One thing about being an online student is that you can get up and eat (almost!) whenever you want. Physical students have to wait for lunch breaks or until they get home. That being said, eating and cooking as any type of student can be difficult for some. Finding the time outside of studying and other commitments, without cutting off everything else, can be hard. Whether you’re an online student with a growling stomach at break time, or a physical student who just got home and their parents forgot to cook, here are some practical things and ways to cook in a reasonable time.
Making Time
First of all, you can’t cook without making the time for it. If you want to eat a small meal, you’ll need to make some time for that. One way you can do this is by adding it to your schedule. Online students need a lunch break too! So clear a good 30 minutes to 1 hour off your schedule, for cooking and eating.
Small Meals
Making a big family meal will obviously take a while, and you don’t have that time. Making a smaller meal will not only help you save time, but also help with cleanup. Plus, since you’ll be the only one eating it, you can make whatever you want without worrying about others’ preferences. Now, without further ado, let’s get into these small meals!
Pancakes
There are a number of single-serving pancake recipes, and they’re super convenient. While they aren’t always the healthiest, they’re definitely tasty. All you need is an egg, some milk, flour, sugar (and some other things) and you’ve got yourself two pancakes! Plus, making less means you’re not sitting at your frying pan and cooking a thousand pancakes.
Rice dishes
I’m not talking about a classic, fancy omurice. That would take lots of skill and effort. However, it’s really easy to cook some rice, stir-fry some veggies and maybe add some leftover chicken or whatever you’ve got in your fridge. The range is big on this one, from tasty fried rice to a gorgeous teriyaki chicken bowl. That being said, lots of us wouldn’t take out a fresh packet of meat for a single meal, if you would, great! But I know I wouldn’t, so use whatever’s in your fridge! Just add it to a skillet with maybe a tablespoon of water, then refry it! Or just pop it in the microwave if you don’t want to be fancy.
Homemade Pasta
It might sound intimidating for some, but it’s actually really simple! Grab an egg, about half a cup of flour, some salt and olive oil, and you’ve got it! I know recipes say it needs to rest, but let’s be real, most of us don’t have the time that takes. If you knead it, knead only until incorporated. Then once that’s done, roll it out really thin and cut it into whatever shape you want. Fettuccine, tagliatelle, pappardelle, the possibilities are endless! And if you don’t want plain, dry homemade pasta (which is delicious on its own), check out some easy Aglio e olio recipes. Something as simple as scampi, alfredo, cacio e pepe, even some sort of tomato base. The best part? It’s all yours.
Now those were just a few of the many possibilities of tiny, student-friendly meals. There’s so much more I won’t go into detail for, think pizza toast, sandwiches, leftovers, rice bowls, salads, eggs, there’s so many things you can make. Don’t over-complicate things, just look up a recipe and make it! So, whether you’re an online student at home and can’t help but think about food, or you just got back from school and really don’t want to do your homework and happen to be conveniently hungry, make a meal! Chef it up! Grab a spatula and a frying pan, and you’re ready to go!
Sources:
https://www.delish.com/cooking/recipe-ideas/g129/rice-recipes/
https://www.taste.com.au/quick-easy/galleries/top-100-easy-dinner-recipes/biccuul7?page=14
https://www.kingarthurbaking.com/blog/2025/02/21/different-types-of-pasta
https://nfcihospitality.com/popular-types-of-pasta-in-india-best-pasta/
