchen, but this is my preferred way to cook veggies. Once cooked, you can eat them plain, add some butter, or add some store-bought sauce like hoi-sin sauce (for Asian food), pesto (Italian), or anything you like

Answer 3

If you don't have a microwave, you might have to stick to sandwiches and salads (you can get both green salad and coleslaw precut at the store. With coleslaw add some mayonnaise) and raw or canned fruit. You can cut up raw vegetables (cauliflower, broccoli, mushrooms, zucchini, carrots) and eat them with Ranch dressing for a dip. Homemade salsa and sour cream with tortilla chips is good....1 can diced tomatoes, 2 Tbs. oil, chopped onion, a little salt and pepper, hot sauce and a small can of jalapeno peppers (this is pretty HOT, you can use a small can of green chilis instead of jalapenos for less hot salsa). You could check at the health food store for canned soups, chili, etc., if you don't mind eating them cold, or maybe putting an unopened can in a sink of hot water might warm it up a bit. Good luck.

Answer 4

Healthy sandwiches are my favorite food. Whole grain breads with veggies (avocado is my favorite), any kinds of meats, some cheeses. Just pick up the makings at the deli of the grocery store. You'll need a fridge to keep the coldcuts and cheese fresh.

Answer 5

If you have access to a microwave, you could try some of the microwavable (pre-cooked) rice from Uncle Bens or Zatarain's. It comes in little plastic bags. I've tried it and it's not too bad. They may even have other vegetables thare are microwavable like that.

You could also microwave some veggie burgers for a change.

Answer 6

get a hot pot you can cook anything in them they just plug into the wall until then micro broccoli hot hot add cream of musroom soup ramen noodles and a little butter add 1/2 c hot water let sit till noodles are soft (can add tuna or cottage cheese) unless your a vegan good luck
2 slices of bread 2 slices of cheese place in aluminum foil and heat with your clothes iron until hot and melted

Answer 7

mcdonalds