February 23, 2022, by Lucy Cooper

How to eat well and spend less at uni

Moving out of catered halls into a student house or into self-catered halls can bring different challenges and a culture shock to us all. Once you’ve successfully gotten through the first week or self-catered life without too many disasters, you may start thinking about how to eat well and reduce the cost of your food bills. Hopefully after reading this blog, you’ll be ready walk into your local student supermarket, most likely Lidl (or if you want to take a walk on the wild side, Big Beeston Tesco).

List

Making a shopping list may seem *slightly* too organised for the occasionally chaotic and often spontaneous life of a university student, but it does help. Making a list prevents you from buying excess food, cutting down your bills and preventing you from throwing food away, making it both an economic and ecological choice. Whilst you will probably complete the equivalent of a full workout at David Ross as you trudge your way home from the supermarket with a full week’s food shop, at least your bank account and the planet will be happier.

Batch-cooking

The ultimate time and money saver. Whilst your housemates may be committing themselves to an evening in the kitchen or to beans on toast, you can produce a healthy and filling homecooked meal from the freezer and have it ready in minutes. An afternoon’s cooking will treat you to a week of low effort, low-cost food.

Food-saving apps

These apps can only be described as some sort of money-saving, virtual treasure hunt. Apps such as TooGoodToGo and Olio are home to food that is about to expire, that you can rescue for free or a significantly reduced price. Nottingham is home to many wonderful takeaways, bakeries and restaurants which are signed up to the scheme. The food is often given away in the evening or after closing time, which provides the perfect opportunity to find a low-cost study snack to get you through late-night study sessions. The best part is you’re saving the food from being thrown away, making it guilt-free.

Eat before you go food shopping

Food shopping on an empty stomach is a dangerous game (especially when in close proximity to the Lidl bakery). Supermarkets have lots of tricks up their sleeves to prey on your hunger, and by eating before you go, you’re less likely to give in. You’re far less likely to splash out on snacks if you’ve eaten well just before, saving you money.

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