10 Ways to Eat Cheap and Healthy When You Don't Have a Full Kitchen

The redditors at r/EatCheapAndHealthy have come through for us when we were looking for cheap and healthy cold lunches, and cheap and healthy dinners for when we’re lazy. Now, let’s look at their recommendations for cheap and healthy meals...

Tekef Tekef
Sep 9, 2021 - 03:36
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10 Ways to Eat Cheap and Healthy When You Don't Have a Full Kitchen

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The redditors at r/EatCheapAndHealthy have come through for us when we were looking for cheap and healthy cold lunches, and cheap and healthy dinners for when we’re lazy. Now, let’s look at their recommendations for cheap and healthy meals you can make even if you don’t have a real kitchen.

Even if you’re stuck in a dorm or hotel, you can do a lot with just a microwave and a mini fridge, or sometimes nothing at all. Just remember for safety reasons that you need a refrigerator if you want to store leftover food, sliced veggies, or anything that came from the cold section of the store, or anything that says “refrigerate after opening.” Stay safe out there.

Greek salad

Greek salad? Canned olives, diced tomatoes, sliced cucumbers, feta cheese, and a drizzle of olive oil. Hot plates are under $20 on amazon. You can make pasta then!

Screenshot: Reddit

A simple Greek salad can be made from canned items (olives, optionally tuna or chicken) and fresh veggies. As the commenter notes, you can turn this into a pasta salad if you have a way to make pasta!

Hearty oats

base it around oatmeal like you are. First, are you adding a pinch of salt to the oatmeal if eating it plain? That's necessary imo. Change it up by adding nuts, seeds, berries, or other fruits. Some of my go-to combos are grapes or raisins with peanuts for PB&J flavor, almonds and cherries, peaches and pecans with cinnamon, etc. A little vanilla extract is great, too.

Screenshot: Reddit/FaceDownInTheCake

Instant oatmeal is easy enough to make in a microwave or with a source of hot water. But don’t stop there: Turn it into a hearty meal with nuts, fruits, and seasonings.

Embrace the tuna life

For extra protein you could check out tuna in cans or pouches. You can eat tuna with rice and bean bowls (microwaveable instant rice might be worth it until you can swing a cooker) with microwaved frozen veggies. You can add tuna to sandwiches with cheese, mayo, guacamole, avocado. I used to make tuna melt quesadillas in college when tortillas were on sale. These are nutrient dense meals that are cheaper than takeout. It’s not recommended we eat tuna every day, but it’s a nice budget protein you can add in that doesn’t require refrigeration or really any cooking. The plain family-sized pouches or cans stretch your buck furthest. You can buy a bottle of hot sauce, don’t pay extra for “seasoned” tuna pouches.

Screenshot: Reddit/liz_numbersix

Canned (or pouch) tuna is a cheap protein source. If you don’t like tuna, look for canned salmon or canned chicken, which are similarly shelf-stable and nutritious, if a bit more expensive. Add the tuna or other protein to microwaved veggies and rice, or make melts. (Just make sure tuna isn’t your only meal or protein source, due to mercury concerns. Even so, a few tuna meals a week is considered safe for most people.)

Make mug eggs

Do you have a microwave? I had to live in a hotel for a few months and it was very restricting as they only had a micro and tiny fridge (though thankfully with a freezer compartment). I had this one large mug that I would make EVERYthing in. Microwave scrambled eggs are surprisingly legit.

Screenshot: Reddit

Scrambled eggs come out decently well from a microwave, and as this redditor describes, they can be eaten by themselves or make a base for many meals including rice and bean bowls.

Instant quesadillas

Canned chicken + canned black beans + jar of salsa as toppings in quesadillas. Some instant Spanish rice on the side.

Screenshot: Reddit

With the right canned items, you can have a whole pantry of ingredients to use for quesadillas, tacos, and more. Chicken, beans, and salsa are perfect to start with.

Peanut noodles

Don't underestimate how tasty noodles with peanut butter, soy sauce, sesame seeds, and green onions are when your talk about getting sick of peanut butter lol

Screenshot: Reddit

You probably already have peanut butter sandwiches in your budget cuisine repertoire, but what about peanut butter noodles? Use this recipe or make up your own, and serve over ramen or whatever noodles you’re able to make. Add some veggies and protein to make it a full meal.

Hearty salads

toast bread, rub with garlic, tear into chunks, sprinkle on salad. That's croutons.

Screenshot: Reddit

Fresh veggies open up all kinds of salad possibilities, especially if you have a protein source to add on top. Frozen or canned fish can work, or snag a rotisserie chicken. Greens and dressing round out the salad, and we love the toast-as-croutons hack.

Tiny pasta

If you have access to a Walmart pick up some couscous. It's a tiny pasta that cooks by poring hot water over it (equal amounts) and then putting a lid on it to steam. You can add it to your salads to give them more bulk and carbohydrates without adding a bunch of cooking. It's really good as a Greek salad. (Chopped cucumbers, tomatoes, red onion, black olives if you like them and Greek salad dressing)

Screenshot: Reddit

Couscous is, indeed, a tiny pasta. It takes very little hot water to cook, making it perfect if you only have a kettle, and then you can use it as you would rice or any other grain.

Loaded baked potatoes

Baked potatoes in the microwave are hearty and filling and low-cost. Pierce one or two large russet potatoes with a fork a few times, then cook for 8-9 minutes in the microwave. You can feel it when they're done. If they're too hard, just cook another minute. Top with margarine, if you have it, or a bit of salad dressing or salsa or anything you think might work with it to bring the humble spud to life.

Screenshot: Reddit/Holskitchen

Potatoes and sweet potatoes cook pretty well in the microwave. Once your potato is “baked,” add as many hearty toppings as you like. Butter and cheese are good for starters, but don’t forget that you can add meats, sauces, and anything else you’ve got on hand.

Pie-inspired desserts

Baked apple- Cut the core out of the middle of the apple, don't peel it just leave it whole. Set the apple in a bowl. Stuff half of a big marshmallow in the hole, then put in a little brown sugar and cinnamon, a teaspoon of butter, then stuff the other marshmallow half on top. Cook for 4-ish minutes. Peach crisp- Peel and chop up a peach. Put it in a bowl with some cinnamon and sugar and a teeny bit of water. Smush together some rolled oats, butter, sugar, and cinnamon, put that on top of the peach. Cook for 2-3 minutes, or until it's bubbling a bit and the oats don't look raw anymore. This recipe works with all kinds of fresh, frozen, or canned fruit.

Screenshot: Reddit

These recipes come from a giant post on the subreddit about how to eat well with only a mini fridge and a microwave. It’s worth checking out the whole thing. Both the baked apple and peach crisp will give you a cheap and healthy yet decadent dessert.