It’s that time of year again—a few months into school, and we’re all growing tired of dining hall food and Ramen noodles. Many of us ache for times like parents weekend or trips back home, so our mom and dad can take us out to fancy restaurants and stock up the house with the yummiest of snacks. As a college student on a tight food budget, it can be difficult to keep your meals exciting while our stomachs scream for something new. To help feed your hunger for change, here is a list of some cheap, tasty treats you can easily make in your dorm room.

1. Oatmeal with Peanut Butter and Bananas

Ingredients:

• Oatmeal
• Peanut Butter
• 1 Banana

Estimated price: $7.00

If you have a microwave in your dorm room, oatmeal is a smart meal option. Not only is it easy to make, but there are endless different ways to customize your oatmeal by throwing in different ingredients. One idea is to mix in peanut butter and top it off with slices of banana. Peanut butter on a banana is a classic favorite for snacking, but mixing it in with oatmeal makes it a complete, filling meal. It can also be a nice, warm comfort food for when Boston weather hits the negatives. Sprinkle on some cinnamon for an extra twist. If peanut butter and banana isn’t your favorite, try adding assorted fruits like raspberries and blueberries, and substituting water for almond milk. Yum!

2. Mug Cakes

Ingredients vary, but most include:

• Eggs
• Flour
• Sugar

Estimated price: $15.00

How many times have you wanted to bake, but sadly remembered that you don’t have an oven in your dorm room? Well, those days are over! Mug cakes allow you to bake your own mini-cake without needing an oven at all. You simply combine the ingredients in a mug and cook it right in your microwave. You can make these sugary sweets in as little as five minutes, and there are plenty of different kinds to make. If you cruise the web a bit, you can easily find a large variety of recipes. With the endless different options—s’mores, pumpkin, nutella—there is certainly one that will delight your taste buds!

3. Popcorn with Melted Chocolate

Ingredients:

• Popcorn
• Melted chocolate

Estimated price: $6.00

Popcorn is an easy, cheap snack that most of us know how to make. Shake things up next time by adding melted chocolate. Just grab any kind of chocolate at your local convenience store, throw it in the microwave, and drizzle the warm, liquidy goodness over your popcorn. This gives you a treat that is both sweet and salty, electrifying your tastebuds with both extremes. Invite your friends over for a dorm movie night and wow them with this creative and flavorful new snack.

4. Yogurt and Granola

Ingredients:

• Yogurt
• Granola

Estimated price: $6.00

This classic snack comes in handy when you’re on the go. Although you can buy large packs of yogurt and granola to store in your dorm room, you can also grab smaller portions at most convenience stores. During a packed day of hustling through classes, go grab a plastic spoon from the dining hall, buy a single pack of yogurt and a small bag of granola at a nearby store, and be on your way with a healthy, satisfying snack. It can also be a filling breakfast, as yogurt and granola are both gratifying components.

5. Homemade Nachos

Ingredients:

• Tortilla chips
• Shredded cheese

Estimated price: $8.00

Mexican food is a favorite for many. From burritos to quesadillas, to mouthwatering sour cream and guacamole... it’s easy to find yourself fighting the urge to splurge on the nearest Mexican restaurant to campus. But with these easy-to-make nachos, you don’t have to. All you have to do is grab a bag of tortilla chips and some shredded cheese from a store close by, throw them together on a plate, and pop it in the microwave. You can decide how long you want to heat it for, depending on just how gooey you like your cheese to be. You can mix it up by trying all different kinds of cheeses, but the four cheese Mexican mix is a popular option. Add a bit of sour cream, guacamole, or salsa on the side for a satiating midday snack.

Photo courtesy of Flickr Creative Commons.Flickr Creative Commons.