Today’s post marks the beginning of a five part series about Eating Healthy in College. I decided to start this series, since many people are worried about putting on the Freshmen 15, or perhaps in Singapore, the Supper 7. (Endless suppers in university are bound to have some effect)

Many of us are just starting out in university, or will be starting our lives in university soon. Even if you’ve already been through university, or you’re still in school uniform, this series can be applicable to you too!

The first post of the series will be about Eating Healthily On A Budget!

It is no doubt that eating healthily can be quite a costly affair, especially if you aren’t preparing your own food. In college, you’re pretty much always eating out or in the school canteens.

So how do you make the healthier choice, without busting your wallet?

Well, here are my 7 simple tips for you!

1) Go local!
I don’t just mean buy food that has been grown locally (although they would be cheaper), and don’t shy away from house brands either, they may be as good as or even better than their imported counterparts.

Anyway, what I mean here is, go for local food choices, over overpriced salads! You can eat healthily in a hawker centre or food court on campus. Healthy choices like Yong Tau Fu, Sliced Fish Soup with Rice/Noodles, Economic Rice (choose wisely), Porridge, Popiah, Bibimbap… The possibilities are endless! I’ll save the guide to navigating a food court for another day

2) Ratio 2:1
Don’t worry, no math here. It’s just a easy to remember ratio when it comes to ordering food! Follow the ratio of 2 servings of vegetables to 1 serving of meat along with your carbohydrate of choice.

This way, you’ll get your veggies, protein and carbohydrates in a well-balanced meal! Just steer clear of deep-fried food and opt for wholegrain options when possible.

3) Go bananas!
Bananas are incredibly cheap in Singapore, going at about $2 for a nice bunch. They make delicious snacks, and are more wallet-friendly than say, a chocolate bar or a packet of biscuits. They are a great source of potassium too, and are much better for you than processed junk, if I may say so myself

4) Buy in bulk!
If you’ve made it to college, you’ve probably heard of the term, economies of scale. Well, trust me, its true. Buying in bulk can save you loads of money. Rather than buying a slice of cut fruit from the fruit stall, just buy a whole bag of apples, a bunch of bananas, or perhaps some grapes/kiwis. It’s much cheaper.

If you really want some watermelon/rockmelon/pineapple/honeydew, buy an entire fruit and cut it up at home. It’s more worth it, and you get to enjoy a lot more of it

5) Hop OFF the Cafe-hopping bandwagon!
Sorry to disappoint, but if you want to eat healthily on a budget, cafes are not the place to be. Overpriced generic food that you can recreate at home? Save your money and recreate your own healthy cafe-worthy food at home. A loaf of nice bread, a carton of eggs, and some fresh tomatoes/asparagus/mushroom/ham, will probably cost the same amount as Eggs Benedict in a cafe, just that it’ll feed a family.

It’s different, cafes have a nicer vibe? I understand! That’s why cafes are fine for the occasional treat, but it’s not smart to eat at cafes all the time, if you’re a student with a limited budget.

6) Hold the drinks, please!
One simple tip would be… not to order any drinks. Some drinks can cost almost as much as a meal. (Cough cough, Starbucks). Choose a healthy, well-balanced meal, rather than spending on soft drinks or coffee. Water is your best friend! If you must drink, why not buy a carton of milk or perhaps some tea bags. Just pour cold milk/hot tea in a thermos and you’re good to go

7) Prepare your own food!
If you have the time, make your own food rather than buying. This is especially useful when it comes to processed food. Making your own granola/muesli bars are MUCH cheaper than buying them, and they taste great too. I have a great recipe for homemade oatmeal bars if you are interested.

You could also cook extra portions for dinner, and pack them for lunch the next day if you’re not planning to eat out with anyone. Homecooked meals are the best way to get in your veggies and

See, that’s all it takes, 7 simple steps to eating healthy on a budget!

Stay tuned for the rest of this series

[author] [author_image timthumb=’on’]https://readysetfoogo.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/mecny.jpg?w=640&h=853[/author_image] [author_info]Andrea is the founder of Foogo! a local food blog where she shares her fresh perspective through reviews, recipes and more! A passionate believer in a zen-inspired lifestyle, Andrea propounds the harmonization of mind, body and soul as the key to a healthy life.[/author_info] [/author]