April 12, 2018, by Shweta

Healthy Eating On A Budget

A few months ago, I wrote a post about how to save money and still enjoy yourself at university. A few weeks ago, I wrote another about travelling on a student budget. The take home message?

I’m broke.

But I’m also good at it.

So, this week, I’m going to talk to you all about living a healthier lifestyle in the kitchen, despite being on a student budget because let’s face it, healthy food is just so much more overpriced (and underwhelming) than Tesco’s ‘2 frozen pizzas for £5’ deal.

 

  • Switch to nut butters and buy them by the kilo. Swap Nutella or other unhealthy spreads for almond or peanut butter. Not only are they delicious but they’re also versatile. From smoothies to sandwiches, there isn’t much they can’t do. You can also pair them with apples or bananas for a quick post-workout snack! Buying the 1kg tub from Sainsbury’s or Amazon will help you save money as they are a better bang for your buck relative to the smaller jars. Plus, they have a long shelf-life so you don’t have to down it too quickly.
  • Frozen vegetables are underrated. For some reason, frozen vegetables are never seen as healthy as the fresh versions. This can’t be further from the truth as they’re usually frozen as they are harvested, meaning they retain a lot of their nutrition that’s often lost in the packaging of fresh produce. I like to buy bags of mixed vegetables as they are varied, cheap and last a long time! You can use them in salads, stir fry’s, wraps or anything else, really!
  • Meal prep! I’ll probably do another post about this sometime soon but meal-prepping has been my savior since I moved into a house in September. It helps save money as you know exactly what you need and it also saves time. So, if you need more time to study, catch up with friends or just binge Netflix, like me, this is perfect!
  • Cut out the red meat. I know this won’t ring popular amongst most people. But I’m not asking anyone to cut out red meat completely. Rather, save the steak for a nice restaurant and save your wallet by sticking to lean protein like chicken and turkey. They’re often cheaper and much better for you. Recreating fun recipes like Thai cashew and chicken or Indian chicken curry will make it a lot more appetising, just in case you’re going through a beef withdrawal.

 

That’s all from me for today! As you now know, eating healthy doesn’t have to break the bank and it is not an excuse for loading up on food that’s bad for you.

Disclaimer: I am not a health nut and I indulge in my own ways. In fact, I’m on my way to Ed’s Diner to enjoy some loaded fries as soon as I’m down writing this. However, by enjoying everything in moderation and doing your best to eat healthy, you can begin practicing a healthier and happier lifestyle.

 

Until next time,

Shweta

Posted in Shweta