Burgers and fries from McDonald’s, a burrito bowl from Chipotle and Chinese takeout from the various restaurants on Green Street may seem like highly appealing dining options, especially when you’re feeling lazy in the apartments or you’re not feeling the food in the resident dining halls. But constantly eating out during late night homework sessions, grabbing lunch during the middle of a hectic day or while hanging out on the weekends may not leave you feeling too hot. A study in an article on ScienceDaily.com found that those who eat out at least once during the week, especially during lunch hours, are likely to weigh 5 pounds more than those who don’t eat out. While eating out can be difficult to avoid as busy – and sometimes lazy – college students, here is a list of foods you can avoid to help you stay in shape.
1. White grains: Instead of eating white bread with your sandwiches, switch to wheat. White grain breads and pasta have a high glycemic index, which measures “how quickly and how much a food affects your blood sugar and insulin levels compared with pure glucose” according to livestrong.com. A high glycemic index indicates that white grains are rapidly absorbed because they are refined grains, leading to an increased likelihood in weight gain. On the other hand, eat whole grain foods such as wheat bread, oatmeal, and brown rice. Unlike white grain foods, these whole grain foods keep you full for longer periods of time, keep your blood sugar stabilized, and are tied to lower rates of obesity.
2. Energy bars: Energy bars may look like a great way to replace meals or to eat while on the go, but be cautious of these. Katherine Tallmadge, a dietiian, calls these bars “calorie bombs” in her Washington Post article, stating that a majority of the energy bars ultimately contain a lot sugar with a little protein or fiber added in to give the illusion of being a healthy treat. Instead, Tallmagde suggests to eat fruits and yogurt for weight loss. Try eating Greek yogurt like the Chobani brand from the a la carte options on campus.
3. Frozen yogurt: Although the frozen yogurt at Cocomero may seem enticing and a better option than regular creamy ice cream, don’t let the “yogurt” part of the name fool you. Mixing fruits with your fro-yo may make you justify the healthiness of this treat healthy, but it is still high in its sugar content.
4. Carbonated drinks: When eating out, skip the pop/soda and opt for water instead. It may be common sense, but not drinking soda is something that can be difficult for many. According to Dr. Mehmet Oz, the average American consumes 53 gallons of soda per year, and if it’s regular soda, that equates to approximately 49 pounds of sugar. Not only do carbonated drinks lead to weight gain, they weaken your bones and speed up tooth decay. The next time you’re out, ditch the soda for water. If water is too plain for you, add a slice of lemon or mint leaves for both flavor and added help in weight loss.
5. VitaminWater: Most consumers would think that a drink like VitaminWater is a healthier option for drinks in comparison to soda. But here’s the catch: one bottle of this sweetened-water contains 2.5 servings, totaling to 33 grams of sugar, which is only 6 more grams than a can of Coke, as an article on health.com mentions. Again, stick to real water. Numerous health experts and doctors cannot stress enough importance on drinking lots and lots of water every day. Water helps you lose excess water weight and also helps cleanse your body of toxins.