Healthy Winter Comfort Foods & Our Eat Well Guide On Campus

During this time of year when it's oh so cold outside we all crave comfort foods, however your classic winter comforts are often not the healthiest so today we are going to give you some ideas of healthier comfort foods for those days at home tucked up away from the cold!

Baked Macaroni & Cheese- This classic can be made much healthier by opting for low fat cottage cheese, wholewheat pasta and adding some vegetables into the mix

Soup- Soup is a winter staple which can be super healthy- there are so many options our there- carrot & ginger, vegetable broth, potato and leek etc! Just make sure not to add cream to your soup to keep it healthy!

Porridge- A healthy, filling and warm breakfast perfect for cold mornings. Keep this extra healthy by choosing honey over golden syrup and adding fruits for extra sweetness if that is what you crave, you could also add chia seeds for texture

Fruit Crumble- Deserts can be healthy too! Use porridge oats for the crumble rather than flour and instead of custard why not try some fat free greek yoghurt? You can still have your cake (in this case crumble) and eat it!

Shepherds Pie- This classic comfort food can be made vegetarian or even vegan! Just replace the meat for vegetables, beans and pulses, use sweet potato for a healthier and flavor packed kick!

Remember you can still eat all of those winter foods you crave its all about balancing our food and making simple alternative choices- replace beef for turkey, cut back on sugar with honey and sweeteners, use sweet potato rather than regular, wholegrain or wholewheat when having carbs, whenever possible put in vegetables, cottage cheese and low fat yoghurts over cream.

Now when your at uni you may be thinking how can I know what is and isn't healthy? Sometimes it can be hard to know from just looking at a dish. Well no need to worry as here at RGU all of our outlet will have eat well stickers on our menus to indicate if a dish is healthy it may say "eat well", "vegetarian"", "vegan" etc or how the dish has been cooked e.g baked as opposed to fried.

We hope these dishes gave you some inspiration and that your all now aware of how to look out for our healthier options on campus!

How To Survive Exam & Coursework Stress

It's officially December!

It's finally the month of Christmas however for many students this is not only the season of festive cheer but also many sleepless and stressful nights due to coursework deadlines and upcoming exams. During this time some may be too stressed to eat at all, others will seek comfort in junk food and snacking. It is so important to eat well during revision time in order for your brain to function at it's best so we are given you some quick simple tips on how to eat well duering this stressful time.

Snack Often- Snacking healthy, nutritious snacks to give you regular energy when your studying will keep you focused and fuller for longer as opposed to sugary or salty snacks. Foods such as nuts, fruit, rice cakes etc are great snack alternatives and if your looking for brain power why not have some dark chocolate or fish for your omega 3 boost!

Get Plenty Of Sleep- Sleep is vital in order to have a productive day the recommended is 8 hours a night, cramming all your revision or deadlines and staying up all night will do you far more worse than good. Lack of sleep means you will be irritable and unlikely to focus and wont remember any of your revision.

Take Breaks Often- Everyone has a different system but focusing on a screen or notes for too long can lead to frustration, taking short breaks often means you will be able to recharge and go back at it with a fresh mind and get more work done in the long run

Get Lots Of Exercise- Exercise is not only great for our health but it also a proven stress beater, taking time out of the day to go for a run, a sports class or go to the gym will help take relieve those nerves and frustrations, During exam and coursework season our social lives often get put on the back burner, use going to the gym as a way to catch up with your friends aswell!

Plan A Schedule- Planning your day means you are less likely to fall off track and procrastinate, making a schedule of when to study, how many pages of work to write including breaks and mealtimes means you can make the most of your study session.

Stay Away From The Caffeine & Sugar- We've all been there trying to finish a last minute deadline or the night before the exam with your fifth coffee in hand and a pack of pro plus this will inevitability lead to the caffeine crash. Instead try a herbal or green tea if you are craving a hot drink.

We hope you enjoyed today's post and wish you all luck in your upcoming exams and coursework deadlines!