As a student, you always have limited time to do things. It’s common to have to balance a variety of different activities and responsibilities, and sometimes it’s hard to keep on top of basic housekeeping tasks. Unfortunately, one of those common tasks that generally seems to fall by the wayside with student life is preparing good quality meals. Let’s face it, it’s easier to get takeout or to cook up a batch of two minute noodles than it is to put together a proper meal. Not only that, but it’s cheaper, too, and we all know that students aren’t famous for being rich. Here are some basic tips you can use to help you prepare meals that are both cheap and nutritious, and won’t suck time from your already tight schedule.

Curries are an excellent meal for students. They’re easy to make, and they freeze well. Fry up an onion in a pan, then add some boiling water, some tinned tomatoes, and a variety of root vegetables and legumes. Add some spices, and let boil for a few hours while you’re studying. This meal requires little preparation or monitoring, and is cheap to prepare. You can also freeze any uneaten portions for later use.

Pastas are another cheap and healthy meal that you can easily make on a student budget. Pasta is cheap to buy, and can be boiled in mere minutes. For a sauce, use some onion, garlic, and a few tins of chopped up tomatoes. This sauce is cheap and healthy, and is super easy to make. Pasta and pasta sauce are also good for freezing, so pop your leftovers in the fridge.

Last, soups and chillis are another great option for using up leftover vegetables that you won’t otherwise get to use. They’re cheap and easy to make, and they’re good for you as well. Make up more than you need, and put the rest aside to be used at a later stage.

So, if you have all remembered, it is my birthday tomorrow and in case you are pondering what to buy me (that means you Josie) I have had my eye on that dvd set for Xena Warrior Princess, just in case you couldn’t think of anything…