by Debra Menager

Created on: September 05, 2009

Cheap and easy: when thinking inexpensive fast food, healthy meals aren't always what comes to mind. But it should be.

Life moves quickly, and so do college students. To keep going, sustain yourself by thinking smart and planning ahead. With only a few minutes you can quickly and easily pre-make a few energy-packed meals, ready to grab and go.

Much cheaper than buying fast food, use a few minutes and your imagination to combine leftovers with inexpensive, easy to find ingredients. It's healthier, and often tastes better. And, I think, these meals also make busy days much less complicated. You eat what you want when you want - without waiting in long lines.

Here are a few suggestions for portable meals.

1. Taco Salad, inside out:

Buy taco shells to fill with salad makings: Stuff cheese (light sour cream optional), beans, and salsa for the bottom layer. Top with salad greens, cherry tomatoes, strips of bell peppers and onions. Extra cheese and salsa can be added at last moment (carrying in separate container means less mess and lettuce is fresher).

2. Yogurt parfait cones:

Cones sold for ice cream can be filled instead with yogurt, fruit, and granola. Mix it up. Swirl your favorite flavors into cones, sprinkle dry toppings on top. Add a little chocolate - chips or dark chocolate shavings on top, or a tiny dip of the cone in melted chocolate (optional coating of coconut or nuts too) before filling - for a little lift.

Looks and tastes like a treat, actually also a satisfying meal to-go. If you fill ahead, you can freeze what you mixed inside these grab and go cones. Eat on the run. Or, stick in a bag for later (plastic wrapped, then placed in a thermal insulated lunch tote, fitting inside your backpack).

Cheapest and best method: purchase low-fat vanilla yogurt in a large container (costs less than tiny packages and offers more options). Vanilla tastes great with many fruits and toppings. Purchase frozen fruit sold in bags (keeps longer than fresh, costs less, and you can re-tie bag for later uses). Granola, nuts, and dried fruits (great as solo snacks or sprinkled on salads too) last well, and you only need to use a little due to their concentrated flavor and nutrients.

3. French-onion-soup sandwich:

Buy a loaf of French bread, a baguette, or a ciabatta; you can also use French bread rolls or regular sub sandwich rolls, but loaves are more versatile (use for other meals too) and may be cheaper.

You can buy onion soup, but a bag of onions, some garlic, and beef

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