Living off instant noodles really unhealthy?
Im at university so I'm pretty broke because most of my money goes towards accommodation and to be honest I have been a little irresponsible and spent a lot of my money on cloths, makeup ect... Eating food pretty much has come to be the last thing on my list. So what I have been doing is buying lots of koka noodles for 25p each (40 cents for you US people) and adding things to it like spinach, seeds (chia or flax) beans, saitan ect. and making a stir fry, and because I am a vegetarian, I spend less money because I'm not buying any meat. My question is, even though eating like this my be cheap, is it really bad for me??
Is it possible to live on instant noodles for years?
As a college student that is in a very similar situation, I can tell you that in the long run the instant stuff will not only be more expensive, but will also leave you more prone to sickness. Instead of instant noodles, buy lots and lots of pasta and some sliced ham, canned vegetables, sauce and the like. Every time I make pasta it lasts me nearly for a week because you can make large quantities of pasta for very little accompaniment, and it fills your stomach quickly when the instant noodles leave you wanting a second serve. Once a week or something buy a piece of fruit because the carbohydrates, though they give you energy, don't provide the necessary proteins and vitamins you need. Just think of it like this: if you get ill, you'll need to spend much more money on medicine and stuff than if you just bought an apple or an orange once a week. Also, you can get cheap fruit and vegetables on local markets, they are often cheaper than on supermarkets. Hope it helped :)
How long can you live off cup noodles?
College is definitely expensive, and ramen noodles are a way to cut food corners. You might want to think twice about relying on cup noodles as your staple diet, though. Though they are convenient and relatively cheap, they don't offer the most nutritional bang for your buck. You can typically get three cups of noodles for around a dollar where I live, though your mileage will vary. Some places you're only likely to get two for a dollar, but either way, it's pretty cheap. Other foods in the same price range include generic macaroni and cheese (use canned evaporated milk to avoid keeping perishable milk and butter around) and dried spaghetti in a box. You also should not ignore the possibility of block ramen, which tends to be closer to five for a dollar, though it does not come with the styrofoam cup or dusting of dried veggies. Put simply, you'll last longer living on cheap food if you switch up your menu with different inexpensive foods. Have cup ramen for lunch, and macaroni and cheese for supper. Packet oatmeal is a good cheap breakfast that will add a lot to your nutrition intake (Note that I am assuming your cooking facilities are minimal here, these things can all be prepared with a hot plate and pan, or in a pinch, an electric kettle and microwave.) Try boiling and draining a block of ramen, then adding half the spices, a spoonful of cream cheese, and hot sauce if you like a bit of spice. You can also cook a half cup of frozen veg with any kind of noodles to add extra fiber and vitamins to your meal (and they are very filling!) Add frozen peas or corn and a couple of sliced up hot dogs to mac and cheese for a more satisfying meal that goes further. And don't forget staples like peanut butter and jelly! With creativity and discipline, you can keep your food budget very low without the monotony and stomach trouble that a single-item diet will produce.