With many new students coming to the University of Reading this September 2024, there will be plenty that are in charge of all their own meals and beverages for the first time. In this blog, I’m going to give you some inspiration and ideas of the types of meals and drinks that you can have that are affordable and relevant to the University of Reading.
Grocery Shops In Reading
I’ll start by talking about the grocery stores in Reading and how to effectively shop.
There are many grocery stores in Reading to choose from such as M&S, Waitrose, Sainsbury’s, Tesco, Asda, Aldi and Lidl. Many of these shops are conveniently located in the town centre which is just a simple bus ride away on the Claret 21 bus. In the opposite direction of the town centre the Claret 21 bus goes to a large Asda (this is also in walking distance of Whiteknights campus).
Another great shop is the Co-op which is located on campus, this is a great alternative to the bigger shops if you urgently need something or are just looking to buy a few items. Along with the co-op there are also other smaller shops like Tesco Express. A simple google search can show you where the nearest supermarkets are located.
Once you settle into university life, it may be worth ordering groceries online with your flatmates to cut costs and to save time travelling.
Popular Meal Ideas for Students
Let’s talk meals!
On a student budget, you’ll probably find that eating out and ordering takeaways are less affordable and that cooking is the cheapest way to eat. I’m going to give you some quick and simple meal ideas that can be made on a budget.
Breakfast
- Cereal, Muesli or granola
- Porridgehttps://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/collection/easy-pasta-recipes
- Overnight oats
- Bagels/Toasthttps://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/collection/easy-pasta-recipes
- Eggs/Omelettes
- Frittata
Lunch
- Sandwiches/wraps
- Bakes/slices with various fillings (can be pretty cheap from supermarkets)
- Sushi
- Salads
- Burgers
- Burritos
You could also have leftovers from previous meals if you incorporate extra into your meal planning.
Dinner
- Any kind of pasta dish
- Fajitas
- Chilli con carne
- Curry
- Jacket potato
- Nachos
- Ready meals from supermarkets
Drink options/Cafe’s on campus
Looking for a drink on campus? Perhaps a tea or coffee?
The Co-op is a great place to grab a drink, whether that’s a cold refreshment or a hot coffee the Co-op has both. You can also stop by one of the many cafe’s on campus, I recommend Starbucks, Dolce Vita or the Library café. These are just 3 choices, you can try any of the other cafe’s on campus. There is also a great Boba Shop located in the Student Union, if Boba is your thing, I recommend heading there for a drink.
Other places to eat
There is a wide range of places to eat in the town centre, with a huge variety of fast food, sandwich shops, cafe’s and restaurants. All these are easily accessible with a short trip from the University campus using the Claret 21 bus. For cheap lunch time meals, I recommend Greggs or Subway.
Clever Cuisine Meal Plan
The University Offers a meal plan for all students called Clever Cuisine. The plan comes in 4 different tiers, Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum, it gives you access to meals at the different food spots on campus such as, Park Eat, Eat at the Square, The Dairy and more. It’s a great option for those on a budget and not only will it help you save money, you won’t have to stress about deciding what to eat/cook as everything is cooked for you by the great team of Chefs that work in the many food outlets.
Find out more about Clever Cuisine.
Being in charge of all your food and drink for the first time can be a little daunting, and even more so since you’ll have a pretty busy schedule as a student, but there are plenty of affordable and healthy meals you can have and make that are quick and simple. Remember to always stay hydrated, and try to incorporate lots of fruits and vegetables into your everyday meals to stay healthy and boost your energy and productivity.