Thursday 02-05-2019 - 09:21

Hanger is very real beast and can totally ruin your day — but don’t let it ruin your exams. Food can really impact your mood (it’s even proved by science), make sure your belly doesn’t get the better of you and hanger ruin your headspace when it most matters.

Here are some easy recipes to see you through revising and exams with ingredients that you can pick up anywhere and won’t break the bank. 

 

Hearty cheesy tuna pasta bake 

Fish like salmon, mackerel, tuna and sardines are full of omega-3 fats, which can boost healthy brain function — perfect for prepping for an exam. Cooking fish might make you the least favourite flatmate, but who can complain if it’s in the name of science? You can keep it simple and go with sardines on toast, or a lighter option of tuna and pesto pasta, or classic comfort food of a cheesy tuna pasta bake. If you want to cook in bulk, you can always freeze it and save yourself some time and money later.

You’ll need: 
+ Pasta (penne or any other short pasta works)
+ Tinned tuna
+ Tomato passata
+ Tinned tomatoes 
+ Your choice of cheese 
+ (Optional) Extra veg, such as sweetcorn, cherry tomatoes or onions
+ (Optional) Herbs, such as basil, parsley, chilli, garlic

Instructions: 
+ Pre-heat your oven to 200 degrees and bring a pan of water to boiling to cook your pasta. 
+ Once the pasta is cooked add the tuna, passata and tinned tomatoes along with any other ingredients (veg, or herbs) to the pan and mix. 
+ Put everything an ovenproof dish, grate the cheese over the top and put in oven for 30 mins or until your cheese is melty and the liquid is bubbling. 

 

Breakfast burrito

Why not start your day in the best way with an amazing breakfast burrito? It sounds indulgent, but it’s a great mix of complex carbs for energy and protein. As well as being packed with protein, those eggs will also give you a healthy dose of vitamins and minerals to get you in top-shape for your exams — they’re a breakfast classic for a reason. 

You’ll need: 
+ A tortilla wrap 
+ A tin of beans 
+ Two eggs
+ Two slices of bacon
+ Some grated cheese

Instructions:
+ Crack the eggs into a bowl and beat them together with a fork. Put a pan over a low heat and add a little oil or butter. Add the eggs and stir them slowly until they are softly set and a bit runny in places, then remove from the heat. 
+ Heat your beans in another pan or in the microwave according to the instructions.
+ Cook your bacon in a separate pan or under the grill.
+ Lay the tortilla out flat on a plate, add the scrambled eggs, cooked beans and bacon, then grate some cheese on top. 
+ Wrap it up and serve. If you’re eating on the go, put it in some kitchen foil and take it with you.

 

Satay noodles

Noodles are super-easy to cook and really filling. If you pair them with a delicious peanutty sauce, it can be a great source of Vitamin E. And if you really can’t be bothered to cook, you can always just eat the peanut butter straight out of the jar with a spoon — this is a judgement free zone — or spread it onto some sliced apple or banana. 

You’ll need: 
+ A packet of your favourite noodles (egg noodles or rice noodles would be best)
+ Three tablespoons of peanut butter (crunchy or smooth)
+ Two tablespoons of honey (optional if you’re vegan – replace with some teaspoons of sugar)
+ Two tablespoons of soy sauce 
+ A clove of garlic, minced or grated finely
+ One and a half tablespoons of rice wine vinegar 
+ Half a teaspoon of ginger (fresh or powdered)
+ (Optional) Extra garnishes like chilli, sesame seeds, spring onion
+ (Optional) Cooked chicken or tofu

Instructions:
+ In a small bowl, mix the peanut butter with the soy sauce, rice wine vinegar, grated garlic, ginger and honey (or sugar if using it) and mix to make a smooth sauce. 
+ Cook your noodles in a pan of boiling water, according to the packet instructions.
+ Drain the noodles and then coat with the sauce.
+ Add cooked chicken or tofu for an extra protein boost. If you wish, you can add some more veg such as leafy greens, broccoli or mangetout. 
+ To serve, top with some sesame seeds, sliced spring onions and chilli for a kick. 

 

Microwave blueberry muffin

Fruit is packed full of good stuff that will keep you on top form in the run up to exams. Blueberries in particular can help with short-term memory loss, and help you get the most out of a revision session. Give yourself a treat and combine them with some fool-proof baking using the microwave.  

You’ll need: 
+ 40g of plain flour
+ Two tablespoons of sugar
+ A quarter teaspoon of baking powder
+ A pinch of salt 
+ 60 ml milk
+ Two tablespoons of melted butter
+ A quarter teaspoon of vanilla extract
+ 25g blueberries
+ (Optional) A lemon for zesting 

Instructions:
+ In a microwavable mug, use a fork to mix the flour, sugar, baking powder and salt. 
+ In a small bowl, melt your butter in the microwave.
+ Add the milk, melted butter and vanilla extract to your mug and give it a mix until smooth. 
+ Stir in your blueberries and add a bit of lemon zest  tover the top), then give it another mix. 
+ Put your mug in the microwave for one and a half to two minutes, or until it’s puffy and cooked through. Let it cool a bit, sprinkle a bit more sugar over the top to serve. 

 

Need more meal ideas? MetMunch the amazing MMU student initiative has loads of blogs and recipe ideas.

Good luck with your exams, assignments and deadlines – you got this.