mollybhealthy : Being a GF/DF Student.

Being a student, you are budgeted to what you can and can't buy. Some say that they cannot afford or have no time to be healthy or eat well. Instead grabbing things like pasta/noodles or frozen/processed microwavable meals, which aren't time consuming or expensive to make.

I believe that this isn't true. I am a fashion student - (www.instagram.com/mhbftd), which is an extremely expensive degree, due to the amount of materials we have to buy. I also spend most days in the studio 10 till 5, but I still manage to live a gluten-free, dairy-free and healthy lifestyle. This is down to knowing food is the most important fuel for me, plus a lot of preparation. (I have to also say that my housemates eat well too on a small budget, so its not just me!) Keeping momentum going when your tired and stressed, and all you really want to do is wallow in a pot noodle and a bar of dairy milk, is when you most need to feel your body with good food.

My weekly shop costs me around £20 - £30 pounds.
The list normally contains -

Bananas
Apples
Dates - (No sugar added)
Blueberries/Raspberries - Frozen
Mushrooms
Peppers
Broccoli
Courgettes
Avocado - treat
Red Onion
2 Sweet Potatoes - treat
Eggs - 12
Either Beef Mince/Beef Steak Strips/Chicken Breast/Chicken Thighs/Salmon
Bacon - treat
(Two Types - rotate each week)
DF Milk - every other week
85%-90% Dark Chocolate
Peanut Butter - every two weeks

(The treat things I buy are rare, normally every other week or two weeks, for something different to have with my meals.)

I have in my cupboard/fridge always, olive oil, GF soy sauce, coconut oil, honey, ground cinnamon, ground ginger, smoked paprika, mayonnaise and green tea. - This last a long time, so only needs to be changed 2/3 times throughout the year.

For breakfast I will have, a fruit smoothie if I'm in a rush (with a scoop of protein always), bacon, eggs and avocado, banana pancakes or banana and date omelette! and a green tea!

Lunch, is normally left overs for the night before, or something I prepared. Consists of L.O chicken breast or salmon with broccoli and avocado, beef stir-fry, paprika fried chicken + peppers + mushrooms or a bacon/veg omelette.

Snack - I take an apple/kiwi/banana with me.

For dinner, is normally rosemary roasted chicken with veg + sweet potato, chilli beef mince with lettuce tacos/veg/guacamole, beef and broccoli stir fry, grilled salmon with courgetti. I normally add rice or sweet potato, if I have been to the gym.

Snack - Dark Chocolate or Peanut Butter and Dates!

Also add a boiled/poached egg with a lot of my dishes to get some added protein in there, as well as it fills me up more! Eggs are such a good food to always have, you can make so many different things!