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5 Microwave Meals to Make When You're Over the Dining Hall

By HERWriter
 
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microwave pasta Easy eating in a dorm room using a microwave.

Come my second year living in the dorms, I refused to eat at the dining hall. Tasteless rice? No thanks. Questionable tilapia? I don’t think so. I could not and would not put bland food with low nutritional value in my body.  It was my sophomore year of college that my microwave saved me. Here are some yummy recipes to cook up when all you have squeezed into the corner of your bedroom is the dynamic duo: the mini-fridge and microwave. 

1. 5-Minute Vegetarian Burrito Bowl

burrito bowl

Al62/Fotolia

Speaking of dynamic duos, just take a look at rice and beans. Together the grain-legume pairing has all necessary amino acids. In this vegetarian burrito bowl, you have the ability to customize it by adding salsa, cheese, avocado or veggies. As for the beans and rice, they just need to be tossed in the microwave. The beans should cook in 30 to 60 seconds, while the rice can cook in 1 to 3 minutes, depending on if you opt for frozen pre-cooked rice or Minute Rice. Goodbye Chipotle.Get the recipe here.

2. Microwaveable Salmon

salmon

Cattalin/Pixabay

Salmon is a super fish and packed with omega-3 fatty acids. And yes, you can cook fish in the microwave. All you need is to rinse the salmon, wrap it in plastic wrap and microwave for 3 ½ minutes. Make sure to check the salmon is cooked all the way through! To add some flavor, add lemon, salt and pepper, parsley or seasonings of choice. Get the recipe here.

3. Poached Eggs

poached egg

Manuta/Fotolia 

 Make your own McMuffin-a-la-microwave.  It’s simple to make a poached egg, which is great because they contain a lot of protein. Cook a bowl with an egg and water for 1 minute and you’re done! You can add the egg on top of an English muffin or a piece of wheat toast. Get the recipe here.

4. Microwaveable Pasta

pasta

Pawel Rekas/Unsplash 

A bowl of pasta is satisfying and quick to put together. To cook, put uncooked pasta into a bowl, fill the bowl with water so the pasta is submerged a couple inches and put in the microwave 3-4 minutes longer than the suggested cooking time on the box. I always liked to add salt, dill and feta cheese! Get the recipe here.

5. Couscous Greek Salad

couscous greek salad

grinchh/fotolia

This recipe is healthy and so simple you can make it in a mug. Microwave chicken stock or water in a mug for three minutes, then add couscous, cover mug, and let stand for five minutes. Add lemon juice, olive oil and salt. Then mix in your favorite toppings like feta cheese, cucumber, tomato, greek olives or fresh veggies. Get the recipe here.

Read more in Being HER
1) Webb, Denise. The Perfect Pairing. Today's Dietitian. Retrieved 23 August 2016. http://www.todaysdietitian.com/newarchives/120914p36.shtml 2) Bane, Liv. 5-Minute Vegetarian Burrito Bowl. Healthy Liv. Retrieved 23 August 2016. http://www.healthy-liv.com/5-minute-vegetarian-burrito-bowl/ 3) Daniluk, Julie. 7 health benefits of salmon to improve you vitality. Chatelaine. Retrieved 23 August 2016. http://www.chatelaine.com/health/diet/seven-health-benefits-of-salmon-and-a-vitamin-rich-summer-recipe/ 4) Currah, Alice. How to Microwave Salmon. Savory Sweet Life. Retrieved 23 August 2016. http://savorysweetlife.com/2011/02/how-to-microwave-salmon/ 5) Peabody, Baker. How to Make Pasta in the Microwave. Tablespoon. Retrieved 23 August 2016. http://www.tablespoon.com/posts/how-to-make-pasta-in-the-microwave/0812d5fe-4345-432b-87bd-c83589a219d8 6) Batchelar, Rozzie. Why eggs are healthy. Jamie Oliver. Retrieved 23 August 2016. http://www.jamieoliver.com/news-and-features/features/why-eggs-are-healthy/#W0uxJxwJcduPJUrw.97 7) Microwavable Poached Eggs. Food. Retrieved 23 August 2016. http://www.food.com/recipe/microwave-poached-eggs-bon-appetit-magazine-455672 8) Cook, Michelle. 9 Health Benefits of Sweet Potatoes. Care2. Retrieved 23 August 2016. http://www.care2.com/greenliving/9-reasons-to-love-sweet-potatoes.html 9) Zea, Allison. Southwestern Stuffed Sweet Potatoes. Domestic Superhero. Retrieved 23 August 2016. http://domesticsuperhero.com/2016/01/14/southwestern-stuffed-sweet-potatoes/

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We value and respect our HERWriters' experiences, but everyone is different. Many of our writers are speaking from personal experience, and what's worked for them may not work for you. Their articles are not a substitute for medical advice, although we hope you can gain knowledge from their insight.