I notice that during the school year, I tend to lapse into a routine of fast food for lunch and dinner, with some marshmallowy cereal for breakfast if I get up early enough. This year, though, I’ve been focusing on getting my health back in order – that is, drinking at least one bottle of water each day, cutting down on sodas, and, the one I’ve found to be the hardest of all: cooking my own food.

Cooking in college is hard. Not only is it expensive to cook for only a few people, but it’s hard to find access to a good kitchen. Furthermore, time between classes and work is scarce. But it is possible – which is why I’ll be dedicating a section of this blog to recipes that are college-friendly, that is, cheap and easy to make.

Today’s feature is the sandwich – the easy-to-eat, warm, cheesy and meaty sandwich. What’s great about them is I can eat them with one hand – that is, while I’m reading, typing, or sketching. Even if neither of these sandwiches piques your interest – keep in mind that there’s a sandwich for everyone – and most of them are easy to make!

Chicken Pesto Panini
Chicken pesto paninis are one of my all-time favorite sandwiches. I have at least one a week, and I’ve yet to grow tired of them. Despite costing $8 at most sandwich places, chicken pesto paninis are surprisingly easy and cheap to make! All it requires is:
- Frozen bag of grilled chicken strips ($6 at Target, will make several sanwiches and keeps for a while)
- Sourdough bread
- Pesto sauce
- Mayonnaise
- Provolone cheese

Steps:
Thaw chicken in microwave for approximately 4 minutes. For each sandwich, mix 2 parts mayonnaise with 1 part pesto (I use 2 tablespoons with 1 tablespoon, respectively). Spread on each side of bread generously. Put cheese on one side, chicken on the other. In a panini press or a pan, grill both sides of sandwich until bread is brown and cheese is melted.

Grilled Cheese & Chicken Noodle Soup
While grilled cheese isn’t the most nutritious meal, when paired with chicken noodle soup, it’s at least more healthy than a large order of fries. And, as you may know from experience, chicken noodle soup is one of the best cures for the common cold and cough! (However, I’m still on the hunt for a good one! Campbell’s is just too watery, even though I mix in about half the recommended amount of water. Suggestions?)