Many students at North Dakota State resort to ordering take out or eating ramen noodles in their dorms when they want something other than the dining hall’s meal plan.

As good as it is, take out is neither cheap nor healthy, but most students resort to these places because of a craving for novelty on their dinner plate. Places such as Insomnia Cookies and Spicy Pie are close friends of students, but they are not necessarily the best meal options.

It comes as no surprise cookies and greasy pizza are full of unnecessary calories. However, avoiding a repetitive diet does not require off-campus spending. Unique and delicious recipes may be closer to NDSU than some students realize.

The ingredients for delicious meals are hiding in the salad bar and other areas of the dining centers just waiting to be discovered. With a bit of intuition and a dash of creativity, students can cook their way to a healthy lifestyle while still enjoying some of their favorite dishes.

For those who love pancakes, but fear their high-calorie content, a simple substitution of a banana for flour can make pancakes a viable option any time of the day. Banana pancakes are not only unique, but also a healthy alternative to regular pancakes.

Grabbing what is served for dinner is quick, but this recipe does not require an experienced chef because banana pancakes are only made out of two ingredients. That’s right, all this recipe calls for is one large banana and an egg.

Grabbing what is served for dinner is quick, but this recipe does not require an experienced chef because banana pancakes are only made out of two ingredients. That’s right, all this recipe calls for is one large banana and an egg.

You might wonder how a single fruit and raw egg could produce the same taste as Aunt Jemima’s popular recipe, but bananas contain many of the same chemicals that regular pancakes use to maintain their fluffy and delicate texture.

One ripe banana contains enough starch and natural sugars to replicate those found in its competition. Banana flavor is not always everyone’s favorite, but according to NDSU student Lauren Rutten, “These are amazing; you can barely even taste the bananas.”

The preparation of banana pancakes is just as simple as the recipe. In a cup or bowl, a banana mashed with a fork makes a perfect substitute for the flour and sugars that make up a normal pancake. To complete the batter, add one egg and whip into the banana mixture.

The recipe will make three medium sized pancakes on the grill with no gluten, no added sugar and less than half the carbs of regular pancakes. To be even more nutritious, students can switch out the sugary syrup for yogurt and fruit toppings.

A whip of a fork and that’s it, just two ingredients make a heart-friendly platter for any time of the day, containing just under 500 calories.