Feeding yourself at uni – 5 tips from a former rookie

1. Carbs are your friend. They are cheap (albeit unhealthy if you take in large quantities) and very easy to cook with. Pasta, couscous, potatoes, bread etc. I once bought a large bag of potatoes from Lidl and it cost me like around a pound or so; I could have them for a whole week – I seasoned the mash with paprika and salt, and together with sliced cucumbers and microwave chicken wings that was a perfect meal.
2. Don't be afraid to freeze. If there is a sale at a store or market you can buy in bulk and freeze. Then defrost when you need it. Just remember to label them with the purchase date.
3. Try and improve upon cheap ingredients. Even a simple instant ramen can be made fancy with an egg, some vegetables and some spices added.
4. Soups. They are relatively easy to make, cheap as they are mostly water, filling and delicious. They can also be made in large quantities if you have a big pot. This can save lots of time.
5. Try to buy whole. By this, I mean, if you buy a whole chicken or fruit and veg that hasn’t been chopped up for you already, it’ll probably be cheaper. Yes, you’ll have to chop them yourself but by doing this you’ll save yourself some serious money!

Credit for these tips should also go to my absolutely brilliant housemate, Cristian Radulescu! He is the best chef in our flat!

Last revised: 7 September 2021

Catherine Tang, BA Linguistics student and Student Blog Contributor