For those of us who have already made it through university, it’s with a sense of wonder that we look back and marvel how we survived not just student cooking, but student hygiene without intestinal surgery. Student diets get bad press and it’s not without good reason. In a survey carried out by the Food Standards Agency Northern Ireland in 2005, less than a third of students said they prepared a meal from scratch, with a further 63% saying they sometimes went without a main meal during the day and snacked instead on processed, convenience food.

What you eat and drink really counts, and the first year student diet, with its reliance on processed and convenience foods, has sometimes been referred to as Freshers 15 – the 15lbs you put on in your first year away from home !!

The Food & Drink Guide has something in it for everyone. For those of you who are a stranger to the kitchen, we’ve included lots of the basics including essential kitchen kit, hygiene tips and cupboard essentials as well as some pointers on how to make your budget go further on food. Even if you have already made that gargantuan leap and attempted to get to grips with more than just opening a can of baked beans, there are a number of practical recipes to try out as well as information on getting the most out of your diet.

By using the practical tips and recipes in the Guide (which you should get to grips with in less than a week), you’ll have all the information you need to live a healthy, balanced life, with the odd plate of chips thrown in.

We’ve also included some facts about how alcohol can affect your health, relationships and career. So then you’ll be able to decide how much you want to drink.

The booklet is split into eight chapters, so if you like, you can read one section each night before you go to sleep, and in a week’s time you’ll be fully equipped for getting into the kitchen. The recipes are a guide, but as you grow in confidence you can change these to suit your own taste and budget.

DOWNLOAD THE GUIDE NOW !