Smart Student Eating on a Budget: How Neotaste and Too Good To Go Are Revolutionising in London

By Najma Mohamed

London is a wonderful place to study in, however it won't come as any surprise that it can be pricey to live in, particularly food-wise. For many students, the dilemma of a healthy diet on a limited budget is a constant battle. But a new wave of mobile apps is changing the way people eat for less.

Two amazing platforms—Neotaste and Too Good To Go—are at the forefront of ensuring students throughout the capital dine well for less. Here's why and how they do it.

Neotaste: Unlocking Affordable Dining Experiences

Neotaste is a relatively young application that partners with restaurants to provide special promotions to first-time shoppers. Upon registration, users get access to a preselected list of restaurants with significantly reduced meals—usually offering offers like "buy one, get one free" or complimentary food with the purchase of a beverage.

Unlike most voucher apps, Neotaste focuses on introducing users to high-end local eateries, some of which would not otherwise be within students' price range. From hip ramen places to gourmet burger restaurants, options are surprisingly varied—and often pleasantly within budget once discounts apply.

For those students who want to experience London's multicultural cuisine without breaking the bank, Neotaste provides an affordable gateway. It's perfect for meeting up with friends, a night out, or just indulging in something more than another plate of pasta.

Tip: Offers change depending on location and availability, so it's a good idea to keep checking the app to get the best out of what's available in your area.

Too Good To Go: Reducing Waste, Meal by Meal

Too Good To Go operates in a different way—but no less student-oriented. The app connects customers with restaurants, cafes, bakeries and supermarkets that have surplus food towards the close of the day. For a fraction of the price—typically between £3 and £5—customers can pick up a "Magic Bag" packed with untouched items which would otherwise be discarded.

Although the contents of each bag are a surprise, they usually consist of treats like sandwiches, salads, pastries, or even full takeaway meals. The surprise element introduces an element of fun, but more importantly, the app is a genuine helper in the fight against food waste—a fast-growing problem in urban areas like London.

For students, Too Good To Go is an affordable, easy, and sustainable solution. It's particularly brilliant for lunch or dinner at midnight, or a midday meal tomorrow, and many big-name chains (such as Pret, LEON, and Greggs) are signed up.

Tip: Busy locations get snapped up quickly, so setting reminders in the app and looking early in the day can get the cream of the crop.

A Smarter Way to Eat

Both Neotaste and Too Good To Go embody a new trend toward more sustainable, cost-effective dining. For London students trying to balancerent, tuition, and everyday living costs, both sites offer convenient, hassle-free options.

Whether you want to try the city's restaurants for cheap or need a more ethical alternative for your next meal, these apps can be a big help. Being a student in London isn't always easy—but affordable good eating might be closer than you think.