There is a persistent misconception that students only ever “eat like a student”: hangovers for breakfast, beans on toast for tea, and coffee mainlined in between. Clued-up undergrads TikTokking their uni experience are real-time proof, though, that healthy student eating is not a myth. You just need your feet on the ground and some tricks up your sleeve.
While she was all over the place upon arrival at Essex University, it didn’t take long for Emily Solman to find solace in cooking. “It became my little getaway, especially when living with other people, having my own time to watch a YouTube video and chop up some veg. I’d be like: ‘Mum, look what I’ve done!’”
For #onepoundmeals cookbook author Miguel Barclay, the single most important tip is to learn to cook from scratch. Your food will be tastier, healthier and cheaper. His Instagram, @miguelbarclay, is a good place to start: all familiar ingredients and recipes no longer than a tweet. Fancy a curry? “Fry up some onions,” he says. “Then chuck in finely diced potato, some curry powder and a can of chopped tomatoes (two solid store cupboard staples right there). Add in any other veg and a protein if you like, cook and serve with rice.”
Of course, learning to cook involves learning to shop. Ehis Ilozobhie loves his seafood, and when he first arrived at King’s College London was a dab hand at prepping it. But he’d never had to pay for it. “I was like, ‘Mom, are these prices right?’” He soon got organised. He’d go through his fridge on a Sunday to make a list, then head to the supermarket for that, and only that.
When shopping, there are three things to remember: own-brand items are just as good as branded ones; fresh produce is often discounted at the same time every day, so clock when that is; and the frozen section is your friend (berries, peas, chopped broccoli, you name it, it’s a bargain).
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Solman’s diet is mostly plant-based, but with added fish. Ilozobhie began his second year cutting out meat too. For anyone wishing to go full vegan, chef and musician Denai Moore says it’s easy: “You can veganise pretty much anything!” She still makes mac ‘n’ cheese (albeit with nutritional yeast), and a scramble on toast for breakfast – only it’s tofu, not eggs.
On her vegan website, Pick Up Limes, Sadia Badiei has a super-helpful visual prompt for ensuring your nutritional intake. She calls it the plate method. At every meal, make sure your plate is: half fruit and veg, one-quarter carbs (potato, bread, rice, oats ...) and one-quarter protein (pulses, tofu, nuts, meat, fish ...), with some added fat (avocado, olive oil ...) and, twice a day, a serving of dairy (or plant-based equivalent – for the calcium).
Badiei only started paying attention to what she ate a year into her dietetics degree. In other words, you’ve got time to get it right. Try to keep healthy and get into a good routine of sleep, take regular exercise and eat balanced meals. These habits will safeguard your mental and physical wellbeing for life.
But don’t beat yourself up when you can’t. If you need the coffee, drink the coffee (add soy milk to boost nutrients). Likewise, allow yourself to snack – but try to stick to healthier options such as malt loaf and oat bars. And remember it’s the basics that are most important: always have something in your fridge. Fun fact: “Constipation,” says Badiei, “is a huge thing for students globally!” Stay hydrated.
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