If you’re moving into student accommodation for the first time after the Summer, it might be worth using the next few months to prepare yourself for the big adjustments you’ll be facing. One area of your life where things will possibly look a lot different is food – buying, cooking and eating it. Here are our top tips for a smooth transition!
Get into the habit of food shopping
If you’re still living with parents, it’s highly likely that you don’t usually do the food shopping. This will change when you move into student accommodation though – you’ll be in charge of getting your own food shop, and you’ll have to stick to a budget. It might be worth giving it a go before you move out, so you can make it as stress-free as possible.
The nearest supermarket to our Hereford student accommodation, No1 Station Approach, is Morrisons with a Lidl not too far away either. In Gloucester, the closest supermarket to our Blackfriars student accommodation in Asda, although there is an Aldi nearby too. The thing about supermarkets is that most branches of each chain are laid out very similarly; find the nearest applicable supermarket chain to you, and visit a few times over the Summer to get the lay of the land.
This is also a great chance to practise budgeting skills, and meal planning – set yourself a budget, plan some meals, and do a few food shops while you’re not too busy over the Summer months. You’ll get to know where everything is in the shops, you’ll learn how to stick to a budget and you’ll just be building a new skill.
Meal planning
When it comes to living on a budget, as most students do, meal planning is really important. This allows you to stretch your money further, reduce waste, and still eat a healthy, balanced diet when you’re feeling the financial pinch. Try and make a habit of spending an hour or so on a Sunday planning breakfast, lunch and dinner for every day of the coming week – think about meals where you can save the leftovers for lunch the following day, and breakfast ideas that will stretch like toast or cereal.
You might find that you and your flatmates are happy to share cooking duties, with one of you making a large batch of something for everyone to eat, and taking it in turns to do so. This is another great way to meal prep. Making lunches in advance (typically the night before) is also a brilliant way of ensuring you’re not caught short and having to spend money on a meal deal on campus…
Try new things
Over the Summer, challenge yourself to try some new flavours and foods. This way, when you’re shopping on a budget, you’ll be more open to buying whatever is on offer and turning this into a tasty meal. If you’re not a fussy eater then this will be easy for you, but if you’re not particularly confident with trying new things then it can take some getting used to!
Another potentially new thing to try is doing the dishes as soon as you’ve cooked and eaten! Shared spaces in student accommodation, like the kitchen, can get messy fast – by cleaning up after yourself as you, you’ll be doing your part in keeping the area tidy and hygienic. This means a nicer living space for all of you.
Eating well as a student is far from impossible; with some planning and sensible food shops, there’s no reason to miss out on healthy meals throughout your time at university.
