Fast-Food Meals

1) Chik-Fil-A Grilled Nuggets

There aren’t a lot of well known fast food restaurants that are cheap and healthy. Burger King and McDonald’s both have value menus with food ranging from one to three dollars, but the food isn’t healthy. Brooks believes there's at least one healthy, cheap option at fast food restaurants. According to Brooks, “If you're going to Chick-Fil-A you can get their grilled chicken nuggets.” The decision to eat grilled chicken, rather than fried chicken, will benefit your health. An eight piece order of grilled chicken nuggets from Chick-Fil-A, without a side, is under five dollars. A 12 piece order of grilled chicken nuggets is just under six dollars. Ordering either meal with a side is going to put you over five dollars. If you do get a side, forgo the fries and replace it with a healthier option like the kale crunch. Water is also a great replacement for soda in terms of health and finances. A lot of fast food restaurants will give you a cup for free if you drink water there. 

2) Taco Bell’s Tacos 

This isn’t an ideal healthy, cheap food option, but it works well as a last resort. The soft and crunchy tacos from Taco Bell cost less than two dollars. They aren’t packed with protein but do contain around ten grams of it. They also come with cheese and lettuce, which each contain different health benefits of their own. Additionally, they are just under 200 calories and are low in fat when compared to the more expensive items on the menu. If you find yourself craving Taco Bell for lunch or dinner, go for it, but get their tacos. 

Ten-Dollar Meals

Home-Cooked Meals

1) Egg Dishes

There are a few options here depending on how comfortable you are with cooking. Cooking in large batches is always a good decision too because you can store the food to eat throughout the week. With that in mind, Lorenc suggests making “egg dishes like casseroles and omelets”. The typical breakfast casserole or omelet contains eggs, sausage, bell pepper, onion, and cheese. 

Eggs are more expensive now than they have been in the past, but to make a breakfast casserole or omelet they are a necessity. Grocery stores sell them for around three dollars per carton. Breakfast sausage is another essential part of the casserole or omelet. A package of breakfast sausage can be bought for three to four dollars. The brand of breakfast sausage is going to dictate the price. Fresh, unpackaged bell peppers and onions are cheaper than the pre-packaged options available in grocery stores. In total, the cost to make a breakfast casserole or omelet is around ten dollars. Don’t forget, having a place to store the casserole is important too because you can save it to eat throughout the week. This comes in handy if you ever don’t have time to cook a meal. As a result, the cost of eating it for a meal each day is actually less than a ten dollar meal.  

2) Chicken and Rice

If you're looking for more protein in your home cooked meals then Lorenc suggests meals based around chicken. What makes chicken a great option is that it can also be purchased in bulk and frozen. One possible meal option here is chicken with rice. To make the meal even more healthy you could add a vegetable on the side. According to Healthline, a single chicken breast contains up to 54 grams of protein, and is the most popular type of chicken cuts. The cost of a three piece package of chicken breast is around ten dollars. For a single serving of chicken and rice it isn’t necessary to use an entire chicken breast. Using half of a chicken breast will stretch your money out. A package of brown rice can be purchased for around one dollar at grocery stores. Brown rice is a healthier option to use than white rice. The vegetable to eat along with the chicken and rice is up to you. Choosing one that is cheap is the best decision to help with eating on a budget. 

Fast-Food Meals

3) Culver’s Grilled Chicken Sandwich with Steamed Broccoli

Most of the food options at fast food restaurants are not five dollar meals and are closer to ten dollars. Unfortunately, most of them are not healthy. Using ten dollars to cook food at home for yourself is the better choice, but not everybody can cook for themselves at home. If you do resort to purchasing a ten dollar fast food meal, Brooks suggests the grilled chicken sandwich from Culver’s, “with steamed broccoli on the side instead of french fries”. Steamed broccoli is a much healthier option for a side than french fries. 

4) Sub Sandwich or Sandwich Wrap

Another option suggested by Lorenc is a sub sandwich or sandwich wrap. When picking a sandwich or wrap you should go with the whole grain options because, “they are full of B vitamins, fiber, and protein,” Lorenc mentioned. In addition to that you will be able to put vegetables and lean cut protein on it. Choosing a sandwich that is larger will come with saturated fats, which you should try to minimize. If you do get a large sandwich or wrap you don’t have to eat it all in one sitting. Eating half of it for lunch and the rest of it for dinner is an efficient way to save money. If fruit is an option for a side you should choose that rather than potato chips, no matter the brand. 

5) Panera “Pick 2”

The Panera “pick 2” is also a healthy fast food meal that is relatively cheap. When ordering this meal, you are allowed to pick two items from a select list of food options. If you do decide to order this meal be sure to get either the cup of soup, the half salad, the half sandwich, or the chef’s chicken sandwich. The chicken sandwich is crispy and not grilled, but it’s a better choice than the cup of macaroni and cheese they offer. 

All the food options here are intended to provide you with a healthy, cheap alternative to campus food. Not everyone can afford a meal plan and some college campus food isn’t good. If you find yourself in either of those situations, I hope you take it upon yourself to try each of the meals provided in this article.