Healthy food choices in college are sometimes as rare as sleep during finals and students actually cooking are equally rare, especially if you’re living in a dorm room. But for students who are accustomed to knowing what ingredients are in their meals, there are ways to cook satisfying meals affordably and quickly. Whole-grains and proteins will give your body longer-lasting energy and vegetables will make your mom happy about meeting all three crucial parts of a balanced diet. Though eating right is easier said than done, here are some remedies to get you out of your junk-food-funk:

Dorm Recipes:

Breakfast: Scrambled Egg White Omelet

Ingredients:

2 egg whites

1 tsp. of milk or water

Chopped vegetables or meat

Shredded cheese

Instructions:

In a coffee mug or bowl, stir together the egg whites, milk or water and whatever else you want to include. Cook on high power for 40-45 seconds. Then, scramble the eggs with a fork.

Lunch: Cream Cheese Cucumber Bagel Sandwich

Ingredients:

1 sliced whole-wheat or multi-grain bagel

1 small tub of fat free or one-third less-fat cream cheese

1 cucumber

Instructions:

Spread the cream cheese on one side of the bagel. Place the sliced cucumbers on the cream cheese. Add chives if you’re feeling adventurous. Top with the other side of the bagel.

Dinner: Deli Baked Potato:

Ingredients:

1 medium sized russet potato

1 paper towel

Chopped broccoli or other vegetable

1 package of lunchmeat

1 package of shredded cheese

Instructions:

Put the baked potato in the microwave wrapped in a damp paper towel for five minutes. Flip sides and put the potato back in the microwave for five more minutes. Repeat this again, or up to two more times if your microwave is on a low power setting. Once cooked, cut open and top with cheese, your vegetable of choice and your lunchmeat of choice.

Apartment:

Lunch: Five Layer Burrito

Ingredients:

1 whole-wheat or fat free tortilla

1 package of shredded cheese

1 microwavable package of whole-grain rice

1 can of black beans

1 package of bean dip (like Lay’s)

1 can of corn

Instructions:

First, cook the rice according to the package’s directions. Then, heat up the black beans and corn in a bowl in the microwave. Layer the black beans, bean dip, rice, shredded cheese and corn on the tortilla. Wrap up and eat up.

Dinner: Pesto Pizza

Ingredients:

1 refrigerated pizza crust dough

1 bottle of pesto

1 package of shredded cheese

Your choice of chicken,

spinach or artichoke hearts

Instructions:

Unroll the pizza dough on a cooking sheet. Put the pizza crust in the toaster oven at 500 degrees for five minutes. Take out and spread the pesto, cheese and whatever topping you choose evenly on top of the crust. Put the pizza back in for six minutes. Take out, cut into pieces and enjoy.

Snacking Essentials:

-fruit

-baked chips

-low-calorie cereal

-SaraLee 45-calorie bread

-lunchmeat

-Crystal Light individual drink packets

-yogurt

-granola snack bars

Places to find healthy,

organic food:

-The Earth Natural Foods

309 S. Flood St., Norman OK

-Native Roots Market

132 W. Main St., Norman OK

-Forward Foods

123 E. Main St., Norman OK