As freshmen (and some sophomores) we are trying to watch what we consume and maintain our bodyweight. Most of us know how much of a struggle this can be when we are constantly surrounded by food. Between Mac’s late night with chicken fingers, pizza, and a variety of cookies, and the Chocolate Bar with its flavors of gelato and cookies the size of someone’s face, it’s hard not to gain those few extra pounds.
Luckily, there are ways to avoid gaining those unwanted pounds. It’s by finding the right foods to consume in Mac. Although we are overwhelmed by variety the minute we walk into the ordering area, there are plenty of ways to avoid the hamburger and fries line and switch to a healthy alternative instead.
Let’s start with breakfast. We do not need to eat pancakes, sausages, and bacon every morning. Instead there are a lot of options to eat a breakfast that is not only appetizing, but also beneficial for our bodies. Number one is oatmeal. When you walk into Mac it is on the left where the soup is during lunch. Now most of us reading this will think “oatmeal is plain and bland,” but that’s not the case! Directly next to the fruit bar there are containers with brown sugar, coconut shavings, and raisins. Add a little bit of each to your oatmeal and you will think you’re eating some kind of breakfast dessert. Another alternative is a combination of yogurt, fruit, and granola. This is a perfect way to get your dairy, protein, and vitamins. It’s also not too light but not too heavy so it’s a perfect start to the day. Finally, if you’re in a hurry, go to the pastry section where you can find muffins loaded with fruit and nuts.
Now let’s move onto lunch. There are plenty of options to achieve a healthy mid-day meal. The first is a salad from the salad-bar. Not only do you get to pick your type of lettuce, you can add as many toppings as you want, all of which are very healthy. For example, start with romaine lettuce, then add some edamame, chicken, carrots, corn, cucumbers, pasta salad, tomatoes, etc.… To top it off, stay away from the fatty dressings like ranch or thousand island, and instead chose balsamic vinaigrette or oil and vinegar. It is actually very filling and will leave you feeling good about yourself. Not in the mood for a salad? Try making your own sandwich. You can start with a whole wheat sandwich or wrap, chose from a variety of meats and add veggies to top it off.
And finally, dinner! Once again—stay away from the hamburgers, fries, and pizzas. Instead hit up the pasta line. Everyone—well almost everyone—loves pasta, and you can definitely make it a smart decision by adding quinoa, spinach, tomatoes, onions, or mushrooms. Not in the mood for pasta? Look out for protein: chicken, steak, and salmon. The steak tips are actually quite delicious, and the salmon is usually coated with a nice topping. With these you can add either rice or potatoes for a starch, or add a veggie like carrots or broccoli.
Now to the very last item: Dessert. It is ok to indulge, just not every day. Limit yourself to a cookie or cupcake once a week. Make sure to enjoy it though—it’s your treat for working so hard!
So you see it’s really easy to make healthy decisions, you just need to know where to look!
Photo Sources:
http://recipes.howstuffworks.com/hard-to-eat-healthy.htm
http://www.pinterest.com/pin/87679523970619064/
http://www.healthydietadvisor.com/why-should-i-start-eating-healthy/