1) Try a New Recipe Each Week- My first food goal of the new year is to get more creative in the kitchen and try new recipes on a weekly basis. I mostly enjoy cooking, but find myself churning out the same 4-5 meals on repeat week after week, and it's time for a change! This year I want to try different recipes, that I see online or in recipe books, to freshen up my weekly meal-plan.
2) Stick to a 4:3 day Veggie Ratio- Since starting University I've been very good at eating more vegetarian meals. Considering I come from a family of meat-lovers, vegetarian meals are few and far between when I'm at home, but being at University allows me to eat more plant-based dishes. I already have a good ratio of veggie to meat meals, often having about 4 vegetarian meals a week, and I want this to continue into 2025...
3) Try New Foods/Cuisines- 2025 will be all about trying new things and going outside of my comfort zone. I want to try and eat more foods that I may have been avoiding (mashed potatoes) and try new cuisines from around the world. Luckily, I already have two holidays planned for the summer, which should give me the perfect opportunity to try out their national dishes and learn about their food culture.
4) Drink Lots of (Loose) Tea- Loose Tea was one of the biggest introductions in my life in 2024- it's amazing! Although it's a little pricier than your classic Yorkshire Tea, loose tea can have endless flavours and several health benefits. It's a new guilty pleasure of mine to go to Sostrene Greene in Eldon Square and fill little bags full of gorgeous dried tea. In the new year, I'd love to try more different kinds of tea and even attempt to make my own, by drying out and grinding my own ingredients.
5) Eat Out More in Newcastle- My last food goal for the new year is to try more of the local cuisine in and around Newcastle. Eating out is not exactly within the student budget, but whenever I get the opportunity I'd love to trail some of the local restaurants (like the ones I walk past everyday in Heaton).