STUDENT CULTURE How To Stay Healthy At University
How to
StayHealthy at University How to Stay Healthy on a Student Budget!
4) Cook to last!
Now I think we can all agree that we may have taken the meals that our mum has put in front of us every evening for granted. As you settle into your first year at university it can all seem pretty overwhelming (and a lot of effort), to have to make your own meals, which in turn leads to a kitchen overflowing with microwave meals and takeaway wrappers! Whilst it is all quick, tasty and good fun to watch your domino order being processed, cooked and delivered, it is definitely not cheap. After a couple of weeks, the purse strings tighten and the belt is loosened. Here are 5 tips on how to cook healthy and tasty food on a tight student budget!
It can be a lot of effort to make a meal every night, especially when there are deadlines to meet and society meetings to attend. Why not whack the cook book out one a day when you have more spare time, and cook a big fish pie or pasta bake which will last the next 2-3 nights with the help of a microwave. It is also a cheap way to cook meals for 1 – I worked out that my fish pie, which I got 3 meals out, cost just £1.63 a night!
1) Buy fruit and vegetables from the market! Supermarkets have high prices, especially for fruit, so instead of trying to save money by heading to the frozen meal section – head to Grainger Market! With offers such as 3 tubs of strawberries for £1 and 2 bags of peppers for £1, there is no excuse to missing out on your 5 a day – one of the market stalls even offers 10% student discount!
2) Invest in a recipe book! There are thousands of recipe books aimed at students, offering you simple, quick (and most importantly), healthy meals with step-by-step instructions. Instead of that Pot Noodle you were going to stick in the microwave tonight, why not cook a warm noodle salad or even a pad thai if you are feeling adventurous!
5) Do not snub own-name brands! Admit it, we have all turned our nose up at an own-brand product and instead reached for that Heinz Ketchup (especially if our mum is paying) but your student budget might not be able to stretch that far forever. Often ownname brand products taste just about the same. Brands cleverly package products to make them look much better and charge a higher price when in fact it is literally the same product when you check the ingredients. Next time you reach for that Dolmio pasta sauce, try the supermarkets version instead.
Stay healthy and save money, it is possible, just follow the tips. Charlotte Hall
3) Make a list! Before you head to the supermarket, sit down, plan your meals for the next week and make a list of the things that you need. Why? It will (almost) eradicate all those unnecessary purchases (do you really need that 12 pack of jam donuts?) and in turn save you a handful of cash!
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