Do you ever find yourself ordering a mukbang’s worth of food on Deliveroo, only to scoff it all in about 15 minutes, veg out on the sofa and think ‘I could eat all that again’?
Well you certainly wouldn’t be alone, as its an experience I’m sure is not unique to me and my unusually large appetite. Money can be tight at university (my student finance has left me on seen for about three weeks) and food shopping can be a big expense!
Here’s your ultimate guide to staying fuller, for longer at university.
Oats
Oats are one of the quickest and healthiest foods to prepare – as well as being ridiculously cheap.
Tons of health benefits are associated with oats, such as being rich in fibre, which slows down the body’s digestion, keeping you fuller for longer.
Oats are high in anti-oxidants and even improve hair health – meaning their an absolute no-brainer and a very strong start to the list.
You can pick up a kilogram of oats for 90p at Aldi. Preparing is simple – you just add water, oats and milk into a pan and bring to a boil over medium-high heat for around eight minutes.
You want lovely and tender oats, so don’t be afraid to take your sweet time – even if that scary 9am is looming.
Now it’s my favourite bit – time to jazz up your oats. I usually add blueberries, cut up a banana and add a drizzle of honey.
You can add whatever you like. Seriously… the bowls your oyster (don’t put oysters on oats).
Pasta
You knew it was coming, didn’t you? University 101, the default video game character of every student’s cupboard – its pasta.
But hey, there’s a reason its so damn popular and by far one of the most common foods you’ll see a student cooking. Pasta is another great source of fibre – it can help with stomach issues and even lowers cholesterol.
Pasta – like oats – keeps you full for longer due to its high fibre content. There are so many different types of pasta, whether it be rigatoni, penne, fusilli, tagliatelle or orzo.
I could literally sit here all day naming types of pasta and its diversity keeps it an exciting food to keep coming back to.
Rice
Rice is a staple food for over half of the world’s population and for good reason.
An excellent source of carbohydrates – the body’s main fuel – rice is one of the best foods you can eat to keep you feeling fuller and more energised for longer.
Rice is laughably cheap, and you can pick up a 1kg bag for under £1 at most shops.
The amount of different meals you can add rice to is endless (I’m looking at you egg fried rice).
But in all seriousness, rice is great for you and it’s value makes it an overall classic university cupboard staple. It’s a healthy choice, and its versatility really works in its favour – with my personal meal being rice and chicken breast.
Eggs
Eggs are fantastic – packed full of protein and vitamins A, B and D, they are absolutely excellent for your body.
Eggs are so fun, because you can make them in so many different ways – hard-boiled egg, poached, scrambled or even an omelette. It helps that they taste amazing too!
They are also cheap. For example, you can pick up a batch of six at Aldi for 99p – that has to tempt you.
Eggs keep you full due to their high protein content, which means they take longer to digest than other macronutrients. This keeps you fuller and satisfied for longer.
Eggs are one of mother nature’s gifts, and their never-ending list of benefits make them a hard food to keep off the list.
Popcorn
Let’s end with a fun one – popcorn.
Now I’m sure you and me both share a love for stuffing our faces with popcorn at the cinema, but should we feel guilty about it?
Popcorn is surprisingly healthy. It’s a wholegrain meaning it can lower the risk of heart disease, diabetes and some cancers.
Corn is very high in fibre, and contains antioxidants which improve blood circulation and digestion.
The snack is at its best when it’s air popped and served without ingredients that are high in fat and salt.
One of the healthiest snacks there is, popcorn is a brilliant choice when opting for something that will keep you fuller for longer.