Holiday season has come and gone, as have the torrents of (excessive) delicious food and drink. And although most people have given up on the notion of New Year’s Resolutions, the dawn of a new semester might just be the prime time to start modifying your meal plans for the coming few months. It might be hard to imagine the possibility of eating healthy food with minimum effort or time commitment, but it’s absolutely possible. All you need is a stovetop, oven, and basic utensils and you’ll be good to go. Let these five recipes guide you to a better, tastier semester where you’ll actually fulfill your resolutions.

1. Salmon

Although a lot of people are reluctant to make fish due to it’s smell and the perception that it’s difficult, baking salmon in the oven is one of the most reliable and healthy foods you can get.

What you need (for 3 filets):

• 3 filets of salmon
• ½ tablespoon of lemon juice
• ½ tablespoon of soy sauce
• ½ tablespoon of honey
• ½ tablespoon of olive oil
• Salt/Pepper/whatever seasoning is at hand

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
2. In a measuring cup, combine all of the liquids and seasonings
3. Lay the salmon filets out onto a greased & aluminum foil covered baking pan
4. Coat the salmon with the marinade and allow to sit for 5 minutes
5. Bake in the oven for 15 minutes

2. Sautéed Brown Rice

It’s widely acknowledged that brown rice has far more health benefits than white rice, but if your palette doesn’t agree with it, you can substitute in white rice.

What you need (for 2 servings):

• ½ cup brown rice
• ¾ cup water
• 1 small onion, diced
• Frozen vegetable mix
• 3 tablespoons of soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon of olive oil
• Salt

Directions:

1. Pour in brown rice, salt and water into a pot and bring the water to a boil (leave pot uncovered)
2. After the rice has come to a boil, turn the stove down to the lowest heat setting, and allow to sit, covered, for 10 minutes
3. Sautée the onion on medium heat, and allow the frozen veggies to get cooked in the microwave (most bags of mixed frozen veggies are made so that you can fully cook them in the microwave in only 5 minutes or so. If nuking your food makes you uncomfortable, just thaw the veggies by pouring them into a pot of boiling water for 5 minutes; drain)
4. Mix your desired amount of veggies into the pan with your onions, and allow the moisture to get cooked off
5. When your rice is fully cooked, add it to the pan and mix everything together before adding the soy sauce

3. Corny Quinoa

Quinoa is a superfood, which essentially means that you’ll feel healthy just buying it. It boasts of a myriad of health benefits, and when cooked correctly, is absolutely delicious.

What you need (for 2 servings):

• ½ cup (dry) quinoa
• 1 cup water
• 1 tablespoon soy sauce
• ½ cup frozen sweet corn
• 1 small onion, finely diced
• Salt/pepper/whatever seasoning is on hand

Directions:

1. Add quinoa and water into pot and bring to a boil on medium to high heat
2. Once the water is boiling, turn the heat down to a simmer and keep covered for 10 minutes
3. Sautée the onion in whatever seasoning you have
4. Thaw the frozen corn (either in the microwavable bag or in a pot of boiling water)
5. Once the quinoa is finished, add the corn and sautéed onion and soy sauce

4. Cabbage Stir Fry

Cabbage is one of those foods that is packed with vitamins yet has a taste that resembles shoelaces. Stir frying in olive oil (which is packed with monounsaturated fats and antioxidants), gives it a much needed flavor boost. Feel free to add whatever vegetables you think will spice it up!

What you need (for two servings):

• ½ cup finely chopped carrots
• ½ cup sliced onions
• ½ medium cabbage
• ½ sliced red bell pepper
• ½ tablespoon olive oil
• Salt/pepper/whatever seasoning is on hand

Directions:

1. Over medium heat, sautée onions and carrots with olive oil and seasoning
2. Add cabbage and bell pepper after the onions and carrots are softened
3. *You can add meat or fish to this, or substitute the cabbage with spinach*

5. White Wine Chicken

The best part about this recipe is that you can pan sear, or boil the chicken, completely dependent on your preference. The only crucial part of this is the presence of alcohol (which I’m sure many of you relate to), that ensures you have really soft, tender chicken.
*Note: White cooking wine can be substituted with Franzia. I do not recommend Vlad.*

What you need (for 2 medium chicken breasts):

• 2 chicken breasts
• ½ cup white wine
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• ¼ cup potato or corn starch
• ½ cup flour
• Salt/pepper/whatever seasoning you have on hand

Directions:

1. Let the chicken soak in white wine for 10 minutes
2. While the chicken is sitting in the wine, in a shallow dish combine the starch, flour, and seasoning
3. Take off excess remaining wine from the chicken
4. Coat the chicken in the dry flour mix
5. To pan sear, preheat a pan, line with olive oil and then sear for 7 minutes on either side (medium heat)
6. To boil, leave in a boiling pot of water for approximately 15 minutes

Here’s to hoping that you left all of those sad nights of ramen and instant mac in 2016!