Different life stages present us with different nutritional needs.

Please don’t spend all your money on alcohol and eat 2-minute noodles and baked beans for a week! Smart budgeting is key to student life, and make sure you factor in enough for a good diet.

Mince and sausages tend to become staple foods in many students’ diets due to their cheap price point These are both high in saturated fat, so be sure to drain fat well from the mince, limit sausages to no more than once a week and look for lower fat varieties.

Check out this article for more info on eating healthy on a budget.

The combination of starting a sedentary job along with free cash to buy morning tea/lunch etc can lead to unwanted weight gain.

Caffeine and sweet treats may help you get through a busy day, but take care to avoid giant-sized, full-fat milky coffees paired with muffins and chocolate bars. Instead, come to work prepared with healthy snacks. Good things to have on hand are apples, bananas, small packets of dried fruits/nuts and low-fat muesli bars so you won’t be tempted by the vending machine.

Avoid the 3pm slump by having a low GI lunch containing protein. This will ensure your blood sugar levels stay stable throughout the afternoon. Some lunch ideas include a meat and salad wholegrain sandwich, tuna and chickpea salad, or baked beans on toast.

See here for more ideas on healthy work lunch ideas.

It’s pretty much impossible to get the recommended intake for pregnancy from food alone, so if you are planning a pregnancy, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about getting a supplement.

While you are planning pregnancy and during pregnancy, cut out alcohol, limit coffee to two cups a day and cut back on junk food. Ensure you get enough iron and calcium. When your pregnant, you need iron for the increased blood supply to the baby and extra calcium to help with your babies bone development. If you don’t get enough calcium, your bone stores will be used which can contribute towards osteoporosis (brittle bone disease) in later life

The key thing in this is giving your self plenty of time. If weight loss is your goal, cut down on alcohol, swap your snacks to fruit and eat smaller portions. Eat lots of vegetables and fruit. Have low fat dairy and lean protein and kick up your exercise regime a notch.

Starting a weight training program three months before your wedding day will help you look great on the big day. Do not start a fad diet. They’ll only slow down your metabolism, leave you feeling grouchy, and more likely to binge eat later.

Calcium is an important nutrient throughout life, but because your bones have reached their peak density in your twenties, make sure you eat plenty of calcium rich foods to stop leaching from your bones. Yoghurt, cheese, low fat ice cream, milk and canned salmon with bones are all excellent sources. 

If you’re not already, eat antioxidant rich fruit and vegetables to help keep you healthy and your skin looking fantastic.