As we all know or will soon know, dining hall food is not the most healthy, calorie-conscious or nonetheless delicious (you can read about why I stopped eating dining hall article here). Because of these circumstances, I have mastered the art of avoiding the dining hall and being resourceful by throwing together healthy, dorm friendly food and I’m here to share them with you:

1. Rice Cakes

Buy whichever flavor pleases your palate. I usually went with the Quaker Lightly Salted kind because I could really change it up each time I ate them. Peanut butter and jelly (maybe some sliced bananas), parkay (has a longer shelf life than butter), or egg salad were some of my favorite toppings. These are good for snacking or a light meal.

2. Ezekiel Bread

This type of bread is much healthier than the dining hall white bread or even whole wheat bread because it’s made from sprouted grain. Substitute the rice cakes I listed above with your favorite sandwich fixings, and it’s a perfect for a healthy on-the-go meal. Tip: freeze the bread as soon as you buy it and just thaw the slices you need when you make a sandwich; you’ll give your bread a longer shelf-life.

3. Frozen Grilled Chicken

Definitely a must have because it can be eaten so many ways. Just warm the chicken up in the microwave according to the instructions and bam, you have a protein for your meal. I liked to buy brown rice from the Panda Express on my campus to have as a side dish, but you can substitute with anything you like: frozen fruit, frozen veggies, even a bag of potato chips if that’s all you have—the possibilities are endless! Hint: pick up a container of beans and rice and a few tortillas from a nearby Mexican restaurant, chop the chicken, and add the ingredients together for chicken, beans, and rice tacos; top with some salsa or taco sauce. Ole!

4. Hard Boiled Eggs

These are easy to find in your campus convenience store. Eat them plain as a meal or as a snack. Mash up the eggs, add a bit of mayo (packets are available at the dining hall), and there, your eggs are a completely different meal. Add the egg salad to a rice cake or ezekiel bread. You can even pick up a bagel from your campus Starbucks for a perfect breakfast or lunch food.

5. Single Serve Tuna Packets

Perfect for a quick, post-workout high protein meal. Add mayo (again packets are in the dining hall) for a delicious tuna salad. Pair with a small garden salad, which you can find at your campus store or food-court. No can-opener required, just rip the package open.

Quick Picks:

Sliced apples (dip in peanut butter)

Baby carrots (dip in hummus)

Snow peas

Peanut butter pretzels

Regular pretzels

Granola bars

Protein bars

Bananas (dip in peanut butter)

Frozen fruit (sprinkle on Sugar in the Raw for a healthier dessert alternative, packets are available at your campus coffee shop)

Chocolate covered rice cakes