4 Protein-Filled Recipes to Fuel Your Busy College Lifestyle

By Meghen Jones

If you’ve been a college student for any length of time, you know that there’s been a time or two where you have felt drained of all energy with a long list of things to do and no idea of how you would make it through each task. But if you retrace your steps from the bedroom to the front door, you might realize that you’ve been skipping the most important meal of the day—breakfast—while racing against the clock to make it to class on time.

Breakfast is your most vital meal of the day for multiple reasons: it kicks your metabolism into gear, lowers levels of bad cholesterol, and decreases your chance of diabetes, heart disease, and obesity. Essentially, you’re missing out on all of the positive nutrients you need to increase your energy when you need it most.

But again, there’s always that issue of time when it comes to getting out of the door in the morning. With this in mind, uCribs’ has composed a list of 4 of our favorite recipes that will not only provide you with the energy you so desperately crave but also allow you the time you need to compose yourself before that 8 AM lecture on Organic Chemistry.

Acai Bowl 

Start your day feeling refreshed and energized with a fresh Acai Bowl filled with fruity goodness, hearty oatmeal, and of course, acai powder and chia seeds. These final ingredients offer a powerful combination of healthy fats, fiber, antioxidants, iron, and calcium.

All in all, you really can’t go wrong with this quick, simple dish. The oatmeal will fill you up for the entire morning while the fruit will be a sweet treat for your taste buds. Seriously, it’s a win-win for any on-the-go college student.

Ingredients:

1 cup rice milk

1 scoop acai powder

1/3 cup of soaked oatmeal

2 tablespoons dried cranberries

1/4 cup strawberries

1/4 cup bananas

1/4 cup raspberries

1 tablespoon chia seeds

Directions:

1. Rinse your fruit with water.
2. Mix all of the ingredients together in a bowl and enjoy!

Avocado Toast with Eggs, Spinach, And Tomatoes

There’s nothing like the creamy, delicious consistency of an avocado, and if you consider yourself an avocado lover, then you are going to want to head to your kitchen pronto to put this delectable recipe into motion. All it takes is a toaster, in addition to these basic ingredients:  avocado, eggs, spinach, and tomatoes.

Not only will you fulfill your seemingly insatiable avocado craving, but you will also be adding a nutrient-rich food to your breakfast repertoire that improves cholesterol levels as well as vision, prevents osteoporosis and other chronic diseases, and serves as a natural detoxicant for improved digestion. Let’s just say it’s a way better option than Taco Bell’s Breakfast Crunch Wrap or a McDonald’s McGriddle.

Ingredients:

1/2 teaspoon minced shallot

1 cup packed spinach leaves

1 large egg, lightly beaten

Salt and black pepper to taste

1 slice bread, toasted

1/2 avocado, pit and skin removed

2 tomatoes, sliced

Directions:

1. Spray a small skillet with non-stick cooking spray then add the minced shallot and spinach. Cook over medium heat until spinach is wilted. Place in a small bowl and set aside.
2. Spray the pan again. Pour the beaten egg into the pan and season with salt and black pepper to taste. Cook over medium heat until soft-scrambled, about 2 minutes.
3. Mash the avocado with a fork and spread evenly on a piece of toast. Top the avocado toast with spinach, scrambled eggs, and tomato slices. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Serve immediately.

Kale Sunrise Green Smoothie

When you think of greens, you can probably recall all those traumatizing moments where you were forced to eat all of your veggies before you left the dinner table. But, here’s the thing: you’re no longer that stubborn kid you once were, and leafy green veggies are the bees’ knees, just as mom promised.

Leafy greens are high in antioxidants, full of minerals, and provide a natural source of fiber. Not only do they improve your metabolism, but they also make you feel fuller for a longer period of time, lift your overall mood, and keep you hydrated. And we know you’re going to need to embrace that mood boost during your three-hour Wednesday morning lecture with one of the most monotone professors on campus.

Blaze through his or her never-ending class with a little help from this Kale Sunrise Green Smoothie, which will provide you with you with the fuel you need to make it through the day and some delicious tropical flavors that mimic your summer break. Ah, anything to take you back to the beach, right?

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups coconut water

1 large ripe pear

1 medium ripe banana

1 orange, peeled and any seeds removed

1 cup pineapple chunks

8 medium kale leaves

1 cup ice

Instructions:

1. For a high-speed blender: Place the ingredients in the blender in the order listed. Start on low, turning to high until completely blended.
2. For a regular blender: Puree the coconut water and kale. Add the remaining ingredients and blend until smooth.

Strawberry and Quinoa Parfait

According to Shrek’s best friend, Donkey, “Everyone likes parfait,” and with layers of your favorite yogurt, fresh fruit, crunchy granola, and honey, we seriously question those—like Shrek—who claim to not like this very rewarding and mobile breakfast. Yes, you can grab it for the campus shuttle ride or enjoy it in the campus courtyard right before class begins.

And when it comes to maintaining a steady level of energy throughout the day, a Strawberry Quinoa Parfait is where it’s at! With three sources of protein—Greek yogurt, quinoa, and almonds—Strawberry Quinoa Parfait is the perfect way to stay motivated as you get back on track at the beginning of the Fall semester.

Ingredients:

1 cup Greek yogurt

2 tablespoons honey

5 strawberries, stemmed and quartered

1/4 cup cooked quinoa

1 tablespoon sliced almonds

Directions:

1. Mix the Greek yogurt and honey together in a small bowl.
2. Spoon 1/3 of the yogurt mixture into a glass. Top with 1/3 of the quartered strawberries and 1/3 of the quinoa. Sprinkle with a few almonds slices.
3. Repeat with the remaining yogurt, strawberries, quinoa, and almonds, so that there are three layers total. Drizzle with additional honey, if desired.

Get the energy you need most with these 4 quick, simple, and most importantly, healthy recipes. Whether you’re a morning bird or a night owl, everyone needs a little motivation to get out of bed in the AM—especially after a long, relaxing summer break! And what better way to fuel up for a long day of lectures, group discussions, and in-class projects than a hearty, nutritious breakfast? I know we just used all the bird metaphors, but we are literally hearing crickets…

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