If you’re heading back to college in a few weeks, odds are you’re going back with a bank account balance that reads something along the lines of: -$13.00. Yikes.

It’s no secret, college kids are broke.

But even if you just spent all your hard-earned summer money on a $500 text book that you’ll use for one week of your entire life, don’t feel disheartened. You may BE a broke college kid, but the good news is, you don’t have to EAT like a broke college kid.

If eating ramen and granola bars 24/7 isn’t your style, upgrade your menu this semester with this seemingly fancy AF back-to-school grocery list. For those times when you have too much swag for the dining commons, whip up something delicious with these classy dorm room staples.

(Note: The prices provided are based on national averages. They may not be accurate for your specific area.)

BREAKFAST

When you’re running out the door (most likely late for an exam), it may seem easy to skip breakfast. But bypassing the most important meal of the day is a good way to set your brain behind for the rest of your classes.

You can barely get through microeconomics fed and watered, how are you expecting to do it on an empty stomach?

The perfect thing for this moment is some overnight oats. These jars (or bowls, we love making them in mason jars, but you can choose the container you desire) of oatmeal are prepared overnight, so they’re ready to take on-the-go in the morning. They’re easy to customize, delicious to eat, and will make you believe you have more than $20 to your name.

You can also use those oats to make oatmeal right on the spot, if you actually have the time. Feel free to use milk – cashew milk or almond milk are MADE for these oats – or yogurt, as well as any type of fruit you’d like in your oats. The items below are just placeholders that can be easily swapped out.

OVERNIGHT OATS

Photo: Eat This

YOU’LL NEED

• Instant oats ($2.79)
• Almond milk ($2.99)
• Banana ($1.17/lb.)
• Peanut butter ($3.50)

1. Combine all your ingredients in a bowl and whisk them to combine.
2. Spoon into a jar with a tight-fitting lid.
3. Close the jar firmly and refrigerate overnight.

Note: Feel free to add extra ingredients (like chia seeds, vanilla extract, honey, etc.) if your budget allows it. This is just a basic recipe.

LUNCH/DINNER

Looking for an easy mid-day snack or post-class meal? With four simple, cheap ingredients, you can have two gourmet meals in a snap. Feel free to rotate between them, or add other fun ingredients when it’s time for a change.

The staple of these meals is the sweet potato. Sweet potatoes are amazing; they’re inexpensive to buy, can be transformed into a million different meals, and give your meals so much swag. So. Much. Swag.

In this case, you can make stuffed, Mexican-inspired sweet potatoes, using instant brown rice, corn, and black beans. When you run out of potatoes, you can make Mexican-style rice using your brown rice and veggies.

Two meals for the price of one, folks.

MEXICAN-INSPIRED STUFFED SWEET POTATOES

Photo: Pinch of Yum

YOU’LL NEED:

• Instant brown rice ($2.10)
• Sweet potatoes ($1.79/lb.)
• Canned corn ($1.99)
• Canned black beans ($2.19)

1. Cook your sweet potato in the microwave; there should be a setting for how long to cook it for. Stab your potato all over for thorough cooking.
2. Cook your corn in the microwave.
3. Cook your instant brown rice in the microwave.
4. Rinse off black beans; you can cook them, if desired, but you do not have to.
5. Cut your potato open and top it off with your rice and veggies.

Note: Dicing your sweet potato and making a sweet potato salad would also be a delicious way to enjoy this combination of flavors.

DESSERT

Even if you’re juicing and eating sweet potatoes for lunch, you’re in college. And that means that you can’t eat healthy all the time.

Whether it’s stress, late-night cravings, or some other source of munchies, a little chocolate treat has to be easily within your grasp. It’s basically a requirement for dorm living.

But can you have a dessert that’s quick to make AND delicious? In this case, yes, you can have your cake and eat it, too.

This chocolate mug cake produces a decadent chocolate cake using only three ingredients and only 60 seconds in the microwave. It doesn’t get any easier or yummier than this classy midnight treat.

CHOCOLATE MUG CAKE

Photo: Gluten Free Fix

YOU’LL NEED

• 1 egg ($1.68 for a dozen)
• 1/4 cup powdered sugar ($3.95)
• 1-2 tbsp. cocoa powder ($2.99)
• Mug

1. In mug, crack egg, add powdered sugar and cocoa powder.  Whisk together with a small whisk until well mixed.
2. Microwave for 50-60 seconds, until the cake is cooked through but not overcooked.

Note: Top off with a dollop of your favorite peanut butter or chocolate chips for extra indulgence.

SNACKS

The key for college snacks is efficiency. There has never been more of a need for grab-and-go snacks than there will be during your college years. And if that snack can be cheap, yummy, and healthy, then you basically win college. Hand you your diploma, you’re done.

One snack that fits all those qualifications? Trail mix. Make this homemade variety to feel like a grade-A boss and feel free to customize it with whatever nuts and other extras you love.

We highly suggest packing these up in a few little baggies at a time, so you’ll have a stash to grab from when you’re running out the door.

HOMEMADE TRAIL MIX 

Photo: RecipeHubs

YOU’LL NEED

• Peanut  ($2.29/lb.)
• Raisins ($3.29 for large bag)
• Dark chocolate chunks ($2.71 for chips)
• Sunflower seeds ($2.99 for bag)
• Plastic baggies ($1.89 for 90 bags)

1. Mix all your ingredients in a container.
2. Shake to thoroughly mix.
3. Separate some portions into little baggies to store for a rainy day.

TOTAL PRICE: $40.31

When your bank account AND your stomach are both happy, you know you’re winning. And with these seemingly gourmet meals at your disposal, you know you are winning this semester.

Do you have some fly dorm room meals you make on the cheap? Share your brilliant ideas with us in the comments section below.