Eating well

Information about eating well and making informed decisions about food culture and diet trends.

Between late-night study sessions and part-time work, a packed schedule and budget concerns, eating well while at university can become less of a priority.

Navigating food trends and diet culture on social media can also make it hard to know what’s best for you.

We want to make sure you feel able to make smart, satisfying food choices that support your health, wellbeing and academic success.

A group of students sat around a cafe table outdoors eating a selection of dishes.

Why eat well?

Maintaining a balanced and nutritious diet is essential for supporting your mental wellbeing, academic performance and overall health during university. How energised and healthy you feel is linked to how you fuel your body.

University is a time when you are working hard and learning constantly. Nutritious meals will help you concentrate, retain information, focus and get restful sleep.

What about diet culture?

Diet culture often appears in social media, advertisements and even in casual conversations, promoting restrictive eating or exercise, body shaming or ‘good’ vs. ‘bad’ foods. It often promotes thinness whilst stigmatising fatness.

Diet culture can contribute to people developing unhealthy relationships with food or certain food groups, body image and self-esteem concerns and disordered eating behaviours.

Here’s some tips on how to recognise diet culture:

Question the source of the advice — Is it evidence based or coming from an TikTok influencer with no credentials?
It often disguises itself as wellness, promoting rigid food rules under the guise of health or lifestyle changes
It often labels foods as good or bad, creating guilt or shame around eating habits

How to navigate diet culture and eat well

Trying to eat well while dealing with all the noise from diet culture can feel overwhelming but with our tips and a focus on what actually makes you feel good, it’s possible to build a healthy relationship with food.

Enjoy a variety of foods to get all the nutrients your body needs.
Let go of the good and bad food labels — food is just food.
Listen to your body — eat when you're hungry and stop when you're full.
Choose foods that nourish you and bring satisfaction — food is meant to be enjoyed!
Balance your plate — carbs and fats are just as important as protein.
Don’t engage in diet talk — boundaries are important.

What to do if you think you have a problem with food

Disordered eating can be hugely impactful. It can make you feel anxious and depressed, affect your sleep, your concentration, your studies and your overall wellbeing. If this sounds like you, we can help.

Find out more about disordered eating