Cooking can be a pain, especially for a college student. With busy schedules it can be hard to find time to make yourself meals. Cooking at home can save you money and improve your health, and I find it to be very therapeutic. Here are some meals that are relatively cheap, easy to make in a shorter amount of time, and best of all, very tasty! They will add variety to your diet and keep you from eating fast food for every meal.

1. Bacon Ranch Chicken Bake

For all you ranch lovers out there, this is the meal for you! Just pick up some chicken, smear it with ranch dressing, put some bacon on it, and bake at 400 degrees for 25-35 (or until chicken is cooked), then take it out, top it off with some shredded cheese and put it back in for a few minutes to let the cheese melt. It's best to make multiple pieces of chicken at once--then you can have leftovers for the next day or two!

Fun Fact: Baking chicken is a healthier alternative to frying it in a pan, and it helps preserve flavor.

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2. Queso Chicken Bake

Here is another easy chicken dish--this time with a little kick. Pick up some canned corn, black beans, and Ro*tel tomatoes with green chiles, and Velveeta cheese. Put corn, beans, and tomatoes, and small cubes of cheese on top, and bake covered in foil at 375 degrees for 45-55 minutes. This dish may take a little longer, but the tomatoes with green chile add an excellent flavor. Best served with white rice, chips, or tortillas, as it gets pretty juicy.

Fun Fact: One meat serving size for an adult is about the size of a deck of cards.

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3. Chicken and Mashed Potato Bowl

Everyone loves chicken nuggets, especially college students. Get some mashed potatoes (instant ones work), corn (I prefer the frozen Steamfresh brand), shredded cheese, gravy, and of course, chicken nuggets. Once all the items are prepared, add them to your bowl in whatever way you would like!

Fun Fact: Varying your meals from day to day is an important part of good nutrition!

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4. One Skillet Cheesy Taco Pasta

Everyone loves Mexican food, but Chipotle can get expensive after a while. Cook up some ground beef in pan, and then add in the frozen corn, taco seasoning, salsa, and water. Then add in the uncooked pasta (macaroni noodles work best). Mix all together and enjoy!

Fun Fact: Counting calories is not the most effective way to monitor weight—portion size is.

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5. G.A.B.L.T.E. – Grilled Avocado BLT with Egg Sandwich

This sandwich is filling, full of flavor, and healthier than getting a jimmy johns sandwich. Use half a bagel, and grill some avocado. Layer the lettuce, tomato, bacon, and a fried egg, and place the avocado on top. This meal is good for either breakfast, lunch, or dinner—and is always tasty!

Fun Fact: Avocados provide a healthy amount of monounsaturated fat which is easily burned for energy.

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