Free fresh food for freshers
More than 7,000 new Liverpool John Moores University and University of Liverpool students will receive a free food box as part of an initiative to show young people how to eat well on a budget.
In partnership with the Student Grub Company, locally-sourced fruit and vegetables will be provided along with herbs, pulses and dried goods to encourage students to cook healthy meals for themselves and their new flatmates.
Even novice cooks will be able to rustle up a really tasty dinner using just one knife, one board and one pan as recipe cards are also included in each food box. Dishes include 'Cor Blimey Couscous’ with sautéed vegetables and herbs, 'Mama Mia Risotto’ with leek, mushroom and tarragon, ‘Mighty Morrocan Chickpea and Butternut Squash Curry’ and 'Ole Tomato and Bean Mexican Stew.’
Each weekly hamper box has enough food to last four or five days and normally costs £12 - equal to the price of one large takeaway pizza.
The recipes have been devised by Student Grub founder and passionate foodie, April Green, who was inspired to set up the company when her son was about to start university.
April explained: "Empowering students to cook for themselves will be the focal point of my business this year. I’ll be working in collaboration with residential assistants at both universities and the Liverpool Guild of Students’ Green Fund, delivering loads of fun Student Grub activities in halls during the academic year.”
Yvonne Turnbull, Head of LJMU’s Student Advice and Wellbeing team said: “The start of the student journey often begins in halls which is why we want to ensure that students are given every opportunity to make the best possible start. By providing access to a free and healthy meal we want to encourage students to think positively about healthy eating. The University is keen to encourage students to stay healthy throughout their time at LJMU. Students who eat well study more effectively and are more likely to obtain the academic results that they want.
“The aim of the initiative is also to ease the transition into life in halls. Moving into student accommodation is exciting but it can be quite daunting too. Not only are you leaving the security of home but you are moving into a flat full of strangers. What better way to help new students get to know each other than over a nutritious, delicious meal they’ve cooked together themselves.”
Dan Cole, Liverpool SU’s Vice President Community Engagement said: “At LiverpoolSU we’re keen to promote healthy eating and lifestyles and support the Student Advice and Wellbeing Student Grub initiative. It’s a fantastic opportunity to bring flatmates together and encourage them to cook as a flat, which is great not just from a health point of view, but also socially.”
Alex Ferguson, Vice President of Liverpool Guild of Students leading on sustainable issues, said: “It’s fantastic that we could work with halls’ wardens and use Green Guild funding to offer grub boxes to University of Liverpool students. Learning how to cook healthy food on a budget is hugely important to students moving to University for the first time – so being able to offer them fresh products is a great way to get them started. We provide students with lots of opportunities to eat healthily, one of which is our newly established food cooperative in our Guild shop, where students can buy vegetables and student prices.”
Accommodation providers involved in this project are Unite, Sanctuary Students, CLV, Liberty Living, Victoria Hall and Fresh Student Living, covering thirteen student halls.
The Student Grub Company uses Prescotts Farm in Ormskirk, a third generation fruit and veg farmers and wholesaler, to supply fresh local produce. Combined with its recycled and reusable boxes, this means that the company is supporting North West businesses and helping protect the planet too.
For more information on Student Grub, go to www.student-grub.com
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Siobhan Coghlan, Press and Publications Officer, 0151 231 3888
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