You’re living away from home for the first time. You have more school work than you ever thought possible. You’re still hoping to maintain some kind of social life, all while tightroping on a shoestring budget. And somehow, you’re supposed to feed yourself too?

It can be an intimidating prospect for even the most intrepid post-secondary learner. Enter Godshall’s Bacon. It’s nutritious, environmentally friendly, versatile, and easy to cook — and it takes a well-deserved lead position on the honor roll of meal prep ideas for college students.

Whether you’re looking for fuel to study, some easy dorm food, or sustenance before the next campus party, let’s explore some situations where Godshall’s can be part of the answer.

You have 20 minutes to eat lunch between lectures

Big campus, tight schedule? Skipping lunch is a recipe for disaster, but so is a daily habit of scarfing down fast food between classes. Power up by packing a nutritious and filling lunch you can eat on the run — no heating required.

Godshall’s Turkey Bacon Spanish Salad is a healthy, delicious blend of smoked paprika-roasted eggplant, asparagus, cherry tomatoes, avocado, red onion, corn, and turkey bacon on fresh greens.

To adapt the recipe to a snack for college students on the go:

• Pack the dressing in a separate container rather than tossing it into the salad, and add just before you eat. This’ll keep the greens from getting soggy. 
• Reinforce your dressing container with elastic band and store it inside a ziploc bag for extra security. Got to keep those textbooks safe from leakage!
• Pack a small bag of croutons to add to the salad instead of the toasted sourdough the recipe calls for. They’ll stay crunchy longer.

You only have $10 until your next loan kicks in

It doesn’t take a calculus major to know how tough it is to stay healthy on a student budget. Broke college student meals can err on the side of nutrient deficiency, and you can only stomach so much boxed mac and cheese.

One solution is Green Beans with Turkey Bacon Crumb. Crunchy, satisfyingly salty, and boasting more nutrients than you’d think, this dish will bring a welcome change. Lean turkey bacon and healthy green beans are topped with a golden, nutty cracker crust. We promise this is an easy recipe for college students — if you’ve got a hot plate and a toaster oven, you can make it happen. 

To keep costs down:

• If fresh green beans are out of season or on the pricey side, frozen or canned will work.
• Sliced almonds are your best bet for texture and nutrition. But if they’re going to break your bank, any finely chopped nuts will do. When you can, buy nuts in larger quantities — it’s cheaper in the long run — and store them in the freezer to keep them fresh for months.

Someone is coming over for dinner

The idea of hosting someone for a meal is, in theory, simply wonderful. In practice? It’s rather daunting. You’re not much of a cook, your dorm room only has a microwave and a kettle, and you’d rather not reveal that you’ve been living mostly off of ramen. You could always order in, but you’d like to impress them. Just a little.

You’ll appear capable beyond your years by serving them a Grilled Peach and Turkey Bacon Salad. Classy and nutritious, it’ll definitely make the right first impression.

To make this recipe dorm-friendly and super quick to prep:

• Follow the microwave instructions for Godshall’s Original Turkey Bacon.
• Forget the grilled peaches — canned halves cut into slices will be totally fine. 
• If you can’t find ready-made candied pecans, a snack bag of regular roasted pecans will do the trick. The peaches are already plenty sweet, anyway. 
• Buy the spinach in those handy pre-washed clamshell packages. 
• If Merlot Cheddar feels a bit aspirational, just go for whatever medium-firm cheese is on sale.

You need brain food before exams

During exam season, every ounce of brainpower is critical. It’s why you’re rocking loungewear in public — you don’t need the distraction of trying to assemble a legendary fit. But most importantly, don’t be tempted to skip breakfast on exam day, as you’ll need all the help you can get to stay focused.

Start the day off right with Turkey Bacon Avocado Toast. Avocados are packed with omega fatty acids, which help boost cell growth and brain development, as well as Vitamin E, which protects, maintains, and repairs your brain cells. 

And turkey bacon is a great source of lean protein, which can improve mental clarity, fight fatigue, and boost your memory — this is especially crucial for when you’re trying to remember what your professor was saying back in the first week of classes!

Too nervous to cook anything overly complex on exam day?

• Simplify the recipe by skipping the toppings and garnishes.
• Just go with the mashed avocado and Godshall’s Turkey Bacon on regular toast with a little salt and pepper.

Gain campus-wide fame with a bacon-fueled brain

The start of a new school year is action-packed, and it can be easy to quickly fall into bad dietary habits. But with these bacon-laden, easy meal prep ideas for college students at your disposal, you’re ready to conquer any challenge that comes your way.

In the mood for more learning? Read all about the history of bacon and its role in modern nutrition.