Every Little Helps: The Guide to Student Food Shopping

Gone has the hamper of gorgeous branded food your parents bought you for university which only means one thing: you're going to have to go food shopping. Luckily for me, I like shopping and my Dad hates it so I was the one that went to do the food shop on my ever-useful and ever-educational Gap Yah. However, the food shop will be trickier if you haven't been food shopping since you were younger and you used to have to hold on to the side of the trolley while your parent feared overwhelmingly that they'd lose you. But don't worry help is at hand. All you have to do is follow this guide to food shopping and you'll live through this year.

Firstly, I am in no doubt that you can and will live off food similar to that demonstrated in the photo above for at least the first semester because it's yummy and Mummy and Daddy aren't here telling you not to eat too much sugar (even though they're right) but hey, it's fun to rebel. However, at some dark time over the Winter, probably when you're at home for the holidays and you laugh at how funny a Butternut Squash looks because you haven't seen any vegetable for so long. This sad moment will spark an epiphany that you actually probably hate eating crisps and chocolate and noodles all day and need a change. This change will stem from your shopping and instead of spending all your time in the 'Savoury Snacks' aisle, you may just have to visit the 'Fresh Meat' aisle. Here, you will have ingredients for healthy meals and then you can take photos of your first roast to your doting parents. Be warned, this will now mean you're drafted in to help make the family roast whilst at home and can't have a Sunday afternoon nap anymore. You nap enough anyway, you're a student.

Anyway, key steps to saving money whilst food shopping are:
Step 1 - Write a list and stick to it (as much as possible anyway - it's only natural to lack will power when faced with a chocolate offer)
Step 2 - Make sure your list is sensible and doesn't just comprise of 'Vodka' and 'Beans'. Not a healthy combo and you will regret having empty cupboards when that Vodka bottle is empty.
Step 3 - Don't just get drawn in by huge 3 FOR 2 signs as it may be cheaper to buy things separately
Step 4 - Buy veg at a fruit and veg stall or green grocer as it's cheaper and the veg is much nicer (good for stir frying)
Step 5 - Get a Nectar/Clubcard as you save up so much money on there by the end of term (well spent on vodka)
Step 6 - Say goodbye to John West Tuna or Hellman's Mayonnaise. Basics/Everyday value produce is not always terrible, although I would avoid the Sainsbury's basics mayonnaise. You can stoop that low. And you will. Sorry.

Mainly, make sure you have a list that actually has stuff you want (and physically need) and stick to it otherwise it'll be toast and beans for supper again. That doesn't look so good on Instagram, even with a filter.

Read my Guide to Student Cooking to see what you can do with your lovely purchases.