Dr Barbara Herring is Course Lead for the BSc Health Studies and the Undergraduate Education Lead for Department of Health Studies. This week, Barbara shares her advice for new students, her own experience of starting university, and a quick, healthy bean stew recipe you can make on a budget.
What is your advice to new students?
Well done on embarking on this new and exciting journey! It can get overwhelming, hard and you become homesick but don’t suffer in silence, you are not alone. RHUL has good student support services, societies and sports you can join, places to walk in nature and always someone to talk to.
Remember to take time for yourself when you need it, don’t spread yourself thin, and make the most of your time at university!
Why did you choose this recipe to share?
When I went to university, my first semester felt so overwhelming I almost quit. I felt out of place, far from home in a new country, trying to study and keep a full-time job. Contrary to how I had been raised to ‘be strong’ and ‘keep things to myself’ I approached the student support services and they helped me with time management tools that helped me get back on track and enjoy being a student. This was the first meal I made that was under £3.00, very tasty, healthy, makes four portions and is made in one pot – what’s not to love??? Make this and share with friends or flatmates if you live in shared accommodation or halls or freeze the other portions for when you need a quick healthy meal in under 10minutes.
Barb’s Bean Stew
Ingredients
- 1 tin chopped tomatoes.
- 1 tin butter beans
- 1 tin borlotti beans or kidney beans
- 1 tsp mixed dry herbs
- 1 tsp dried basil or 5 fresh basil leaves
- A pinch of salt, pepper and dried chillies (if you like a little bit of heat)
Extras
- You can add anything else you like to it like sliced sausages, cooked chicken pieces, tofu or halloumi. Or you can have it as it is without adding any meat.
- My family favourite is sausages and we like having that with crusty bread.
Directions
- Place a medium sized pot or casserole pan on medium heat.
- Pour the chopped tomatoes into the saucepan, add the salt, pepper, chill and dried herbs.
- Allow to gently heat while stirring gently until the tomato starts to gently simmer.
- Open the tin of butter beans and borlotti beans or kidney beans and add drain the water.
- Add salt. Pepper and any other seasoning into the saucepan.
- Taste for seasoning.
- Once the seasoning tastes right, empty your tins of beans and any extras such as sausages, chicken or enjoy it as is without adding any meat. Stir for 3 minutes.
- Serve with ether bread or add as a side to your meal.