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Your First Uni Food Shop: A Guide

You feel hungry and head to the kitchen for something to eat, only to find the fridge and cupboards bare. Your stomach growls in protest and you sigh. It’s time for a grocery trip.

Stepping into the supermarket for your uni food shop can be daunting. The rows of fresh produce, multiple types of pasta and rice, all those tomato varieties – the list is endless. And that doesn’t even begin to cover the multiple brands to choose from. So where do you begin?

That’s why we’re here to help. From top tips to do’s and don’ts, we’ve put together a basket full of advice for your first uni food shop. Shop with confidence and eat healthy with Unite Students.

In this blog we'll cover:

• Your first uni shop: top tips
• Your first food shopping list
• Do’s and donts for your first food shop



Your first uni food shop: top tips

Plan your meals

Planning your meals before a shop can help you save money and prevent food waste. It also stops you impulse spending. Before you head out, make a list of food items you need to prepare your meals.

Your first food shop list should include items for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Think milk, eggs, bread, pasta, rice, and fruit and veg.

Consider batch cooking

One thing’s for sure – you won’t have time to cook every day. That’s where batch cooking comes in handy. When sorting your uni food shop list, consider buying double the amount of items. That will allow you to cook larger amounts of food that you can store for later.

If you and your flatmates have similar appetites, it might be easier to shop and meal prep together. Not only does it save time and money, but it can be fun to do with friends.

Set a budget

Once you’ve navigated the maze of aisles, you’ll be surprised how quickly everything adds up. So, it’s important to have a budget.

Making a list for your first food shop helps to know how much you’re likely to spend. But you’ll also want to look out for discounts and special offers. Some shops even offer a student discount, so be sure to make the most of it.

If it all sounds new to you, we have a guide on how to budget as a student as well.

Allow yourself some treats

Uni life is busy and juggling studying and socialising can be overwhelming, so you deserve the odd treat. You might be tempted to buy snacks from the corner shop, or order from Deliveroo and Uber Eats. But that can work out more expensive than if you plan ahead.

If snacks and treats are part of your uni food shop, consider buying them at the supermarket. You’re more likely to get a discount, which will allow you to buy in bulk and stock up way easier.



Your first food shopping list

Carbohydrates

Carbs form the base of most meals. Not only are they versatile, but they’re filling and provide the ultimate ‘brain fuel’ – perfect for those long study sessions.

• Pasta
• Rice
• Potatoes
• Cereal
• Bread
• Grains
• Starchy vegetables
• Tortillas

Tins and cans

Tinned and canned foods are a cheap and non-perishable way to bulk out meals. As well as incorporating more meat and veg into your diet, they can come in handy when you can’t fetch fresh food from the store.

• Tuna
• Tomatoes
• Beans
• Canned fruit
• Corn
• Soup/broth
• Tomato sauce
• Olives
• Spaghetti hoops
• Red kidney beans
• Vegetables



Fresh fruit and veg

Fruit and veg are important factors in any healthy meal. But be careful of buying too many – some will go bad if left for too long. Pro tip: Buy them together with flatmates, and get more value from sharing and refreshing your stock regularly.

• Apples
• Carrots
• Grapes
• Oranges
• Cabbage
• Corn
• Peppers
• Bananas
• Onions
• Berries
• Cucumbers
• Lettuce
• Avocados
• Lemon/lime
• Tomatoes
• Cauliflower
• Peas

Protein

Protein is another important factor in a meal. But remember to be inclusive of any vegetarians or vegans in the house.

• Chicken
• Mince
• Quorn
• Eggs
• Pork
• Bacon
• Fish
• Beef
• Sausage
• Mince
• Tofu



Dairy

Dairy products make a staple part of lots of meals. They’re also incredibly healthy, packed with essential nutrients including calcium, potassium, protein, vitamin D and much more.

• Cheese and cheese slices
• Milk (and alternatives)
• Cream
• Butter
• Yoghurt
• Sour cream

Condiments, herbs and spices

Having a stash of condiments, herbs and spices can liven up even the blandest meals. Stock up on the essentials to enhance the flavour, aroma and colour of your favourite dishes.

