I started uni in September 2012 and during my first year I've had such an amazing time with moments I know I will forget. Endless partying, making new friends, living alone with a newfound freedom were only some of the experiences I had this year were so much fun BUT they contributed to my unhealthy eating habits. The partying meant drinking massive amounts resulting in the worst hangovers but I would be ready for more the next evening (yes I'm talking about you freshers week!), meeting new friends resulted in me eating out almost 2 or 3 times a week and not to places that served salads, pastas etc. Oh no, we would go to places that served pizzas, burgers, Chinese, Indian, massive english breakfasts (yum!) as well as ordering takeaway nearly every week. Along with this, I was out so much I could never be bothered to cook so it was a simple pop my ready made meal into my microwave and cool type affair. It was early March I decided to make a change as I have holidays this summer (BIKINIS HERE I COME) and I realised the only exercise I did was picking up the phone to order a takeaway haha (no seriously). What else spurred me on was the fact that my mum has high blood pressure and has to change her eating habits to control it as well as medication. So I did loads and loads and loads of research and have changed my diet and exercise massively while treating myself occasionally.
So this blog post is just for healthy food ideas to give inspiration to anyone who wants to change their eating plans (especially students like me on a lower budget)
TIPS TIPS TIPS that have been helping me
1. The first thing I did was cut out all white foods e.g. white sugar, pasta and rice that have been processed and changed them for wholegrain breads, wholewheat pastas and sweeteners like honey and stevia.
2. I also decided to change my semi-skimmed milk to almond milk or coconut milk occasionally as they are full of nutrients and lower in fat than normal milk.
3 I also started juicing and adding smoothies to my breakfasts in the morning and have a few recipes further in the blog post.
4. Ive had a problem with digestion since about 15 and have been to the doctors and been given fiber supplements which just temporarily got rid of the problem buts adding fruits and vegetables to my meals has really helped with my digestion and PMS pains (cue angels singing hallelujah) Psyllium husk is also really good with those with digestive problems and has helped my dad too.
5. Regular exercising 3-4 times a week and being generally more active
6. I have also started eating organic fruits and vegetables which may be quite expensive to some people, however take a trip to your local farmers market, some of the organic fruit we buy is cheaper than the supermarket!
7. Lowering salt intake (mostly due to my mum's blood pressure) including foods packaged with added salt
8. Meal prepping is a really good idea to prevent snacking and also saves the time in the morning when going to work/school/uni
9. Making own food from scratch e.g hummus and pasta sauce just so I know the exact ingredients I'm putting into my foods and avoiding processed foods and cooking is so much fun esp with a friend/ family member/boyfriend/girlfriend.
10. Switching my cooking oils from sunflower oils etc to coconut oil and Extra virgin olive oil.
11.WATER! Drinking water is so so beneficial for your health. I slowly worked my way up from 1.5 litres to 4 litres which is around a gallon and you really see a difference in your hair and skin! I used to have to put on lotion as soon as I got out of the shower because my skin would tend to be dry but I don't get that dryness anymore and can leave the house straight away.(obvs not naked though) If you are finding it hard to drink water try adding slices of cucumber or lemon to it to give it a bit of flavour and make it easier. Also drinking white, green and dandelion teas are a good way to hydrate your body.
12.Sleeping 8 hours a day. This is so hard in uni especially with the nights out, 9am starts and crazy social life but try to get at least 7-8 hours of sleep a day, it helps loads with your energy levels and helps with your mood.
13.Following healthy eating/fitness blogs, twitters, instagrams, tumbles etc. This gives you so much motivation especially because they post loads of delicious meal ideas as well as progress of different people. I am in love with instagram and there are endless healthy eating accounts it is insane.
14.Stopping eating after 7pm. I'm one of those people that are hardly hungr until about 6pm onwards where I start to want every food possible so at first it was pretty hard not to eat after 7 because I was so used to doing it. I just distracted myself with anything else e.g. Phonecalls with friends, tumblr, twitter, reading, writing in my diary, catching up on a good show (Scandal, Revenge,TVD) and eventually I got out of the habit because my body is now used to not eating at night.
15.Enjoying a healthier lifestyle! I try to make creative food ideas and change my meals just so it doesn't get boring which is when I notice I tend to crave unhealthier foods. And remember its supposed to be fun and don't take it too seriously as life is too short to be constantly worrying about weight/food. And it's okay to treat yourself but just in moderation (this a note ato myself who tends to plan to eat only a square of chocolate but ends up eating the whole bar and my half my friends!)
Now onto the meal ideas nom nom! I am a massive lover of food and I can literally eat everything (no, really) so here are some of my typical breakfasts, lunches and dinners
Morning
I always start my day with lemon in hot water which helps to detox your body by flushing out nasty toxins, aiding digestion, boosting your immune system and clears your skin.
