How Rachael Ray saved me from malnutrition in college

Everyone knows the typical schedule of a college student; stay out late, sleep in, and fit some classes in between. Hey, it's the reason I wanted to go to college. But what can suffer the most during this routine is your diet. Eating pizza at 3 a.m. and grabbing a cup of coffee on your way to class in the morning does not fulfill your food pyramid requirements.

Rachael Ray's 30 Minute Meals saved me from malnutrition in college. The recipes on her site are healthy, quick and most importantly, the finished product turns out the way it's supposed to. I can't tell you how many times I have looked up a recipe in a cookbook or found one online, and after attempting it, I'm left with something that doesn't even resemble or taste like the rosemary chicken or baked mosticcoli I wanted to make.

What makes Rachael Ray's recipes so successful is that each one takes just 30 minutes or less. You aren't tackling a meal that will take up most of your night. The recipes are geared toward those who aren't a whiz in the kitchen, and let's face it, many of us are cooking for the first time in college. Gone are the days of home-cooked meals and a stocked fridge courtesy of our parents, we are now faced with the daunting task of cooking for ourselves and buying our own groceries.

If you're like me and need your hand held to get started on cooking your own meals, follow along.