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Healthy Meals For College Students on a Budget – Dairy Free

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Eating healthy on a college budget can be a challenge, but with a little creativity and planning, it’s possible to enjoy nutritious meals that won’t break the bank. In this guide, we’ll share some tips and cheap college meal ideas (all dairy free) to help you eat well without spending a fortune!

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Tip #1: Stock up on staples

Make sure you always have fast and simple pantry staples in your dorm room. This will keep you from rushing to the grocery store or dining hall when you are unexpectedly hungry or just want a snack. 

Living In the Dorm: 

​Items like bread with whole grains, peanut butter, avocados (for avocado toast), fresh fruit and packets of oatmeal are all great options that don’t need to be refrigerated. 

Access to a Fridge and Stove:

Include items like ground turkey, ground beef or chicken breasts (or thighs will be cheaper)

RELATED POST: Balancing Nutrition on a Tight Budget

Tip #2: If you have a fridge, consider make-ahead recipes

Having prepared meals in the fridge can help you avoid impulse buys and will help you stick to your budget! Meal prepping can be intimidating at first, but look through some meal prep recipes and pick just one item on the list below and start there! Overnight oats are a good place to start. 

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Tip #3: Plan Ahead

​Everyone has a busy schedule, so everyone can benefit from a little planning at the beginning of the week. 

Here are some delicious recipes to get you started. Pick one or two, make a shopping list and stick to your list. Be sure to add snacks and pantry staples to your list too!

Cheap Meals for College Students

By on April 2nd, 2024

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2 thoughts on “Healthy Meals For College Students on a Budget – Dairy Free”

  1. This is a super roundup with some great easy dairy free recipes. Thanks for including my aglio olio. Will definitely share on FB and Pinterest. Plus, am going to pass it on to my granddaughter, who’s at uni and living in student accommodation!

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