I Eat Because... I'm Hungry

Become best friends with your fridge-freezer and do the bulk of your cooking on one designated day. With a bit of preplanning, you can make your favourite foods in advance, divide them into containers, and keep enjoying healthy and homemade meals all week long.

Dishes like pasta and roasted vegetables make for perfect lunches – simply warm them up in a microwave and toss some fresh salad on top. Chilli and curry can be heated up quickly in the evenings and served with easy-to-cook sides like rice, couscous, or quinoa.

You'll still get all the nutritional benefits of a healthy, home-cooked meal without having to worry about starting from scratch every day.

The supermarket can feel like a slog, especially after a long day of work or when it's especially busy on the weekends. However, most major supermarkets give you the option to order online and have your food delivered straight to your door at a time that's convenient for you.

While it might seem like a hassle, if you make a list of what you need and stick to it, shopping online can be a quick and easy way to get everything you need without having to venture into the supermarket. And most sites will remember your previous purchases, so the next time you need to stock up it'll be even quicker.

Alternatively, consider taking advantage of extended hours and shopping late at night or early in the morning when it's quieter. Plan beforehand and make a list, so you can zip through the aisles, and include a few exciting new ingredients to break up the monotony.

While cooking can be fun, it can also be messy and stressful at times, especially when you're trying to multitask in a small or crowded kitchen. Give yourself the time and space you deserve by 'booking' it out beforehand. Speak to your flatmates and agree a time when you can have the kitchen to yourself for a few hours – just make sure to give them plenty of notice.

Use it as an opportunity to meal prep for the week or indulge your budding inner chef and experiment with a recipe you've been wanting to try. Beyond cooking something delicious, it can also be a fun and therapeutic experience.

Make sure to give them the same opportunity and respect their own kitchen time – you might just find you manage to develop a harmonious schedule that makes cooking so much easier for everyone.

The endless opportunities of an empty kitchen can be overwhelming, especially if you consider yourself relatively inexperienced when it comes to different flavours. But the best way to learn is by having a go!

Spend an afternoon researching your favourite dishes to see which spices come up regularly. Invest in the basics and challenge yourself to make a new recipe each week. While you might have a few mishaps, over time you'll discover what flavours you enjoy and how you like to cook with them.

Once you've mastered the basics, grow your spice cabinet by picking up a new variety when you do the weekly shop. Before you know it, it will feel natural to add a dash of paprika, a pinch of cumin, or a brave teaspoon of hot chilli powder here and there!

Some people love experimenting with complicated recipes and gourmet techniques – but if that's not your cup of tea, that's fair enough! However, choosing foods out of laziness doesn't always achieve the healthiest balance, as you can forfeit nutrition for unhealthy or less balanced snacks and meals, or overeat later in the day as you're not getting the right balance during mealtimes.

Luckily, there are plenty of cookbooks, blogs, and video channels that are geared towards teaching people just like you how to make quick, simple, and healthy meals with just a few ingredients. Pick a few recipes and try to motivate yourself to cook at least one thing from scratch each day. You might surprise yourself with just how easy it is to make something healthy and delicious – such as quick and easy overnight oats for breakfast.

The rest of the time, try to choose healthy, whole foods that will satisfy your hunger and provide you with the nutrients your body needs. For more advice about how to eat well, check out the page on 'Health'.

Some people rely on ready meals to get through a busy week, so rather than feeling guilty about choosing a ready meal, make the best nutritional choices you can at the supermarket. Compare different ready meals for salt, fat, and added sugar, alongside fibre. Try adding some extra frozen veg into the mix to help you hit that 5-a-day target.

If you want to rely less on ready meals, why not make your own? Prepare homemade sauces in bulk and cook things that can be safely reheated, like vegetables or meat, in advance. That way, when it comes to lunch or dinnertime, all you need to do is put on a pot of pasta or rice while the other half of your meal heats up.

Spend a few hours on a weekend preparing, and have fun with it! Turn on some music, make yourself a drink, and get creative. You'll thank yourself when you're enjoying healthy, quick, and delicious meals throughout the rest of the week.