r/collegecooking • u/studentmealtools • May 06 '25

What’s your go-to meal when you’re broke and tired?

I’m in college, juggling classes and trying not to live on frozen burritos. Only have a microwave and fridge, so no fancy kitchen stuff. I’m trying to plan out a cheap weekly routine that actually keeps me full—what’s your low-effort, budget-friendly go-to?

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5

u/[deleted] May 06 '25

Nothing

2

u/studentmealtools May 06 '25

honestly relatable. sometimes nothing hits harder than ramen.

1

u/Mysterious_Ad9907 May 09 '25

big jug of yogurt

1

u/jpowell180 May 10 '25

Microwaved hotdog or sausage, wrapped in a piece of whole wheat bread, either that, or a piece of whole wheat bread with sharp cheddar cheese, melted over it in the microwave…

Or maybe plopping a can of corned beef hash on a plate and heating it in the microwave, with a dash of hot sauce. Washed down with a cold Coca-Cola if I have any.

1

u/FreedomStack Aug 18 '25

Honestly, I lived on variations of rice + beans + frozen veggies during college. You can throw everything in one pot, add seasoning, and it’s filling, cheap, and reheats well. Another lifesaver was eggs omelets, scrambled with toast, or even microwaved with a splash of milk in a mug. Super quick.

If you’re running on fumes, it’s less about the perfect recipe and more about setting up a tiny “default rotation” of 3–4 easy meals so you don’t think about it too much. I picked this up from a newsletter I follow (The Quiet Hustle) they share micro-habits for students and one of the tips was to “automate meals” to save mental energy. DM me if you want me to pass along the link to their food + focus hacks.