How to meal plan like a pro

Save money, time and food waste

Between managing lectures, study sessions and a social life, cooking can become easily avoidable, but that usually costs you more money.

Here's how to meal plan like a pro so you can save money and have quick, delicious meals for the week in no time!

1. Check your stock! 🥬

This is probably the most important factor in saving money, as many people make a list, go shopping, and then find they already have 3 tins of chopped tomatoes, a pack of chicken, and a loaf of bread in the freezer.

Always check your fridge, freezer and cupboards before heading to the shops. Building your meal plan around ingredients you already have ensures you buy only what you absolutely need, preventing forgotten vegetables from rotting at the back of the fridge.

2. Don't plan for every single meal 🥘

Trying to map out breakfast, lunch and dinner for all 7 days is a fast way to fall into feeling overwhelmed. Instead, aim to plan just 3-5 main dinners for the week. Leave the other nights open for freezer backups, spontaneous campus socials, or easy 'lazy day' meals.

3. Master the Supermarket Run 🛒

Location and timing are everything when shopping on a budget:

• Map your closest supermarkets as well as local shops like Tesco Express for when you need emergency pasta!
• Shop late for reductions: Some shops like Lidl put their fresh bakery items' prices down after 7pm, so it's worth shopping in the evening.

4. Shop-own items and loyalty cards 💰

Paying for brand-name items can be a bit of a waste of money when the shop's own items taste the same or are almost identical, and they're half the cost. Make sure you also download loyalty apps like Lidl Plus or a Sainsbury's Nectar card to rack up extra discounts at the till.

5. Cook once, eat twice 🍛

When you do cook, batch-cook meals like pasta bakes, chillies or stir-fries. Portion out the extra servings into Tupperware. This instantly ticks off your lunches for busy lecture days, saving you from spending £10-£15 a week on campus lunches and meal deals.

You don't need a massive spreadsheet to eat well. A successful plan just requires a bit of smart thinking to cut food waste and keep within your budget.