Many students entering university in the UK are on extremely limited budgets. Add to this the fact that many of the younger students are away from home for the first time, and you have a large group of people that are not eating as healthily as they should. A few simple tips can help you to rise above the pack and enjoy healthy and inexpensive meals during the course of your studies.
Keep it Simple
The meals you prepare do not have to be elaborate or expensive in order to be sufficient. For instance, a simple recipe for spaghetti can keep you fed for the better part of a week at a minimal cost. Add a few fruits and vegetables, and your dinner menu is complete!
Many UK students spend too much money on such recipes, because they purchase store bought sauces instead of creating them on their own. Sauces are one of the simplest concoctions in the culinary universe and they never need be replaced by the expensive, pre-made variety! Below are some recipes for different kinds of sauces:
• Red sauce: 1 tin of tomatoes, 1 teaspoon olive oil, 1 clove of garlic
• Butter sauce: ½ stick of butter, 1 clove garlic or shallots, salt and pepper
• Cheese sauce: 1 block of cheese, butter, flour, milk
Shop Smart
Supermarkets are wonderful at providing staple food items such as rice, tuna, pasta, butter and milk. However, if you are in the market f
or fruits or vegetables, the supermarket can tend to be overpriced. Your student food budget would be better spent by purchasing your produce via local storefronts and street markets.
In addition, you may be wise to join forces with other UK students in order to pool your resources and purchase a wider variety of groceries to share. You can often get food items at a discounted price if you buy in bulk and sharing food costs always results in an ability to get better food at a lower overall cost.
Get all of Your Food Groups
Eating starch at every meal (because it is generally cheap and easy to prepare) is not good for your body, your mood, or your ability to study. Make sure to incorporate all of the basic food groups into your daily diet in order to keep yourself in top condition. You can purchase large quantities of cheap fruit at many markets, but be prepared for it to taste less fresh and ripe than you would like. By adding a little bit of sugar or cooking your fruit briefly, you will greatly enhance the flavor without losing any of the essential nutrients.
