5 Quick and healthy uni meals

Let’s face it, you’re always on the go as a uni student. Between lectures, assignments, part-time jobs and a busy social calendar, squeezing in time to cook can feel like a chore. But here’s the thing: you don’t have to settle for instant noodles and energy drinks every day of the week. Here are some really easy student meals that won’t cost a fortune or take forever to make. They’re prepared with minimal equipment, perfect for small student rooms or shared kitchens in student accommodation. And packed with goodness to keep you going from early morning lectures and sports practice to late night study sessions.

Why bother with healthy eating at uni?

Uni life is full on. When you’re busy, it’s way easier to grab a ready meal, order a takeaway, or snack your way through the day instead of making a proper meal. We get the temptation to go for whatever’s quickest but eating well at uni is for worth making time for.

Healthy uni meals can help you:

Stay focused in lectures

Improve your mood (and study motivation!)

Avoid afternoon crashes

Recover faster after sports

Feel better physically and mentally

Build healthy habits that last beyond uni

Cooking in student accommodation

No kitchen in your student room and not keen on cooking around your flatmates? No worries! You can prep meals in advance or stick to recipes that are super quick and fuss free, like one-pot dishes and sheet pan meals.

No excuses. These healthy uni meals are easy to whip up in communal kitchens, so you can even rally your mates and make it a fun group cooking session. You won’t need a load of equipment or ingredients, just a few staples and you’re all set.

5 Game-changing quick and healthy uni meals

01

Superfood breakfast wrap

01

Superfood breakfast wrap

Prep: 2 mins | Cook: 5 mins | Serves: 2

What you need

1. 2 wholemeal tortilla wraps

2. 4 eggs

3. 2 handfuls baby spinach

4. 1 tin black beans, drained

5. 60g grated cheese

How to make

Toss beans in a hot pan until warm. Move them to one side and scramble eggs with the spinach until fluffy. Mix everything together and season with salt and pepper.

To serve, divide the filling between your wraps. Top with cheese, fold and enjoy. It’s the perfect all-day breakfast (even for supper!)

02

Chickpea power bowl

02

Chickpea power bowl

Prep: 5 mins | Cook: 10 mins | Serves: 2

What you need

1. 1 tin chickpeas, drained

2. 1 bag spinach

3. 1 avocado

4. 2 tbsp olive oil

5. 1 lemon (juiced)

How to make

Heat oil in a pan, chuck in the chickpeas and cook for 5-7 mins until crispy. Season with salt and pepper if you have, then add spinach one handful at a time until wilted. Serve with sliced avocado and a big squeeze of lemon.

This student meal is packed with protein, healthy fats, and loads of vitamins to power you through uni. If you want to bulk it up, butternut squash and pumpkin seeds are a delicious addition.

03

Sweet potato & black bean wrap

03

Sweet potato & black bean wrap

Prep: 5 mins | Cook: 15 mins | Serves: 2

What you need

1. 1 large sweet potato, diced

2. 1 tbsp olive oil

3. 1 tsp smoked paprika

4. 1 tin black beans, drained

5. 2 whole wheat wraps

How to make
Toss sweet potato with olive oil and paprika, then roast or pan-fry for 10-12 mins. To serve, warm wraps and fill with sweet potato and black beans. Season with salt and pepper, fold and enjoy.

Feel free to throw in some cooked mince if you fancy more protein. You can also switch the wraps for brown rice, or add lettuce, diced avo and a dollop of Greek yogurt for extra flavour and volume. This is an ultra-flexible, healthy student meal you’ll want to eat on repeat.

04

Sheet-pan salmon and broccoli

04

Sheet-pan salmon and broccoli

Prep: 3 mins | Cook: 15 mins | Serves: 2

What you need

1. 2 salmon fillets

2. 1 large broccoli head, chopped

3. 2 sweet potatoes, diced

4. 2 tbsp olive oil

5. 1 lemon, juiced

How to make

Drizzle sweet potatoes with olive oil and bake in the oven for 10 mins at 220°C. Add salmon and broccoli, squeeze over some lemon juice, and bake for another 12 mins.

Once the veggies are tender and the salmon flakes easily with a fork, your student meal is ready to enjoy. It’s full of healthy fats and antioxidants. Eat as is, or serve with quinoa, brown rice or couscous, it’s your call.

05

Pesto pasta salad

05

Pesto pasta salad

Prep: 5 mins | Cook: 10 mins | Serves: 2

What you need

1. 200g pasta (fusilli)

2. 2 tbsp pesto

3. 1 handful cherry tomatoes, halved

4. 1 handful rocket

5. 30g grated parmesan

How to make

Boil pasta for 8-10 mins. Once cooked, rinse under cold water, and toss with pesto, tomatoes and rocket. Sprinkle with parmesan cheese to finish, and you’re all set! It’s that easy.

If you want to add extra protein, steak or grilled chicken goes best (with some pine nuts to top!) Either way, this healthy uni meal is great for meal prep and tastes even better the next day.

Top tips for making easy healthy student meals

Batch cook when you can: If you’ve got a Sunday afternoon free, make a big portion of these healthy student meals and freeze them for the week ahead. That way, no matter how busy your schedule gets, you can relax knowing you have something nutritious and filling ready to tuck into.

Stock up on basics: Things like pasta, rice, eggs, and frozen veg can make dozens of different meals. Make sure to keep these stocked, along with basic spices like paprika, garlic powder, salt and pepper so you can easily whip up healthy uni meals without extra trips to the store.

Make it social: If you’re staying in student accommodation, cook with your flatmates or meal prep with friends. Not only is it more fun, but you can split the costs, take turns grocery shopping, and help keep each other motivated.

Making quick and healthy uni meals shouldn’t be a mission. It’s not to say you won’t order a cheeky Nando’s ever again. But having a few tried and trusted healthy uni meals in your back pocket can make a big difference. Start with one or two healthy recipes and build from there. Your future self will thank you. Plus, when you graduate and join the real world, you’ll already know how to feed yourself properly which is a huge life skill that many people take too long to figure out!