We’ve all been there, and it’s not pretty: the splitting headache, the dizziness, the nausea. You can try your best to avoid it, but freshers aren’t the only victims. A night of overindulgence can sneak up on even the most seasoned partygoer. The best advice, of course, is to not overdo it. But if your Cindie’s alter ego was too busy waving a fiver at the bartender to listen to good advice, here are a few gyp room-friendly recipes to get you through.

The fry-up

The first thing that springs to mind when you think ‘hangover cure’ is the great fried breakfast. Salty and satisfying, it’s what gets many people out of bed after a rough night. If your gyp room is as limited as ours, here are a few approximations you can make in the microwave. Eggs are particularly full of protein, easily digested, and they contain cysteine, which helps mop up alcohol’s leftover toxins. A hangover superfood, one might say.

Two-minute scrambled eggs

• Coat a microwave-safe coffee mug or other receptacle with cooking spray. Add eggs and milk and beat with a fork until blended.
• Microwave for 45 seconds; stir.
• Microwave for another 30 to 45 seconds, until eggs are almost set, .
• Top with cheese and season with salt, pepper, and herbs (depending on stocks and what you think your stomach can handle).

Microwave bacon

• Line a plate with paper towel, and arrange bacon strips in a single layer (so that they don’t overlap).
• Microwave on high for 4-6 minutes.

Microwave mushrooms 

• Place mushrooms in a microwave-safe bowl.
• Add salt, pepper, herbs, and a glug of oil/butter if using. Stir.
• Cover the mushrooms with a plate. Microwave on high for 2-3 minutes, stirring midway through.

Overnight oats

While some people swear by the fry-up, others find it the least appealing hangover breakfast imaginable. It also won’t help you feel healthier, though its comforting properties are undeniable. For those who like things light, healthy and wholesome, we recommend preparing a bowl of overnight oats before going out, so it’s ready and waiting for you in the morning. There are infinite variations, but Bircher muesli is the classic version, and has sugar and vitamin B, both of which you need to replenish after drinking alcohol. We’ve also added in a banana for potassium.

Bircher muesli

Ingredients:

• 1 cup rolled oats
• 1 cup apple juice
• 1 apple
• 1 banana
• ½ cup yoghurt

Evening: combine oats and apple juice in a bowl and cover.
Morning: chop up the apple and banana and add them to the oats along with the yoghurt.

Truly Helpful Hangover Tips:

A cup of tea or coffee can help with a hangover, especially if you are a regular drinker of either. It will open up the blood vessels! However, caffeine in a large quantity is very dehydrating, so steer clear of the triple espressos and the energy drinks.

If you’re going to take painkillers, opt for paracetamol-based ones as aspirin irritates the stomach. 

If everything else has failed and the gyp is just beyond you, you can always rely on a faithful friend to make you crumpets (works a treat for us).