Going to school in the heart of New York City can be overwhelming. In between running from class to class, getting your work done, and maintaining somewhat of a social life, a girl’s got to eat. But whether it’s the mini red velvet cupcakes in a bakery window calling your name, or the salty aroma of the French fry food truck outside your dorm that makes your stomach growl, it’s hard to stay healthy. Life at NYU moves fast, and as students, we don’t always have the time to really think: what am I putting in my body? Don’t get me wrong: study fuel is important. Eating throughout the day is necessary to be successful in college. But how can we maintain healthy habits in such a fast-paced, “grab and go” lifestyle? While trying to balance everything going on in our busy schedules, balancing a healthy lifestyle can be just as difficult, so here are three tips to help make the process a little easier!
1. Establish a game plan: Anyone can wake up and say “today I am going to eat healthy.” We’ve all had those days! But let’s be real, when you’re munching on your fourth insomnia cookie at 2:00 am to finish your term paper, you realize you didn’t plan as efficiently as you could have. Living a healthy lifestyle starts with knowing yourself—things like what you like to eat and when. The key is to be specific. Decide in the morning that you are going to eat three balanced meals and a few small snacks in between, and even decide in advance what you’ll specifically eat! This way you’ll enjoy your meals so much more, and you won’t end up late-night binging because you forgot to eat dinner.
2. Prep, prep, prep: Now that you know your game plan, a little preparation is involved. Don’t worry, I’m not telling you to spend hours debating which protein bar to pack in your book bag, but a little thinking ahead goes a long way when you are trying to eat healthy. Buy some healthy snacks to keep in your dorm room, like popcorn, fruits and veggies, yogurts, and low-fat cereals. Get a friend involved too! Get your study buddy to be your nutrition buddy. You guys can share snacking ideas and help encourage each other. This way, you can stay motivated and manage your hunger by lightly snacking in your room, while still being smart about it!
3. Treat yourself! Okay, as strict as you are on yourself, college is about enjoying these years. So treat yourself once in a while! By maintaining a balanced diet in your daily life, occasionally enjoying an ice cream cone with a friend after class is totally okay! Be mindful, but don’t deprive your body: one treat now and then can’t hurt you. Even Beyoncé gives herself a cheat day every now and then! Obsessing over calorie counts will drive you crazy. Living a more healthy life is about just that: feeling healthy. So if that red velvet cupcake is calling your name once in a while, treat yourself—you deserve it!