Smoothie recipes
Smoothies are a great way to incorporate fruits and vegetables into your diet as well as protein and any powder supplements you make. Get a tumbler or bottle and just throw the ingredients in he blender, fill tour bottle and be on your way. My typical morning smoothie goes a little like this
Kale
Apples
Lemon
Spinach
Beetroot
Carrots
Pears
Flax seeds
Cacao powder
Spirulina
Chia seeds
Beetroots
Frozen berries
Coconut milk
Wheatgrass powder
Psyllium husk
Breakfast
- Veggie omelet recipe here
Banana pancakes recipe here
- Oats with chopped bananas, blueberries, cinammon, chia seeds and flax seeds- Avocado and eggs on wholegrain toast
- Poached eggs with wholegrain bread
-Scrambled eggs, wholewheat pita bread, hummus and chopped tomatoes
- Fruit and yogurt
- Quinoa porridge and fruit
- Blueberry almond pancakes recipe here
-Wholegrain toast with peanut butter and sliced banana (yumm)
Mid morning snacks
-Carrots and hummus
-Granola and green yogurt
-Almonds
-Apple slices dipped in yogurt and frozen
-Wholewheat tortilla chips
-Granola bars
- Apple slices dipped in peanut butter
-Fruit
Lunch
-Wholewheat wrap with turkey/chicken and veggies
-Chicken soup
-Caeser salad
- Salmon and Avocado Salad recipe here
- Spinach Grape and Walnut Salad (delicious!) recipe here
- Avocado spaghetti (use wholewheat spaghetti) recipe here
Snacks
-Carrots and hummus
-Granola and green yogurt
-Almonds
-Apple slices dipped in yogurt and frozen
-Wholewheat tortilla chips
-Granola bars
- Apple slices dipped in peanut butter
-Fruit
Lunch
-Wholewheat wrap with turkey/chicken and veggies
-Chicken soup
-Caeser salad
- Salmon and Avocado Salad recipe here
- Spinach Grape and Walnut Salad (delicious!) recipe here
- Avocado spaghetti (use wholewheat spaghetti) recipe here
-Rice and Bean Burrito recipe here
-Eggs tomato spinach brocolli in wrap
-Tuna and cheese on rye bread
-Grilled vegetable sandwich
-Chicken Salad wrap
-Tuna Salad
-Sweet Potato salad
-Prawn and avocado salad
-Scrambled eggs on rye toast with salmon on top
- Salad and 2 boiled eggs
- Turkey sandwich with tomato, lettuce, and vegenaise
- 2 brown rice cakes with tomato, salmon and avocado (with lemon juice)
-Chicken ham and feta cheese wrap
-Sliced avocado and scrambled or boiled egg and an apple
- Wholewheat Pasta salad
- Lentil/tomato soup and chicken sandwich
-Falafel and hummus wrap
-Turkey, salad & avocado sandwich
-Wrap with mashed avocado, pepper, onion, garlic, cheese,chicken/turkey,
-Tuna toastie using wholegrain/rye bread
-Shrimp curry recipe here
- homemade granola bars recipe here
- Lentil/ Chicken/Tomato soup
-Egg and slices avocado
- Tuna crackers and cheese
-Nakd bars
Dinner
-Brown Rice Veggie Stir Fry recipe here
- Egg brown rice and avocado
-Steak and sweet potato fries
-Turkey and sweet potato curry recipe here
-Sweet jacket potato with tuna
-Brown rice tuna salad
-Prawn rice salad
-Dark rye crispbread 2 eggs tuna and veggies
-Turkey burger in wholegrain bjnand salad
-Baked fish, whole grain rice and avocado and tomato
- Grilled chicken with avocado, tomato, onion and lemon
- whole wheat toast with sliced avocado eggs and veggies
-Chicken, 2 boiled eggs cottage cheese, veggies
-Fancy fish and chips recipe here
-Spicy beef salad recipe here
-Skinny spaghetti recipe here
-Slow roasted chicken tikka recipe here
-Venison and sweet potato stew recipe here
Desserts
-"Raw Very Berry Tarts recipe here
-Walnut Pancakes with Macadamia & Raw Cacao Butter recipe here
-Tarts au Citron recipe here
-Raw banoffee pie recipe here
-Vanilla and Macadamia Nut Cookies recipe here
-Lemon and walnut cake recipe here
So those are some of the food ideas I have and like to make, if you have any more yummy food ideas to add, just share below and check out Madeleine Shaw she has so many amazing recipes! All this food blogging has made me hungry but it is time for a hot shower and bed, night! x
