All my Facebook friends know that I am constantly sharing videos of food on my wall. However, many of these videos are very indulgent and often unhealthy. I value eating healthy while also preparing meals with a lot of flavors, which I find is a hard combination to maintain in college. Enter: this list of recipe videos.
I love these specific recipes because they are quick and easy to make as a college student who also wants to eat healthily, but may not have time or energy to spend cooking elaborate meals.
With that, here are some of my favorite simple and healthy recipe videos you need to watch as a college student:
1. Baked Cauliflower Tots
Cauliflower seems to be the latest “in” food, especially when trying to avoid carbs and add nutrients. Instead of buying frozen tater tots, spend five extra minutes making these delicious and nutritious baked cauliflower tots. Dip them in mustard or ketchup, and you won’t even notice they aren’t potatoes.
2. Protein Smoothies
Hungry for something after the gym that will fill you up, but not demolish your #gains? The protein powder in these smoothies will keep you full until lunch time while the agave acts as a natural sugar alternative that will leave you feeling energetic and not bloated as unnatural sweeteners often do.
3. Quinoa Pizza Crust
Eating healthy and clean is all about finding quick and nutritious alternatives to your favorite foods. Pretty soon these nutritious substitutes will be your go-to meals. Experiment creating “healthy” pizza crust with this 3-ingredient quinoa pizza crust recipe. Have friends over for a DIY personal pizza night, and experiment with your favorite toppings.
4. Gluten-Free Vegan Brownie Bite
As someone with a constant chocolate craving, I frequently need a small dose of chocolate. These brownie bites are the perfect chocolate treat. Even if you aren’t a gluten-free vegan, you can relax and enjoy these treats knowing they are produce-based and not processed. Best of both worlds, I know.
5. Vegan Avocado Pesto
Mix up your traditional, boring pesto by making your own avocado pesto. If you wish to make this dish even more interesting and are not vegan, consider adding chicken, shrimp, mushrooms, or some other vegetables. And, if you want even more avocado in your life, try these other vegan dishes that use avocado as a substitute.
6. Bacon Parmesan Spaghetti Squash
As one of the trendiest foods right now, spaghetti squash has even more taste and flavor than traditional pasta. This recipe adds bacon and parmesan to the mix, giving a savory twist to the sweet spaghetti squash. Make a few servings early in the week and freeze to have this quick and healthy go-to throughout the week.
7. Sesame Chicken
Your friends will be super impressed if you tell them that you made sesame chicken for dinner one night and, no, it wasn’t a frozen P.F. Chang’s meal. This sesame chicken is a must-try alternative to your favorite Chinese take out, and, if you feel like going above and beyond, make this sesame ginger chicken dinner that you can serve out of a pineapple.
8. Chilled Peanut Noodles
If you’re looking for a side dish for the sesame chicken above, think about making these chilled peanut noodles. Add chicken or shrimp to make a meal out of the noodles themselves, and feel like a true culinary champ. If you have an empty peanut butter jar, consider making this epic noodle dish as well.
9. Honey Sriracha Chicken Taco
Taco ’bout flavor. These tacos have just the right amount of sweet and spicy, which make for a unique combination of Mexican food. Host a Taco Tuesday night at your place, and serve these tacos to your friends. If you have time, make this homemade Sriracha to put on top and have yourself your own personal fiesta.
10. Almond Crusted Chicken
Add a healthy twist to your meals this week by cooking this almond crusted chicken. Serve with a salad topped with blueberries, strawberries, goat cheese, and dried cranberries and feel super healthy without losing any flavor. Also, consider making this summer-time chicken salad to make sandwiches or to top off a salad.
Your friends will definitely be jealous of your new meal ideas because these recipes are infinitely more appetizing than that frozen meal they probably just ate. These videos allow you to enjoy good eats in moderation and also save you time in the kitchen so you can hang with your friends, go to the library, or go out for drinks. Happy eating.