Staying Healthy to Start the School Year

Andrew Gutman
Contributing Writer

College is a huge transition for students and presents many challenges, such as an increased work load, new student clubs and a myriad of activities that can make it hard to make the right choices.

Eating healthy in college is no easy task because many of us are bouncing around between classes, jobs and different activities, so that means eating fast food or not eating at all for some.

But do not fear! If you are looking to change your habits and start eating healthier in college, read on!

There are quite a few things one can do to eat healthier at college. The first step you can take is to prepare meals the night before. If you live in an apartment or a place with a kitchen, then that’s great. You can buy healthy, nutritional ingredients and cook them the night before so that you’re ready to go in the morning.

Now I know many of you who live on campus do not have the ability to cook beforehand. If you are in this category I suggest investing in some healthy snacks like whole grain bread and all-natural peanut butter so you can make a quick sandwich or you can grab easy snacks like a banana or apple.

Most of us have very busy days and are very active, so be sure that you’re fueling your body with the right foods and an adequate amount of them.

Other healthy options include six-inch subs from Subway like their turkey and roast beef, without the extra dressings of course.

My second tip is to stay hydrated. Sometimes our bodies feel hungry when they are dehydrated, so the more water you drink the more full you should feel.

A recent drink I’ve stumbled upon is “coconut water.” It is a great tasting drink (pineapple is my favorite flavor) and it does an excellent job at keeping you hydrated. Think of it as nature’s sports drink.

My third tip is to eat smaller meals throughout the day ,but to eat more frequently. This will help to speed up your metabolism, helping with fat loss and making you feel less hungry during the day. Try and stay away from sugary snacks and sports drinks, as those can make you crash and are not good for you.

Finally, the last topic I want to touch on is late-night eating. Many students love ordering delicious food late at night like Wings Over Springfield and Domino’s. Now we all do it, myself included, but the reality is that those foods are quite injurious to a healthy lifestyle and they should be consumed reasonably and rarely.

For myself, I allow one night of unhealthy eating about once every two weeks to give myself a break and to indulge in some of my favorite foods, like wings. I understand that once every two weeks is not realistic for everyone, so if you have the urge to eat late at night, try opting for something a little healthier like popcorn, (light butter) or some peanut butter with a little Nutella on multi-grain bread.

Eating healthily at college is hard, but it can be done. It just takes a little dash of effort, a pinch of knowledge and a teaspoon of willpower.