How Your Diet Can Affect Your Exam Stress

Our diet can have a huge impact on our brain, from our mood to our concentration levels what you eat really can affect your exam stress!.

When we are in high pressure situations it can be very tempting to pick up the most convenient snacks possible to give us quick energy or to comfort eat to deal with the stress but did you know how these bad habits actually affect you?

Letting your energy levels slump and only eating when your really hungry will have a worse affect than grazing. When studying you are best having healthy and light snacks throughout the day to keep your energy levels stable.

Fruit & vegetables contain vital nutrients and chemicals that can foster the production of Dopamine, this plays a key role in motivation and engagement. Fruit & vegetables can also improve memory, moods and minimize body inflammation!

Take caffeine in moderation, over consumption of tea, coffee or sugary drinks can cause dehydration and an irritable mood making it harder to focus on studying.
As we said before memory boosting nutrients can be found in vitamin A, E & C such as eggs,carrots, broccoli, fish, nuts and green leafy vegetables.

Lecithin is a component of all cell membranes and can help calm nerves! Good sources of this can be found in egg yolks, soybeans, cauliflower and beans.

How To Make Your Food Shop Go Further

We all know it can be hard to shop on a budget, not just for students! It can be very easy to spend huge amounts of money on the weekly shop and not even realize until you get to the tills. Today we are going to look at how to be more of a smart shopper and make that food shop budget stretch further!

Write out what you need before hitting the shops- More often than not if you don't know exactly what you need it can be very easy to buy more than you intended and fall for the offers and pick up non essentials such as confectionery.

Take a set amount with you- The best way to stick to a budget is to take out cash beforehand, forcing you to stick to your budget and not be tempted to overspend.

Cook in bulk and freeze- Not only will this save you money and wastage if your food is about to go out of date it also keeps you super organized! Having home cooked meals frozen is particularly good for this time of year if you are too busy studying simply bulk cook in advance when you know your going to have a hectic schedule.

Check date labels- Particularity on more expensive and perishable foods such as dairy, meat and fish check the dates before you buy! This will reduce waste when you go into your fridge to only then realize all of the food is past it's sell by on the same date.

Use your leftovers- Wether it be leftover chicken from a roast dinner that could be used in tomorrows dinner or bread could be used as breadcrumbs don't let anything go to waste!

Ditch the takeaways- Takeaways can be very expensive and can easily add up to your weekly or monthly costs. If you know your going to be craving a cheat meal simply make your own takeaway from home, it won't only be cheaper but very likely much better for you.

Getting Active For Summer On A Budget

Not yet summer ready and short on money this month? Well don't worry there is still plenty of time to get fit for summer without emptying your wallet! Check out our new H4L Guides below for some top tips!

Vegan & Vegetarian Day ReCap & Recipes

Due to the growing demand for Vegan options on campus from both student's and staff we had decided to run a Vegan & Vegetarian day working in association with the RGU Vegan & Vegetarian Society!

For the day our chefs had prepared a delicious Korean tofu broth with an offering of a variety of vegetables and rice noodles. The feedback had been wonderful and everyone loved the broth!

For our Vegan eaters out there we thought this week we would focus on some inspirational recipes that you can cook from home just like this one!

Three Bean Chili- Full of protein and filling this dish is perfect for those days you are craving some comfort!

Sweet Potato Curry- Who says curry can't be Vegan? Simply replace cream for coconut milk!

Hoisin Vegetable Wrap- Perfect for on the go and filled with vegetables and nutrients

Spaghetti With Green Pesto & Pine Nuts- A great Italian alternative packed with flavour!

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Adding More Flavour To Your Summer Salad

The end of term is soon approaching as is the sunny weather! It's time to pack away your soups and casseroles and swap for some light salads.

We know at times salad can be a tad boring, especially if you have the same thing each time. However the beauty of salad is that it is so versatile the options are endless! Below we have some of our own favourite for you to try at home to jazz up your usual recipe. Don't forget we also make fresh handmade salads on campus everyday too perfect for on the go!

Dress It Up- Adding a salad dressing can completely change the flavour, why not change from the usual olive oil or vinaigrette by adding in some spices and garlic? Or go for something more flavor than your typical ceaser salad dressing such as ginger, or lemon plus it is much less calorific too!

Add Some Crunch- Why not experiment with texutre and add some bite to your salad with some roasted nuts such as almonds, walnuts or pine nuts? If nuts aren't your thing you could try raw cabbage instead!

Sweeten Your Salad- Add a sweetness to your salad without a cup full of sugar by using fruits such as berries, pears, pomegranate or oranges are classics. Or you could simply add honey to your usual dressing for something different.

Change Up The Greens- We think of salad as typically consisting of lettuce, onions, tomatoes and peppers. Why not cange things up and try out some different flavors and textures? Avocado can add a great buttery richness to a salad, or add a bit of heat with some fresh chills. Make your salad more filling with some carbs such as sweet potato!

We hope you enjoyed this weeks blog post and that you are also enjoying the sunnier weather!

How To Eat Well At Subway & Healthy Alternatives

Ever since the opening of Subway in the Aberdeen Business School we have been extremely busy since day one proving to be one of the most popular catering outlets with both students and staff across the university!

For those of us who may be more health conscious particularly with summer just around the corner (did we mention Subway will be open all summer?! Yes you heard right!) this does not mean you have to give up eating in your favorite subs! Below we have some healthy alternatives for the next time you order-

Go Carb Free and Choose A Salad- Why not take your favorite subway fillings and cut out the bread for some fresh vegetables and get a salad! With the variety of options you can create huge ranges of flavors to suit any and all tastes. This is a great work day lunch you won't get bored quickly!!

Choose 9 Grain Wheat Bread- For a healthier bread alternative but still full of flavor this 9 grain option packed with fiber and nutrients is a great substitute over white bread.

Or Choose Flatbread!- If you are looking for a less calorific and lighter lunch the flatbread options is a perfect alternative.

Choose White Protein Over Red Meat- Opting for more leaner meats such as turkey or chicken over more fatty red meats will allow you to cut back on the calories and cholesterol.

Cut Back On The Extras Such As Cheese and Sauces- Another small but very useful tip if you are trying to make your subway more healthy is to cut out the cheese and sauces. If however you cannot be without your sauces simply choose a lighter options such as mustard.

Choose As Many Vegetables As Possible- Take this opportunity to get as much of your five a day as you can, there are a wide variety of vegetables on hand to choose from to pack your subway, flatbread or salad full of key minerals and nutrients!

Go For A Healthier Side Order- Rather than ordering a footlong sub why not get a six inch and add a more nutritious side such as baked crisps as opposed to fried or soup?

We have a variety of offers at Subway throughout the week so be sure to keep a look out for them both at the outlet and online to grab a deal! 

Budget Friendly & Healthy Student Recipes

As we are moving away from hearty winter comfort foods it's the perfect time to advance your culinary skills and create some new light and summery dishes without breaking your wallet!

The following dish suggestions are not only much healthier than your cheap processed ready meals most of these meals but they are also are made with few ingredients and cupboard staples that will last for various meals!


Roasted Vegetable Quesadillas

Stuffed Red Peppers

Sweet Potato Shepherds Pie (could be made vegetarian and replace mince with various beans!)

Slow Cooker Vegetable Soup

Falafel Wraps

Grilled Chicken Salad

Quiona & Pomegranate Salad 

Courgette Spaghetti With Pesto & Pine Nuts

Spanish Omelette