We all know the struggle of healthy eating in university. Before you even arrive, people will be joking that you will only be eating instant noodles the entire year, and I have to say they’re not wrong. Finding a healthy balance between attending classes, studying, working, socialising and eating well can be difficult and it is so tempting to just go online and order something for delivery, but there are some things you can do to make it easier.
It’s important to get a good number of vitamins in your diet and this can be easily done through making simple nutritious meals. When doing your next food shop, start in the vegetable section. Vegetables can really help bulk out meals and add hidden nutrition. For instance, instead of just meat and tomato in a pasta Bolognese, add carrots, celery or beans. It’s also okay to buy vegetables in a can as it doesn’t take away nutritional benefit and lasts longer as it can be kept in a cupboard. Next to look for is a source of protein, which can be found through meats, and fish but also in cheaper alternatives such as beans, lentils, eggs and tofu. Now that we have a good range of nutritious food, last thing to find is a carbohydrate to add to the mix. For convenience microwave package rice is quick and tastes good, as well as potatoes, pasta or wraps.
Once all the food is bought, one of the quickest most simple things to do is the just throw a few ingredients in one pot and let it cook. This is not only convenient but also good for you. There is also a balance as you might have Mexican microwave rice, chicken and veg seasoned how you would like, and once it’s in a Tupperware and in the fridge you’re good to go. The best time to do meal prep (in my opinion) is on a Sunday or Monday night, as it just gets it out of the way, and you’re set for the rest of the week. It’s also the same for lunches, the idea of simply getting a meal deal at the closest supermarket for £5-7 sounds great but you could save money by making a salad bowl, sandwich or wrap the night before or first thing in the morning.
My go-to meals are cottage pie, spaghetti Bolognese, soup as well as tuna cheese baked potato. When you think about it, none of it takes up too much time, but sometimes it’s just the thought of having to cook (and what to cook!) that is the biggest hurdle.
Photo by Jimmy Dean on Unsplash