Congrats! You’ve made it to university, welcome to the land of late-night study sessions, budget living, and figuring out how to adult. One thing you’re definitely not ready for is the eternal struggle of “What should I eat?” when you’re hangry and the fridge is basically empty. Fear not, meal prep is here to save your sanity, your time, and your wallet.
Sure, it doesn’t sound thrilling, but with a few easy hacks, you can boss your kitchen game and spend less time stressing over meals.
Step 1: Prep for Your Prep
Before you start, make sure you’ve got:
Containers: Tupperware, jars, or even those takeaway boxes you’ve been saving for no reason.
A Plan: Pick a few meals you love and grab the ingredients.
Housemate Deals: Why not rope in your flatmates? Teamwork makes the dream work—and you might even save some cash by sharing ingredients.
Step 2: Cook Like a Pro (Sort of)
Set aside one day, Sundays are perfect, to whip up your meals for the week, pop on your favourite playlist and get cooking.
Here are a few no-fuss meal ideas to kick things off:
Chilli Con Carne (the Mexican classic spicy stew made for sharing)
Spaghetti Bolognese (Italian goodness which tastes great, no matter how simple)
Curry (the mouthwatering, authentic Indian dish)
Pasta Bakes (endless options for a quick and easy meal)
Chicken & Rice (healthy and simple or opt for Fajitas to jazz it up)
Stir Fry’s (fuss-free dinner that can be prepared quickly)
Overnight Oats (because yes, breakfast counts too!)
Step 3. Keep it Interesting
Mix things up for some variety with some simple swaps such as:
Replace rice with sweet potatoes.
Switch up your veggies—broccoli one week, peas the next.
Spice it up! One week it’s Cajun chicken, the next it’s garlic and herbs. Your taste buds will love you for it.
Top Tips to Keep It Easy
Leftovers are gold: Last night’s dinner - today’s lunch. Simple.
Pre-chop like a champ: No time to cook? Just chop your veggies or prep sauces ahead of time. Small wins, folks!
Be kind to yourself: Some weeks, life happens, and you’ll live off toast and instant noodles. That’s okay. You’re doing great.
Meal Prep = More Chill Time
Once you get into the groove of meal prepping, you’ll wonder how you ever survived without it. Fewer “what’s for dinner?” dilemmas mean more time for hanging out with friends and smashing those study goals, plus, you’ll save cash for the important stuff like pizza nights and uni events. So go on, give meal prep a go and start owning your kitchen.
Now you’re on a roll keep an eye out for our final blog dropping soon which will give you the confidence you need to free style your way to food heaven!