It’s that time of year again when the Instagram’s and Snapchat’s of all college freshmen display the smorgasbord of late night Dominos and Insomnia cookies they have just ordered and consumed in a matter of 5 minutes. Paired with the hashtags, #fresh15 and #sorrynotsorry, college freshmen are feeding right into the stereotype known across campuses as the Freshman 15. (pun intended) Living in a city like Boston where food is constantly available, it is hard to understand how easy gaining these pesky pounds can be until it actually happens. In order to avoid the awkward situation of not being able to button your favorite pair of skinny jeans, here’s some easy tips to make sure your freshman year experience is expanding your knowledge and not your waist line.
1. Always make time to work out
After spending your day in class and having to walk from SMG back to West Campus because the BU bus is once again overcrowded, your bed, computer, and Netflix account seem overwhelmingly tempting. DON’T GIVE IN! Even if you need to take a 15 min power nap before, try going to the gym for 30 minutes at least 3 times a week. Not only is this a healthy way of living, but it can also help alleviate a lot of the stress you experience in your day!
2. PROTEIN, PROTEIN, PROTEIN
One of the biggest mistakes students make is filling up on carbs. Especially when Boston shows its true colors and unleashes winters no one will ever be prepared for, comfort foods like pasta and bread seem to be the “go-tos”. Unrealistic to cut out carbs completely, try to pair each carb with a protein. Adding chicken, fish, non-fat cheese, or even beans to your meals will help you stay lean and actually keep you fuller, longer. With a variety of places to grab food on campus, like the dining halls, Buick Cafe, or Bay State, it is not that difficult to make sure protein is a big part of your diet.
3. Snack Well (not the cookie)
Craving something crunchy while studying in Mugar, it is only natural that you buy a bag of chips for yourself and realize after you have finished your work that somehow, the bag is now empty (insert #noshame caption here). Don’t worry, we have all been there at some point in our college career. Instead of going for the Tostitos Scoops that we all know and love, there are many other healthy snack options that can still give you that crunch we all crave. Try filling your room with healthy snacks like veggies (peppers, carrots, celery), fruits (apples, bananas, or berries) and nuts so that when you have the snack craving, you can indulge without feeling guilty. Dipping carrot sticks in hummus, having an apple, or even packing a bag of almonds are all ways to get the crunch of a chip but not the extra calories.
4. Hydrate
This may seem like an obvious suggestion, but is something most people take for granted. Drinking water throughout your day is extremely important especially when working out. Research says that on average, an individual should drink half their body weight, in ounces, per day! I think it is safe to say that most of us are not doing this (I know I’m not), but staying hydrated will keep you energized and flush out all of the unwanted water weight. So grab your CamelBak and drink away!
5. Do’s and Don’ts of the DHall
In most colleges, the dining hall gets a pretty bad rep. Full of high salt, fast food styled options, eating dining hall food could be the worst thing to do while trying to stay healthy. Luckily for us, the BU dining halls have A LOT to offer. With a salad bar filled with veggies, nightly vegan options, and an ever-changing menu, the food we have is definitely unique (a positive for freshmen who find the dining hall to be their second home). So to help you navigate and make smart choices, here is a list of do’s and don’ts when you find yourself lost and confused…
DO’S:
Read the signs
Next to every food station in the dining hall is a printed sign of what is being served. Try to make smart decisions based off what sounds relatively healthy.
Sargent Choice
The Sargent College has come up with a way of labeling foods they know are healthy alternatives. Whenever you see a label that says “Sargent Choice”, you can trust that it is a great food option!
Bay State
Easily one of the nicest dining halls on campus, Bay State always has healthy and fresh foods to offer. Despite its location all the way on Bay State Rd, the food is definitely worth the trek!
DONTS
Dessert Station
We all know the struggle of walking past the freshly baked desserts while you contemplate what you want to eat. Yes, those cookies are amazing and you can definitely indulge sometimes but try not to let yourself get into the habit of getting that cookie or piece of key lime pie after every meal.
Seconds, thirds, fourths..
To our disadvantage, the dining hall is set up buffet style so walking up to stations 4 or 5 times is technically ok… right? Wrong! It is really easy to keep getting up for more and convincing yourself that you are still hungry when you’re actually really full! Try to remember these 3 words when you are feeling the temptation, “everything in moderation”.
6. A healthier late night binge
After a couple weeks of being at BU, you find that late night eating has become a recurring part of your weekend activities. No matter where the plans are, when the clock strikes 2am you are either at T Anthony’s, Pan Roma, or on the phone ordering in Dominos or Insomnia cookies. As a guilty consumer of T’s pizza with ranch and Pan Roma mac and cheese bites, I can tell you that indulging in this every weekend is one of the main reasons freshmen gain weight. Take my advice and hide the Dominos menu that’s hanging on your micro fridge, and if late night munchies are something you seriously can’t quench, try keeping healthy 100 calorie pack snacks in your room that you can binge on, guilt free!