10 Cheap Student Meals
Stay energised and healthy during freshers week and for the rest go your uni days with these cheap and easy(ish) meals. Remember to have lots of fun but also that your body needs actual healthy food too!
Starting university is always difficult at first especially during freshers when you spend a lot of time going out and making new friends, you can end up feeling really poorly, exhausted and missing home.
Check out my top 10 vegan meals that will help to keep you feeling full up, healthy and energised. They are not only cheap to make but also really delicious…and of course you don’t need to be vegan to enjoy them.
Breakfast
Mocha Overnight oats (tap for the recipe)
Perfect for busy morning, simply mix up the night before and enjoy in the morning. The double coffee shot gives a nice hot of energy too.
TOP TIP: Make double so you have some extra for snacks or for when you don’t know what to cook!
DIY Weetabix drink (tap for the recipe)
This breakfast drink tastes great and will save you lots of money, especially if you usually buy pre-made drinks.
TOP TIP: This drink contains vegan protein powder and flax seeds in the ingredients to make it a high protein breakfast but you can leave these out if you don’t have them. I’d also recommend filling up on a bowl of weetabix when you feel hungry, top with a banana to make it extra filling.
Breakfast biscuits (tap for the recipe)
With only three ingredients and 15 minutes to prepare and ready to eat these are the most simple breakfast.
TOP TIP: Make extra and take some with you to lectures to keep your energy levels up
Lunch
Vegan Chickpea ‘tuna’ (tap for the recipe)
This vegan ‘tuna’ can be used in sandwiches, jacket potatoes or on top of a salad.
TOP TIP: You can buy a tin of chickpeas for about 50p if you look on the world food aisle of the supermarket and try to get capers too as they add a nice zing (they keep for quite a long time in the fridge too.
Tomato and red pepper soup (tap for the recipe)
There’s nothing like a warming bowl of soup to cheer you up after a long day at uni. This soup is packed with hidden veggies so it packs a nutritional boosting punch too. Add crust bread..obviously!
TOP TIP: If you don’t have a blender then enjoy this soup chunky
Beans on toast (tap for the recipe)
You can’t get through uni without beans on toast! Tinned beans are great but often loaded with sugar. Try making these and freeze the rest to enjoy another day.
TOP TIP: Try supermarket own brand of mixed beans and passata/tomatoes to make this a really cheap but tasty lunch. Add vegan cheese on top if you have it in.
Dinners
Chickpea Curry (tap for the recipe)
Good old chickpeas to the rescue again, this time in a curry. Again this freezes well so make double.
TOP TIP: This recipe might seem difficult and time consuming at first but one you get the hang of it, it takes no tine at all.
Vegan Chilli (tap for the recipe)
A firm family favourite that is tasty and so versatile. Serve with rice, pasta, mashed potatoes jacket potatoes.
TOP TIP: Use vegan ‘meat balls’ instead of mince for a change or to enjoy in a crusty baguette for a meatless marinana.
Stir Fry (tap for the recipe)
Such a quick and easy dinner that is packed with all the goodness your body needs to keep your energy levels up.
TOP TIP: Use any veggies that you like to eat, pre-packed and ready sliced veggies can be found in the supermarket for very little cost too so it’s sometimes cheaper to buy your veggies this way. If you can add some tofu for extra protein.
Sweet treat
If you’re missing home made sweet treats then these are for you. Easier to make than cakes and brownies but still really tasty and very moreish. Add a glass of vegan milk to make you feel like you’re back at home :)
TOP TIP: Swap biscoff for digestives and try adding raisins if you can’t find vegan marshmallows.