The trick is to grow your spice mix over time. Don’t buy everything all at once. Instead, look for inspirations and unique meals, and add condiments according to them. Eventually, you’ll build up a pantry that allows you to cook a variety of cuisines with ease.

• Salt and pepper
• Pre-mixed spices
• Chilli sauce
• Seasonings
• Stock cubes
• Ketchup
• Basil
• BBQ sauce/brown sauce
• Mayonnaise
• Honey
• Cooking sauce
• Peanut butter
• Salad dressing
• Vinegar
• Cooking oil
• Marmalade
• Mixed herbs







Hot drinks

Whether it’s a boost of caffeine to start the day or a comforting cuppa in the evening, hot drinks are a must in the household.

• Tea bags
• Coffee
• Hot chocolate
• Sugar
• Fruit tea
• Coffee sachets
• Honey
• Fresh tea (mint, lemon, ginger)

Frozen items

Early morning cravings are quite common when you’re up late studying at uni. Frozen foods last a lot longer and you’re able to use the amount you need when you need it. They can also save you money and help you make a meal in a pinch.

• Oven chips
• Frozen veg
• Frozen meat and fish
• Waffles
• Beef burgers (or meet free burgers)
• Pie
• Ready meals
• Fish fingers
• Garlic bread



Snacks and treats

Having something to indulge in will keep you going during studying. They’re also perfect for quiet evenings in and cravings after nights out.

• Crisps
• Biscuits
• Chocolate
• Drinks
• Pudding
• Crackers
• Snack bars
• Nuts
• Sweets
• Popcorn
• Pretzels
• Cookies

Toiletries

Necessities in every household. These can be cheaper to buy at the supermarket as opposed to high street chemists.

• Shampoo/conditioner
• Shower gel/bath soap
• Tampons
• Toothpaste
• Mouthwash
• Deodorant
• Cotton swabs
• Lotion
• Face wash
• Razors
• Shaving cream
• Floss

Household items

You’re all living under one roof, so it makes sense for everyone to contribute to the essential household items. Otherwise, you’ll all be taking up valuable storage space and spending more money to have tons of the same stuff.

• Washing up liquid
• Toilet roll
• Cleaning products – bleach, polish, window cleaner etc
• Laundry detergent and fabric softener
• Air freshener
• Kitchen roll
• Bin bags
• Aluminium foil
• Cling film
• Batteries
• Lightbulbs
• Hand soap
• Sponges







Do’s and dont’s for your first food shop

Don’t forget your bags

Most households have that one mysterious drawer full of shopping bags. Go green and save the planet by taking reusable bags with you on your first uni food shop. Chances are you’ll have collected a few of these from freshers’ fairs already! Bringing your own will prevent you from paying for bags at checkout, and helps to cut plastic waste.

Do check your recipes before you set off

Do a quick check of the items you already have before heading out – even if you’re halfway out the door. This will make sure you don’t forget anything important. There’s nothing worse than getting home and realising you forgot that all-important ingredient. Or buying an item that you already had in the cupboard.

Don’t get carried away

We know we said to buy in bulk, but try to limit yourself to what you’ll be able to carry home. Having bags upon bags of items can be an extreme sport when you leave the shop. If you or your flatmates have a car – great! Otherwise, consider doing another uni food shop later in the week.

Do look out for discounts and offers

Every supermarket has special deals and offers from time to time. While on your student food shop, look out for unique stickers for half price or buy one get one free. It might even be worth getting a loyalty card for your nearest supermarket. Alternatively, make use of your student discount. Even if it’s a few pounds off, you’re still saving money!

But don’t fall for every single deal

Sometimes special deals can be a little too tempting. Some items might be on sale because they’re likely to spoil the next day. And other deals will make you buy stuff you don’t actually want or need. When you do your first food shop, focus on the items that you usually buy.

Don’t buy too many perishable items

Perishable items like dairy products and fresh fruit and veg are likely to spoil before you can get through them all. You’ll end up throwing a lot of it away and wasting food. Try not to add too much to your uni food shop list and think about which foods you can buy frozen instead.