Whether you love it or hate it, cooking for yourself is part and parcel of being a student living independently. Of course, you could choose to live solely off takeaway food and Co-op meal deals, but this is a fast-track way of maxing out that student loan before you’re even halfway through the semester. Not to mention the health implications of endless greasy carbs!
Yep, the truth is that if you’re going to be spending your uni time in student accommodation in Bolton, you’re going to have to learn to cook some basic meals to get by. But, with food waste at an all-time high – approximately 8.3 million tonnes of food wasted in the UK every year – learning how to manage your weekly food shop to avoid becoming another statistic is vital.
You can find easy student friendly recipes pretty much anywhere – so today we’re focusing on 3 easy things you can do to avoid any food going to waste!
- Make a shopping list
We’ve all fallen victim to an impulse buy, but when it comes to buying perishable goods, you can’t afford to shop with your heart. So, going prepared with a shopping list in-hand can help to stop those emotional [hungry] impulse decisions which sees you spending double your budget on more food than you could possibly get through in a week!
The best way of streamlining your shopping process is by selecting a couple of easy recipes in advance, with a list of exactly what you need – and nothing more! And, of course – always check your cupboards, fridge and freezer first to make sure you’re not doubling up on goods you already have!
- Make the most out of your freezer space
If you have spent time and money on creating a one pot dish that will easily keep you full for a few days, the last thing you want to do is let it go to waste. So often we hear about students creating bulk meals only to forget about them, either leaving them in the pot overnight or putting the leftovers in the back of the fridge.
Instead, why not utilise the freezer space you have? Not only will this free up space in the fridge for foods unsuitable for the freezer, but it also means you can tuck into a homemade meal later down the line for minimal effort! Plus, it means you’re not throwing away perfectly good ingredients.
Stock up on some freezer-friendly Tupperware and get those delicious meals safely stored – future you will be thankful!
- Stock up on non-perishables
It probably sounds like an obvious solution, but you’d be surprised how many of us opt for fresh foods over cupboard essentials that go off much quicker. Opting for food that has a much longer shelf-life can not only save you money, reducing how often you need to do a food shop, but can also significantly reduce how much food you’re wasting each week.
We’re talking tins of tomatoes, beans and pulses, pastas and even tinned fruit or veg. There’s so much you can make using these types of ingredients, and don’t worry – if you’re feeling lazy and don’t want to create something intricate, a tin of beans falls under the remit of a non-perishable essential!
Getting used to cooking, shopping and managing your inventory is certainly a learning curve for any student living on their own in student accommodation in Bolton – but it’s all trial and error! Remember, if you spend too much one week, or find a lot of food has ended up in the bin, tweak your approach and keep at it by following our simple tips!
