I’m not going to sugar-coat it; Eating healthy at any college is hard. However, going to school in New York City, where pizzas and bagels are claim to fame, countless restaurants cover every block, and Arthur Avenue is steps away, it’s hard to not stress about eating healthy, feeling good, and not putting on the dreaded freshman fifteen.
However, fear not. I am not in any way trying to tell people how they should eat, when they should eat, or what they should eat. I’m merely offering some tips and tricks that I’ve learned over the years to help maintain a balanced diet. As important as it is to eat vegetables and fruits and protein, it is equally important to treat yourself, or indulge sometimes as well.
1. Keep Healthy Snacks Available
An easy way to eat healthier is to keep healthy foods that YOU ENJOY around you. By this, I mean don’t keep a bag of kale in your fridge thinking you’ll pull it out when you’re halfway done with your biology homework and need a snack. You won’t. Some snacks I like to keep in my dorm are apples, peanut butter, popcorn, Kind and LaraBars, and nuts and dried fruit. These things will give you more energy and help you complete your studying.
2. Grocery Shop
An easy way to have more control over the foods you are putting into your body is to buy them yourself. Obviously, you might have a meal plan to work around (more on that later). But even if you take only $20-$30 per week to buy some fruits, vegetables, cereals, healthy snacks and drinks, you will have a significant amount of control over what’s going into your body. As a bonus, Fordham sometimes has Farmer’s Markets in front of McGinley, where you can fill a bag with produce for $5.
3. Compromise Instead of Cutting Out
Below I list some popular food places around campus, and ways you can make their meals a little healthier. Also, if you haven’t already downloaded it, the app Tapingo not only allows you to skip the lines and order your food ahead of time, it often gives calories and other nutritional information on each product.
· Boars Head Deli: Try a sandwich on wheat bread, load up on veggies and be sure to get some meat and/or cheese for some protein. Mustard is always a good bet for condiments, as it has very little calories, fat, or sodium compared to other sauces. For your side, grab an apple or banana since chances are you’ll crave something sweet after a salty, savory sandwich. If you NEED chips, see if they have popcorn or something similar as a healthy alternative.
Photo credit to https://twopeasandtheirpod.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Rainbow-Vegetable-Sandwich-1.
· Chopsticks: When ordering your stir fry, load up on veggies: as many as you can handle. The meats will tend to have more sodium, so it’s up to you if you’re willing to trade extra sodium for protein, iron, etc. I recommend using brown rice as your base, as it is full of fiber and whole grains. Instead of a sodium-filled sauce poured on by the chef, simply ask for ginger and garlic. They add a lot of good flavor, and if you still need a little more, there are small packets of soy sauce available.
· Starbucks: You always read in articles, magazines, etc. that you should never drink your calories. However, when the only major coffee shop on campus is Starbucks, that doesn’t really seem like a possibility. One way to keep your Starbucks drinks healthy is to ask for it unsweetened, and then add in your own raw sugar, or better yet, honey. Starbucks also has many options for creamer, including almond milk, skim milk, and 2% milk. Some suggestions I have are to order an iced coffee with almond milk, and then add in some raw sugar and cinnamon from the little station. Or, try an iced green tea and add in some honey!
Photo credit to https://www.starbucks.com.au/menu/61/iced-shaken-tea.
· Urban Kitchen (aka The Grille): It’s easy to get swept away by the smells of buffalo chicken and fries as you walk through the doors. However, stay strong, and try out a salad from there. I honestly think the Grille has the best salads on campus, especially if you know what to order. I always order romaine with tomatoes, onions, cucumbers, and feta cheese with balsamic dressing. Don’t knock it till you try it, it’s actually quite good. They have many other options there, such as hard-boiled egg and avocado: you just have to ask!
Healthy options are always available, sometimes you just have to look a little harder. I hope these tips inspire you to branch out, and try new foods and healthier options!