Eating good, nutritional meals is important when you move to uni, but with the rising cost of living it’s becoming an increasingly tricky task. Here’s some tips to help you navigate food shopping in Liverpool on a budget.
As a final year student, I feel like I’ve acquired a range of tips and tricks to spend less on food whilst still looking after myself. If you have any tips of your own, let us know over on our Instagram!
Too good to go:
When inspiration is lacking, or you need something in a pinch, Too Good to Go can be a great option to get good quality food for less. The app works to reduce food waste, whilst also supplying consumers tasty treats for a fraction of the usual price.
You can also get surprise bags from a range of supermarkets which you could then use to create an exciting new meal, with products you wouldn’t normally buy.
Unfortunately, there aren’t many options for people with dietary requirements or allergies on the app. However, from my experience I find most places very accommodating to your preferences if they have the stock available, or ring up the store to double check before buying.
Hello Fresh:
Hello Fresh and other weekly subscription boxes aren’t known for being ‘budget friendly’, but there’s a way you can make it work and not break the bank. Look out for discount codes or free first boxes as there’s always a deal on for new buyers. If you live in shared housing, you can split the cost weekly and eat together. This is great if you struggle to think about what to eat or aren’t a natural in the kitchen. In a typical uni flat with 5 tenants, you could pay £10 each a week for 5 hot meals!
ALDIs Super Six:
Without sounding like your mother, fruit and veg is really important and is the number 1 thing students neglect to buy when food shopping. You need fruit and vegetables to help your immune system, get essential vitamins and minerals and maintain a good diet.
Fresh fruit and vegetables can get pricey, so you can check ALDIs Super Six, which works to drop the price on 6 fruits or vegetables every 2 weeks to promote healthy eating.
Why not try checking the super six before you go food shopping and try embed at least 3 of them into your recipes for the week?
Plan, Plan and Plan
It’s essential that when budgeting for the week, you fully plan out what meals you’re going to have and look at the ingredients you have in the cupboard already so you don’t spend money unnecessarily. Have an arsenal of 4/5 recipes you enjoy and can make easily that you can fall back on when you’re lacking inspiration.
Pinterest and TikTok are great for meal ideas and can help you discover new dishes.
Top tip; Freeze your bread, wraps or other perishables that you struggle to eat a whole pack of on your own. This stops waste and saves you money!
The more you cook, the better you’ll get and you’ll enjoy it more. You’ll also grow your collection of spices, condiments and cupboard essentials with each dish, meaning each food shop will be cheaper.
When moneys tight, freezer food is always a safe bet and it’s absolutely okay to not eat fresh all the time.
