Students, it’s often said, end up living on cereals, crisps, pasta, chips, burgers, pizza, baked beans, cheese on toast – and Nutella sandwiches! Is this still true in the age of health-conscious “clean” eating? Or has a hosted homestay accommodation with inclusive daily meal plans become one of the best ways for a busy young student to be sure of a regular, healthy and nutritious diet. It may well be…
The cost of living for students in the UK has altered quite significantly as a result of government policy in recent years. The National Union of Students (NUS) recently reported that the average annual cost of living for students in England (outside of London) is now £12,056, of which, less than one sixth goes on food. According to the NUS, the figures are broadly in line with data collected from international students by the UK Border Agency. If you’re a student at a college in London, then your living costs for the year increase by more than 12 per cent to around £13,521.
“Grabbing a bite” when you can
After paying for university / college fees, flat or room rental, gas and electric bills, and mobile top ups, there may simply be precious money left for buying food every day let alone thinking about the healthy option! “Are you eating properly?” is always likely to be one of the questions anxious parents ask their student sons or daughters every time they speak, text, email or Skype each other.
Parents can become even more worried if their children are thousands of miles away from home, maybe for the first time, in a foreign country and a different culture. From the first day of term and even after Fresher’s Week, college life can get very hectic indeed, and “grabbing a bite” when you can, often becomes the daily norm. Even if you are at a halls of residence, and money is also tight, then you could find yourself reaching for a plate of chips or a bag of crisps at the college canteen every day.
While the cost of food will undoubtedly affect how well you eat, it may also be simply easier to stop off at your local takeaway rather than go through the hassle of shopping and preparing a meal during weekdays. But what happens if you have particular dietary needs, either medical or religious?
Select a meal plan to suit your needs
All these concerns over potential obstacles may easily be taken care of if a student chooses to live with a host family, either as a single person or part of a group accommodation. You can select a meal plan to suit your needs, from Bed & Breakfast to Bed, Breakfast & Evening Meal, known as Half Board, which is usually eaten with the family. The Half Board option means you enjoy a healthy, nutritious main meal of a fish/meat main course with pasta/ rice/vegetables/salad followed by a dessert or fruit. Vegetarian or other special dietary requirements can also be catered for and it’s often possible to be placed with a family from a similar cultural background.
If you are part of a group accommodation, you have the opportunity to opt for Full Board. Here you are offered three meals a day – breakfast, lunch and dinner. Alternatively, you can also go Half Board, which means you are provided with a fresh, packed lunch to take to college. Forget those college canteen apples that may have been sitting in the counter bowl all week – you’re saving money while eating healthily!
If you really do want to prepare your own evening meal every day, there is also a self-catering option. You get your own storage space in the kitchen/fridge for all your food and drink for both breakfast and evening meal. So, if you think you may end up living on greasy takeaways and have visions of acne spots, a hosted homestay accommodation really is a home from home experience that will help get you started in your new life, the healthy way.