Okay, so maybe the title isn’t completely true. But while there’s no doubt that making your own food at NYU Shanghai is inconvenient, it’s by no means impossible. With a few extra tools like an egg boiler or a can opener, you’re no longer bound to Sherpa’s or forced to go on late-night KFC binges. Using mostly prepared foods, fixing your own meals is easy and more importantly, healthy. Who said college diets had to revolve around instant noodles? Salmon, Avocado, and Egg Quinoa Bowl

Investing in an egg boiler (approximately 30 RMB) may be the smartest thing to do when you’re in need of a quick protein fix. Add some hard-boiled eggs to a dish of smoked salmon, avocado, and quinoa, and you have yourself a meal covering most of the food pyramid. Ingredients: Smoked Salmon 1 Avocado 2 hard-boiled eggs 1 cup quinoa ¼ diced onion Microwave 1 part quinoa and 2 parts water for 4 minutes. After 4 minutes, stir and then reheat in 2-minute intervals for another 6-8 minutes, or until there is no water left. After letting it cool down, slice up the smoked salmon, avocado, and eggs, and put them on top. Chickpea Salad 2014/11/chickpea-salad When eating healthy, you don’t need to subject yourself to bland leafy-green salads. Chickpeas are a more flavorful option, and you can add in some veggies and seasoning to further spice it up. Ingredients: 1 can of chickpeas, drained ½ red onion, diced Handful of Feta cheese Handful of halved cherry tomatoes Olive oil Salt and pepper Mix chickpeas, onion, feta, and cherry tomatoes in a container or bowl. Drizzle olive oil and sprinkle salt and pepper to taste. Chia Seed Pudding

For a no-fuss breakfast, look no further than chia seed pudding. When added to liquid, chia seeds create a gelatinous outer layer, resulting in a pudding texture. Ingredients: Soy Milk/Almond Milk Chia Seeds Optional: Rolled oats Honey Fruit For every 1 cup of liquid, you’ll need ¼ cup of chia seeds. Simply combine your dairy alternative and chia seeds in a container, shake it up, and refrigerate overnight. You’ll get a nutrient packed pudding the next morning. (For a more decadent option, try the chocolate options of either soy milk/rice milk. Don’t forget the bananas on top!) Oats give more thickness and substance to the pudding. Personally, I think chia seeds alone aren’t filling enough, so for a breakfast that will keep you going throughout the day, I suggest adding rolled oats. If you’re using unsweetened dairy alternatives, feel free to add honey for a hint of sweetness without a sugar overload. Last but not least, top it off with your favorite fruits. I’ve found that bananas and berries are best, but there’s always room to experiment. Check out City Shop, city’super, Feidan, Tesco, or Carrefour to find these ingredients. No time for grocery shopping? Don’t fret, there are tons of grocery delivery services around Shanghai. Check out kateandkimi.com, fieldschina.com, or epermarket.com. Besides chia seeds and quinoa, Kate and Kimi offers a wide array of products for the health-conscious. Tofu, gluten-free, wheat grass—you name it, and they probably have it. Browse through their selection to see which ingredients will be a part of your next healthy meal. This article was written by Tatiana Bautista. Send an email to [email protected] to get in touch. Photo Credit: Tatiana Bautista