Ready-made meals for student athletes that will save you from wasting away

Ah, the age-old concern for any Irish mammy.

Their sprogs head off for college and no matter if they've put on a stone when they return for Christmas, they'll be told that there's not a pick on them and they mustn't be eating right. It's a genuine, rational fear sometimes. How many young ones head off for the big smoke and don't follow the same habits that they once did - or were once forced to? It's easier just to eat take-away. It's quicker and you have a student loan all of a sudden and a hole being burned in your pocket. It's easier just to stick something in the oven and wait half an hour or go for the less painful route if you're lucky enough to have a microwave. All those little meals every day catch up on you and, before you know it, your diet suffers. Introducing, Clean Cut Meals. The Galway-based company, founded by Conor McCallion and Michael Dyer, has been in operation since 2015 and is now servicing thousands across the country including some of Ireland's elite athletes. With plans for muscle-building, mass-gaining and fat-burning, Clean Cut Meals is diverse and flexible and tailored to the needs of whatever your chosen sport, body type and situation might be. The team of chefs serve up breakfasts, lunches and dinners as well as juices, snacks and protein balls but it is the student plan which should come of real interest to athletes headed for college. For under 65 quid, 10 meals can be acquired as part of the weekly plan and these include some real nutritional meals. MONDAY Lunch ~ Flame grilled flank steak w/ horseradish mashed potatoes, chimichurri sauce & greens Dinner ~ Chicken (bbq chicken thighs) poke bowl w/(black bean & sweetcorn salsa, lime basmati) TUESDAY Lunch ~ CCM Herb chicken bowl (chorizo, spinach, garlic pesto & brown rice) Dinner ~ Clean Turkey & vegetable meatloaf w/ mushroom & garden pea risotto WEDNESDAY Lunch ~ Chicken & mushroom marsala w/ savoury rice & roasted courgette Dinner ~ Lamb Tagine w/ mixed vegetables, mint & chickpea Cous Cous THURSDAY Lunch ~ Pulled pork burrito bowl (salsa, rice, guacamole) Dinner ~ Turkey Thai red curry w/ basmati & house stir fry vegetables FRIDAY Lunch ~ Chicken korma, mixed vegetables & brown savoury rice Dinner ~ Balsamic roast turkey breast w/ roasted rosemary carrots, parsnip & garlic roasted baby potatoes You'd spend less than 6.50 a meal for proper, healthy feeds. You don't need to cook, you don't need to prepare and, if you're in Dublin, you don't need to worry about the prices of... everywhere. If you're playing football, a rugby prospect or just want to keep in shape and keep lean whilst doing your own training, you'll not go far wrong with this plan.