With a packed schedule and minimal time to devote to cooking, it can be difficult to prepare a healthy meals for yourself. Luckily, most of your favorite healthy fall produce can be prepared right in your dorm microwave.
#SpoonTip: For the freshest produce, try picking your own or buying from a farmers market. It’s a great way to support local farmers and enjoy autumn.
1. Oatmeal
Oatmeal is a warm, protein-packed way to start your day. If you’re late for class and don’t have time for the recipes below, try to experiment with mixing in canned or fresh pumpkin, baked apples, cinnamon, nutmeg, nuts, and craisins so you can start the day off right with your fall favorites.
Try out this pumpkin pecan oatmeal if you’re hungry, or check out OatMeals NYC’s Instagram. Their sweet and savory specials are to die for, and their recipes are easy enough for you to make yourself.
2. Sweet Potatoes
Sweet potatoes take just minutes to microwave, and they taste good with nearly everything. Try adding peanut butter to a warm sweet potato for a satisfying snack. My favorite toppings include spinach, avocado, kale, portobellos, black beans, chickpeas, Brussels sprouts, and cranberries.
Try using the microwave to steam the veggies in this vegan sweet potato, kale, and chickpea bowl. You can also add in some cranberries and pumpkin seeds to this kale salad with roasted sweet potatoes.
3. Quinoa
Quinoa is protein-packed, gluten-free, and a refreshing alternative to the dining hall’s undercooked rice. It’s surprisingly easy to cook in a microwave, and has an unlimited number of recipes you can make, such as this apple citrus quinoa salad and chickpea quinoa salad.
#SpoonTip: Try this cinnamon apple and peanut butter quinoa for breakfast with apples fresh from the orchard.
4. Spaghetti Squash
Spaghetti squash is a fast and delicious base for any traditional pasta recipe. Microwave your favorite sauce and mixed vegetables to add on top, like broccoli, cauliflower, kale, or portobello mushrooms.
#SpoonTip: If you’re an athlete, you might want to make some actual pasta, too. This veggie won’t fulfill your carb cravings.
5. Butternut Squash
Butternut squash is packed with flavor and is a great alternative to sweet potatoes. Try having it as a side dish to your meal by mixing it into a salad, like in this seasonal harvest salad with butternut squash.
You’ll love these black bean and butternut squash tacos that take an autumn spin on your favorite Mexican dish.
6. Acorn Squash
Acorn and butternut squash are prepared similarly and can be easily interchanged to make variations on your favorite recipes, like this autumn acorn squash salad that features craisins and maple syrup, or a dessert of honeyed curry roasted acorn squash.
This maple glazed stuffed squash is the perfect fall food to impress your friends (and it’s vegan, too!).
Next time you go food shopping, be sure to pick up a few of those fall staples to throw in your microwave. You can enjoy a delicious, healthy meal, but still make it to class on time.