How to stay healthy on a student budget
Very often the first-year college students end up with the weight gain at the end of the academic year. One of the reasons is that parents stop controlling what their child consumes, so the student can uncontrollably binge on foods that were forbidden previously. The other reason is that students try their best to save their limited funds and buy cheaper foods which, quite often, are not the healthiest ones. Let’s check what options are available for students who want to eat healthy on a tight budget.
Eat fruits and vegetables
There are many inexpensive fruits and vegetables that are both healthy and do not cost a fortune. To name a few, such fruits and vegs as apples, carrot, cabbage, beetroot, onion or broccoli are nutritional and cost-effective at the same time. You can choose whatever you like the best, but you need to make sure that you have 5 portions a day. The rule is vital and following it does not imply that fruits and vegetables have to be expensive.
Increase intake of Omega-3 fatty acids
Omega-3 fatty acids are the elements that extremely beneficial for a student. That is because they help the brain stay young and productive. That’s only one of the benefits, but it is very useful to have Omega-3 in your everyday menu. They do not need to be in the form of expensive fish or nuts. As an example, eating tuna, mackerel, soybeans and walnuts is one of the low-cost ways to make sure that your body receives enough of healthy fatty acids.
Do not skip breakfast
If you manage to have a nice breakfast in the morning, it is less likely that you will choose to go and buy some expensive junk food. A portion of simple porridge in the morning will help you feel full for longer and you will not be seduced to have a sometimes overpriced salad or a burger.
Cut down on sugar and caffeine
To stop eating sweets and giving up coffee might seem a crazy advice to be given to a student, but, in reality, sugary foods and caffeinated drinks drain your energy, damage your teeth and have a bad influence on your metabolism. Indulging in sweets and coffee can make you gain weight very quickly. Besides this, your wallet will become thinner as it all costs money. Drinking pure water will help you maintain your health and in the long run will save you a lot of money.
Cut down on saturated fat and salt
Yes, we all know that takeaways are very convenient and tasty, but this is something that needs to be avoided. Usually, such type of food is salty, spicy and full of saturated fat. It might taste good, but you risk to gain weight very quickly if you indulge in it too much. Learning to cook healthy meals yourself is a great skill for the future and, most importantly, it will save you a lot of money.
It is important to control your funds when you are a student, but, of course, it is not always easy. What is more important is staying healthy no matter what budget you have. It is possible to eat healthy foods and not to spend too much money if you put priorities correctly and use your time at college to learn how to treat money wisely.
