Why students should learn to cook....

The government has announced that school children are going to be given cookery lessons - a good idea if ever I heard one. But what about those who have missed out?

Going to a university can be a challenge in many ways. But what to eat is definitely one of the most common. Now a group of students may have come to the rescue. Guest blogger Ben Ebbrell, 21, who's studying Culinary Arts Management at Birmingham explains more about Sorted, and "challenging the university diet". He even demonstrates how to rustle up a nice Portuguese soup.....

"My name is Ben and alongside seven of my closest school buddies, we have published our answer to student survival.

Back in January 2008, over a pint at our local, we realised we all suffered from the same problems when away from home, especially in the kitchen. Our domestic skills were laughable.

As a budding chef I was shocked at the vast amount of beans being consumed. Alongside the pot noodles and take-aways, these were becoming the norm for a student diet.

Although cooking for myself is second nature, I could see how much of a chore others were finding it. To help break the ice, I started to give my housemates some tips and hints - mini cooking lessons, I suppose - which then became a regular thing. 

Sitting in the pub with my friends back home and telling them my experiences, it became really clear that it wasn’t just my housemates who were kitchen-phobic.  Hence Sorted students was born and we decided to try and do something to help fellow Freshers and students.

Having made all the usual mistakes ourselves, we figured we were the perfect people to lend a helping hand to new students about to undergo the same struggles.  We’re now on a mission to help future students avoid some of the stress we had, making their lives healthier and hassle-free.

We cooked up Sorted: recipe for student survival. It's written for students BY students, and centres on the important recipes and tips needed for healthy living at university. It also provides practical help and advice on all key matters related to student life.

Once we got started, momentum really picked up. My passion for food began rubbing off on others. Even our parents started to understand the importance of all this to us: it was no longer just an idea on the back of a beer mat, but a real thing, a real passion.

The lads soon cottoned on to the idea of their own personal chef and phone calls for advice started flooding in from supermarket isles. It started off as just a joke, but then I began to appreciate that all students, maybe everybody, needs these helpful tips and tricks! Plenty of my friends who have now graduated are facing the harsh reality that they now have to earn a living. With little money, student loans to pay back and a much shorter evening (they actually have to get up the next morning), I’m now getting the same SOS calls from their new supermarkets.

The blog posts on our website became the vehicle for all students to be able to do this - I can’t go and give my mobile number out to everyone! It means students all over the UK can voice their opinion, ask questions and seek help.

To support the recipes we decided to film ourselves making some of the best.  These were a lot of fun to film, and the idea is to show that cooking is actually really easy. Even the biggest kitchen-phobe can rustle up something tasty and nutritious in a matter of minutes.

The videos show us unplugged, with all the raw, cheeky humour and banter that is part and parcel of student living. We don’t take ourselves too seriously and have really enjoyed the whole process - which is after all, what we want our fellow students to do. Don't treat catering for yourselves as a chore, but get stuck in with your mates and embrace the challenges of a balanced diet, on a budget. With our help, it's all possible, easy and a good laugh.
      
We’ve also launched a roadshow, touring universities up and down the country. People around us think we are nuts, but as we see it, it’s just another step to our goal and passing on our knowledge. 

We’ll be popping into Fresher Fairs and proving to students just how tasty cheap and simple grub really can be. We’re there to create a commotion and also to get Freshers in front of the camera to chat about the things they are most looking forward to, and any concerns, now that they’ve flown the nest.

It’s also a great opportunity to get Freshers out and talking to each other.  One of the biggest hurdles we had was overcoming the first bout of “hi I’m Barry and I’m doing such and such a course.”  This way there is a common reason - i.e. their stomachs - for being there. It’s something new and a great way to start the conversations going and the friendships started.  I guess it's like a festival feel but with better food!!!

We strongly believe that university days are the best days of your life and want to help people realise that. We’re still there, approaching our final year, tying up the loose ends – dissertations and so on. Getting the book published, the roadshow launched and the website up and running has been far harder than anything we’ve experienced at university. We feel it has the potential to make a real difference to the typical student diet."

Sorted: a recipe for student survival is published by Co-incidence Ventures £12   
The boys also have a Sorted Students Website.

For more information on everything to do with university and student life, visit The Times student pages.

Read School Gate on:

The soft A levels universities don't want you to take.

The new universities: Ebbsfleet and Accringon anyone?

Comments

[Harry]

In reference to the last comment - having just bought the book for my daughter for christmas - the soup costs just 80p per portion.

If a student can't afford that then what are they eating? Less alcohol and takeaways and more planned shopping and cooking. Thats what these guys are promoting!

[ac/dc rule]

How many ingredients does that guys soup use? How much money does he think we have to spend on all these things. The reason students eat bad food is becuase its all they can afford.

[GEORGIA]

AS I AM A GIRL AND I DO NOT KNOW HOW TO COOK I BELIEVE THAT IT IS ESSENTIAL IF A WOMAN WANTS TO MARRY!!!!

[AP]

The unfortunately incorrect assumption that J is making is that all girls can cook.

[AK]

I can't believe that in the 5 years since I left school cookery has been dropped from the curriculum! It was mandatory yr7-9, although acutally taught us little (I kept getting in trouble for knowing how to cook already)

[j]

I hate to say this, but if you are a non-cooking young man at Uni, the usual strategy is to get a girlfriend.

I thought the girls would resist this but they dont seem to mind, as it keeps the boys VERY keen to please in all other ways.

Plus ca change, huh?

[JM]

When cookery lessons went out of fashion some years ago, the schools converted these classrooms into Design and Technology rooms. The schools no longer even have the space to accommodate cookery classrooms, let alone the money to refit them with cookers, etc.