Healthy student meal plan
Off to uni? Our Good Food nutritionist selects a range of cheap, quick and easy student recipes for seven days. They'll keep you fuelled for study, too
About the plan
We’ve chosen our seven-day student suppers because they’re nutritious, balanced and cater to a range of dietary requirements. They’re budget meals, too, so they don’t require expensive ingredients, lots of equipment or previous cooking experience. This cheap student meal plan also aims to keep the selection of ingredients low so you can buy in bulk to keep costs down. And the best part is, all the suppers involve minimal prep and result in as little washing-up as possible.
Recipes that serve four or more can be scaled back to account for smaller servings, or you can freeze extra portions for another time. Alternatively, team up with a couple of housemates and share the cooking and the cost.
Check out our easy week-long meal plan of healthy student suppers below, then find more inspiration for student recipes, student meal ideas and healthy student meals. Also, make sure you are kitted out with all the right equipment by reading our review of the best student kitchen essentials.
Our new meal plan hub has all our meal plans in one place.
Student budget meal plan recipes
Monday: Vegan jambalaya
Kickstart the week with a delicious plant-based dinner. This vegan rice and bean one-pot is packed with all five of your 5-a-day, as well as iron, vitamin C and fibre to boot.
Tuesday: Sardine pasta
On Tuesday, turn your hand to this simple and comforting sardine pasta. It's an affordable way to include oily fish in your diet; canned sardines are a great source of omega 3 and add plenty of oomph.
Wednesday: Double bean & roasted pepper chilli
This warming vegetarian chilli is perfect for packing in the veggies and flavour. A low-fat, healthy option, we like to serve it with soured cream or yoghurt as well as Tabasco sauce for a kick.
Thursday: Vegan chickpea curry jacket potato
Low in calories but high in protein, this tasty chickpea curry jacket makes the perfect easy midweek meal. Plus, you'll probably have most of the ingredients already to hand.
Friday: Tuna & sweetcorn fishcakes
Tinned fish and sweetcorn are put to brilliant use in these simple potato patties. Try it for a healthy, budget-friendly supper that's also high in protein.
Saturday: Sweet potato & chicken curry
Chicken thighs are good value and tasty, just right for this healthy, versatile curry that's ready in 30 minutes. It's bulked out with veggies such as spinach, sweet potato and tomatoes.
Sunday: Spiced shepherd's pie
This healthy, low-fat shepherd's pie makes the most of storecupboard spices and frozen peas. Any leftovers can be frozen to enjoy another day, making it ideal for batch cooking.
Shopping list
Shopping list for the healthy student budget meal plan.
For more budget recipe inspiration, money-saving tips and useful guides, take a look at our 5-ingredient budget meal plan and other plans available in our budget recipe hub. We'd love to hear how this meal plan goes for you and, if we were to repeat it, what you'd like to see more of, or done differently. Please use the comment box below to let us know, or tag us on social using #gfcooksmart.
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