I feel like one of the basic premises for doing this is understanding the different nutrients and their contribution to your health and energy-levels. In additi

I feel like one of the basic premises for doing this is understanding the different nutrients and their contribution to your health and energy-levels. In addition, the price-factor is also something that means something to me as a student. Apart from cooking - which as a few people mention is pretty easy once you realize it's more about common sense and taste than chemistry - the fact the most people think that fat will actually just turn into fat on your body, and that dieting is the way to go, is something I imagine is misrepresenting the importance of being able to put together a healthy and nutricious meal. Unfortunately, I don't know any good english books on the subject, but I imagine there are plenty of shorter books that will explain how fat, carbs, protein and vitamins play a part in respect to your wellbeing. I would start here. Next, I would take a look at my wallet and my daily schedule, and figure out when buying take-away is going to be the most realistic option (both in regards to price and context), and when I have the ability to prepare lunch or dinner from home. If you have access to a fridge, a simple lunchbox with carrots and chicken provides a sturdy and surprisingly satisfying meal. Both carrots and chicken can be prepared in large batches, and both holds up for 4-5 days which is a typical workweek. In the morning, you simply fill a box with ingredients, and you have one cheap, nutritious meal down. I usually spice something like this up with a handful of almonds or nuts, and perhaps purchase some milk or juice to go with it. I don't even know if this makes any sense, but I have this stereotyped view on americans as people who rarely cook their own meals, partly due to the fact that it's cheaper to buy take-away due to lower salaries effect on the price-levels (I can see that being a factor in Europe). If you've never been comfortable cooking yourself, I can see that this might be a daunting task. I know people who are afraid to cook without a recipe, which is something that I hardly ever bother to spend time finding anyway.