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Josie needs help! She recently moved into a dorm, so she only has a sink & a hot plate.

How can she make healthy meals without access to a full kitchen?

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Not to worry: with a little creativity she can still prepare healthy meals right in her dorm room, and so can you.

Here's how to still kill it at cooking!

Stock Up On Easy Healthy Foods

Even without a kitchen, you can store a lot of items like:

  • bread, butter, jam, oatmeal, dried fruit, almonds

  • fruits such as apples, pears, avocados, cherry tomatoes

  • energy, protein, or granola bars

  • olive oil and salt

  • packaged products like whole grain crackers or granola

supermarket GIF by Justin Timberlake

Did you know?

At room temperature, citrus fruits keep for several days.

Use The Right Equipment

Storage

  • Find a large box or basket, preferably with a lid, and call it your kitchen cabinet.

  • A collection of sealable baggies, plastic wrap, and binder clips will keep packages closed and make food last longer.

  • Use a mini-fridge if you plan to store milk or other perishable food.

Cooking

If you want to cook with heat, consider a rice cooker, electric pressure cooker, toaster oven, or electric water kettle.

*Please note: Some dorm rooms are very strict about what appliances you can and can't have. Be sure to check what's allowed!

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Some Easy Meal Options

Here's how to create a variety of tasty, healthy meals.

Without Appliances

Overnight Oats and Salads-in-a-Jar:

Throw some rolled oats, toppings of your choice, and water into a jar. By morning, you’ll have a delicious and healthy breakfast ready to go.

Salads-in-a-jar follow the same idea. Fill a jar with dressing and then layer ingredients like greens, veggies, rice, and cheese on top.

i love peanut butter GIF by CBC

Easy sandwiches:

Peanut butter and jelly with banana is a great option. You can substitute peanut butter with almond butter if you prefer.

Other healthy options:

  • canned fruit

  • avocado toast

  • three-bean salads

With Appliances

  • Use a blender to make a smoothie with almond milk, spinach, mixed berries, and bananas

  • Use a microwave for easy stuffed potatoes. Microwave a whole potato on high power for 6 to 8 minutes or until tender. Cut it in half and add your favorite seasoning and top with guacamole, chopped tomato, and cilantro.

healthy blender GIF by JLRReyes

Quiz

Alisha just moved to a new dorm without cooking appliances or a kitchen. What healthy option would you suggest she try?

Did you know?

You do not have to put overnight oats in the fridge right away. Soaked oats can easily remain at room temperature for 12 to 24 hours without any concern.

Take Action

Just because you don’t have a kitchen at your disposal doesn’t mean you can’t eat well.

Just follow these tips:

Unleash your inner cook!

saturday night live cooking GIF by HULU

License:

This Byte has been authored by

SB

Sukriti Babbar

Applying design thinking at the heart of L&D

This Byte has been reviewed by

LD

Lana Do

MD, MPH, BCMAS

English

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