Starting at university or college can be a big challenge, especially if you’re living away from home for the first time. You are faced with big questions such as, “Who’s going to do my washing?” “Who’s going to tidy my room?” And, most importantly, “How am I going to eat?” Yes, living on your own means cooking for yourself, and when you’re living a student lifestyle, this could be a recipe for disaster.

Students, in the UK at least, often rely on generally available food such as baked beans or cheese on toast. And for the more adventurous, there’s “spag bol” — spaghetti bolognaise(肉酱意粉), that is, cooked spaghetti served with a ground beef and tomato sauce — a budget-friendly solution. If you make a huge pan of it, it can probably last you a whole week! Other low-cost options include jar sauces and oven pizzas.

Recently, a British supermarket suggested that rose harissa paste, organic cider vinegar and Swiss bouillon powder were the important food materials needed for the “student cupboard”. But are these items considered essential and affordable for someone on a budget?

As a matter of fact, living on a budget is certainly one barrier to eating a well-balanced diet. What’s more, some young people don’t know much about cooking, and for many young students, there are more fun things to go and do than just stay inside and cook. That’s where takeaways and microwave meals come in.

What should a health-conscious student really have in his or her food cupboard? Jack Monroe, a food writer and campaigner, has words to say: baked beans, lemon juice, canned tomatoes and tomato ketchup, described as “salt, sugar, vinegar and tomato all in one handy squeezy bottle”. And should that not appeal, you can always wait till your next visit to your mum and dad for a square meal!

By now we all know the importance of drinking enough water throughout the day, but there is such a thing as too much. Earlier this summer, a 35-year-old Indiana woman, died from water toxicity (毒性作用) after drinking too much water in a short period of time, according to a local news report.

While drinking enough water is important, overdoing it can lead to low levels of sodium (钠) in the blood, which can be life-threatening, according to Julia Zumpano, an expert at Cleveland Clinic’s Center for Human Nutrition.

Exactly how much is enough for our body depends on a variety of factors, including our weight, age, location and overall health. People in poor health, or active people such as athletes, are at risk of water toxicity, as they tend to drink large amounts of water and lose sodium through their sweat. So are women and children because of their smaller body size.

While the gold standard for many years has been eight glasses of 8 ounces (盎司) of water per day, the National Academy of Medicine suggests enough water intake is about 125 ounces for men and about 91 ounces for women. And it recommends not drinking more than 48 ounces of water per hour. This includes total water from fruits, vegetables and other drinks besides water.

If you struggle with getting enough water per day, you can try water bottles to help track your water intake. Eating fruits and vegetables can also increase our water intake. You could experiment with adding flavor to improve the taste of your water.

“Most people had better keep drinking water throughout the day, but larger amounts may be needed in the heat for an extended period of time or during exercise. If you are thirsty for water — listen to your body. But don’t overdo it,” says Zumpano.

What Kids Eat for Lunch Around the World

Australia

While Aussies are largely lunchbox people, Australian schools have indoor and outdoor canteens, where students order from a menu of snacks and standard dishes like hot dogs, meat pies, and sausage rolls.

Brazil

Brazil began one of the world’s oldest school feeding programs in 1955, providing lunch for more than 43 million children. The Guideline 2009 limited processed foods and sugars and required schools to offer students one third of their daily nutritional requirements. A school lunch might include meat with vegetables, rice and beans, fresh-baked bread, salad and banana.

France

Unsurprisingly, France takes food seriously, especially school lunches. Each lunch usually has a multicourse meal including a raw vegetable starter and dairy course and a warm main meal with more vegetables, followed by a dessert.

Cuba

Cuban schools provide free lunches that usually feature rice, beans, hard-boiled eggs, vegetables such as sliced tomatoes, and a dessert. Children bring their own drinks and sometimes some snacks from home.

Japan

In Japan, children are typically used to at least trying every food on their plates out of respect for its preparation. A traditional lunch usually consists of local and seasonal ingredients that result in healthy meals such as hearty soups and stews, grilled fish, seasoned rice, and fried noodles. Each lunch contains a specific number of calories.