When time and space are limited, no-bake recipes can be a college student’s best friend. Make these ahead of time to have delicious, healthy options at your fingertips. 

Protein Bites

Requiring only about 10 minutes of active prep, no-bake protein bites are a healthy and easy snack option that can satisfy your cravings throughout the entire week. The best part? They are highly customizable. Substitute the peanut butter with your nut butter of choice, omit the coconut flakes or seeds, experiment with extracts other than vanilla, or add ingredients such as dried blueberries—the possibilities are endless. 

*Recipe by Gimme Some Oven

Ingredients:

• 1 cup dry oatmeal
• 2/3 cup toasted coconut flakes
• 1/2 cup peanut butter
• 1/2 cup ground flax seeds
• 1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips
• 1/3 cup honey or agave nectar
• 1 tablespoon chia seeds (optional)
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions:

1. Throw all ingredients in a bowl and mix thoroughly. 
2. Cover and refrigerate about a half an hour.
3. Roll mixture into balls of desired size.
4. Store in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 1 week.

Overnight Oats

With minimal time between snoozing the alarm that second time and rushing out the door to class, mornings in college can be stressful. For some students, making it to that 8 a.m. class means giving up precious breakfast prep time. Overnight oats can help combat this time crunch and ensure a healthy, hearty meal with almost no morning prep. 

Base Ingredients:

• Old-fashioned oats
• Milk 
• Yogurt (optional)
• Maple syrup, vanilla, or other sweetener (optional)

Mix-In Options:

• Cinnamon
• Fresh fruit
• Coconut flakes
• Dried fruit
• Chocolate chips
• Nuts
• Seeds (chia, flax, etc.)

Directions:

1. Place oats and milk in a mason jar (or other sealed container) following a 1:1 ratio. Using a 1/2 cup of each is a good starting point, with the option of adding more milk for thinner consistency or less for thicker consistency.
2. If yogurt is desired, add in the same amount used in the milk-oats ratio. 
3. Sweeten to taste. 
4. Seal the lid tightly and shake until all ingredients are combined.
5. Place in refrigerator and head to bed. 
6. Wake up, mix in additional ingredients of choice and enjoy cold.