Fast food is the easiest solution, and often inevitable. So if you are tempted to spend your last fiver on a curry, pizza or fish 'n' chips, which is the best bet for your money?

Pizza is a relatively cheap alternative.

Our Nottingham nutritionist suggests a frozen pizza from the grocery store as that's probably one of the cheapest and most nutritious meals available.

But a homemade curry using leftover meat with a tinned sauce is also a quick and easy solution.

Other student meals that can done in a hurry but still for little money include chili con carne with rice, or tinned ravioli, meatballs, stews served with potatoes.

If you want to use leftovers, try a stir fry, adding different meat, such as turkey, pork or mince.

For breakfast, which is the most important meal of the day, try high-fibre cereals, such as Weetabix, Branflakes or Shredded Wheat. Wholemeal or granary toast as opposed to white, spread with Marmite, jam, marmalade or peanut butter.

Fruit at the market is usually cheaper than in supermarkets.

Eat as much fresh fruit as you can as it is probably the healthiest food around. When buying fruit and vegetables, make sure to buy those that are in season or from the market as they are cheaper.

One final bit of free advice, most of popular products are available in both branded and supermarkets own brands - choose the supermarkets own brands as they are considerable cheaper and often taste just as good.

Drinks	Calories
1 pint of sweet cider	239
1 pint of dry cider	204
1 pint of draught bitter	175
1 pint of mild bitter	142
1 glass of sweet white wine	107
1 bottle of lager	80
1 glass of red wine	78
1 glass of dry white wine	75
1 pub measure of vodka	53

As far as drinking goes, remember the number of calories in cider and beer is much higher than in wine or spirits, so if you are worried about your weight, keep that in mind.