7-Day College Student Meal Plan
Updated: Mar. 22, 2023
Cooking on your own for the first time can be a little daunting. We're here to help with a full week's worth of recipes. Each dish requires fewer than eight ingredients and takes 10 minutes (or less!) to prep. Plus, you won't be stuck with tons of leftovers. Each recipe feeds one to two, or can be frozen for later use.
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Day 1 Breakfast: Egg Burritos
Zap one of these frozen burritos in the microwave and you'll stave off hunger all morning. This recipe is my family’s favorite combo, but I sometimes use breakfast sausage instead of bacon. —Audra Niederman, Aberdeen, South Dakota
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Day 1 Lunch: Spicy Sausage Soup with Tortellini
This soup is such a family treasure, both my daughters asked for the recipe when they moved out on their own. I cook the tortellini separately, but you can let it plump up in the soup broth, too. —Cynthia Krakowiak, Langhorne, Pennsylvania
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Day 1 Snack: Oven Parmesan Chips
My husband and I avoid fried foods, but potatoes are part of our menu almost every day. These delectable sliced potatoes get nice and crispy and give our meals a likable lift. —Mary Lou Kelly, Scottdale, PennsylvaniaIf these are helpful, this guide on how to college meal prep on a budget might come in handy, too.
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Day 1 Dinner: Mango Salsa Chicken with Veggie Hash
This hash has the fresh flavors of spring. Using precooked grilled chicken strips makes the meal come together quickly. And the veggies make the dish so pretty! —Lori Mclain, Denton, Texas
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Day 2 Breakfast: Peanut Butter Oatmeal
My son and I eat this peanut butter oatmeal recipe every day for breakfast. It's a hearty, healthy way to jump start our morning. — Elisabeth Reitenbach, Terryville, Connecticut
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Day 2 Lunch: Tomato & Avocado Sandwiches
I'm a vegetarian, and this is a tasty, quick and healthy lunch I could eat for every meal. At my house, we call these sandwiches HATS: hummus, avocado, tomato and shallots. These are ingredients I almost always have on hand. —Sarah Jaraha, Moorestown, New Jersey
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Day 2 Snack: Blueberry Cream Pops
Blueberry-and-cream pops are such a fun after-school snack. Make them in the morning so the pops are ready to go when the kids come in the door. —Cindy Reams, Philipsburg, Pennsylvania
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Day 2 Dinner: Microwaved Parmesan Chicken
This quick way to prepare chicken has been a family staple ever since a friend gave me the recipe. It's too good not to share. — Michael Herman, Carney, Michigan
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Day 3 Breakfast: Microwave Egg Sandwich
If you're looking for a grab-and-go breakfast for busy days, this high-protein sandwich is low in fat and keeps me full all morning. Plus, it's only about 200 calories! —Brenda Otto, Reedsburg, Wisconsin
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Day 3 Lunch: Greek Brown and Wild Rice Bowls
This fresh rice dish tastes like the Mediterranean in a bowl! It is short on ingredients but packs in so much flavor. For a hand-held version, leave out the rice and tuck the rest of the ingredients in a pita pocket. —Darla Andrews, Boerne, Texas
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Day 3 Snack: Striped Chocolate Popcorn
For a bake sale last year, I wanted to try something different. I’d seen chocolate popcorn in a candy shop and thought I’d try making it. This recipe was a great success. —Mary Schmittinger, Colgate, Wisconsin
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Day 3 Dinner: Mediterranean Turkey Skillet
I've always heard that it’s important to eat a rainbow of colors to get all of the nutrients we need. Thanks to my garden-grown veggies, this dish certainly fits the bill. —Nicole Ehlert, Burlington, Wisconsin
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Day 4 Breakfast: Chocolate Cinnamon Toast
You might want to sit down for this one. Cinnamon bread gets topped with chocolate and fresh berries, then toasted in a skillet. That's real love. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
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Day 4 Lunch: Waffle Sandwich
Breakfast for lunch or dinner? Why not, when the recipe's this easy! I like to serve it with some crisp, juicy sweet apples. Sometimes I add raisins and nuts to the filling of the waffle sandwich for sweetness and crunch. —Michele McHenry, Bellingham, Washington
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Day 4 Snack: Mango Smoothies
Whip up a mango smoothie in a snap with our tropical recipe. It is sure to be a treat for breakfast (or even dessert)!
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Day 4 Dinner: BLT Skillet
This quick weeknight meal reminds me of a BLT, with its chunks of bacon and tomato. The whole wheat linguine gives the skillet dish extra flavor and texture. —Edrie O'Brien, Denver, Colorado
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Day 5 Breakfast: Yankee Rancheros
After my in-laws began affectionately referring to me as a Yankee, I decided I had to learn to make some Mexican dishes. These are super easy and make my Tex-Mex-loving family happy—even if they do come from a Northerner!. —Darla Andrews, Boerne, Texas
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Day 5 Lunch: Grilled Hummus Turkey Sandwich
I created this toasted sandwich last summer using homemade hummus and veggies from our garden. We really can't get enough! —Gunjan Gilbert, Franklin, Maine
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Day 5 Snack: Snack Crackers
Our 13-year-old daughter, Dana, loves to make this crunchy and flavorful snack for us. Her four older brothers finish off a batch in no time. —Sue Manel, Milladore, Wisconsin
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Day 6 Breakfast: Lance’s Own French Toast
When my young son, Lance, helps me make this French toast, he knows in what order to add the ingredients and even how much to measure out. This dish is perfect for the whole family! —Janna Steele, Magee, Mississippi
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Day 6 Lunch: Skillet Ham & Rice
Ham, rice and mushrooms make a tasty combination in this homey stovetop dish. It goes from start to finish in just 25 minutes. —Susan Zivec, Regina, Saskatchewan
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Day 6 Snack: Dill Vegetable Dip
A friend gave me this zesty dip recipe many years ago, and now I serve it at our annual holiday open house. To make it mobile, spoon a serving of the dip in the bottom of a small cup, then garnish with fresh veggies. —Karen Gardiner, Eutaw, Alabama
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Day 7 Breakfast: Biscuits + Sausage Gravy
Treat yourself to a classic southern breakfast with our easy recipe for biscuits and sausage gravy.
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Day 7 Lunch: Zippy Egg Salad
Egg salad is a refreshing, tasty change from lunchmeat or peanut butter sandwiches. The touch of mustard and lemon juice gives it extra zip. —Annemarie Pietila, Farmington Hills, Michigan
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Day 7 Snack: Granola Trail Mix
My family has always enjoyed this crunchy four-ingredient snack. When we go camping, each person includes one additional ingredient like mini marshmallows, corn chips or cookie pieces. The taste is never the same, and we're often surprised by the combinations. —Shelley Riddlespurger, Amarillo, Texas
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Day 7 Dinner: Jiffy Ground Pork Skillet
Some people call it dinner hour, but many of us call it rush hour. Slow down the pace with this so-simple mouthwatering ground pork meal. The only thing you'll have left over is time to share with your family at the table. —Brigitte Schaller, Flemington, MissouriOriginally Published: June 13, 2018
