This past couple of weeks I have decided to try and make an effort to eat better. The only hurdle that I was faced with is that I live on campus, meaning I am required to have a meal plan and so I eat most of my meals at the cafeteria. After a week of trying to figure out how to go about accomplishing this new goal, I thought I’d try and lay down just some basic guidelines to help myself and anyone else who wants to try.
- Hydration
-
For some people, I know that it can be tempting to immediately go straight for a Coke or Dr. Pepper, but these sodas have absolutely no nutritional value and contain a lot of sugar. I would suggest getting a tall glass of water and if you think water is too plain, try sticking a slice of lemon or cucumber in it for a little extra taste.
- Fruits and Veggies
-
Now, this might seem minor but honestly, I would suggest before getting your main entree to get a salad and some other fruits or veggies. By doing this you are getting some good nutrients in your body before you are full and it will definitely thank you later.
- Don’t Overeat
-
My school cafeteria is buffet style and it can be so easy to just eat whatever and however much you want, trust me I have been there too, but you really just need to listen to your body. Before going back for seconds or thirds I would say take a couple of minutes and just think if you are really still hungry or do you just want to eat more because it’s there.
- Dessert
-
I have the biggest sweet tooth and so just seeing the dessert table makes my mouth water. All the cake, cookies and ice cream can be so tempting, but often I personally regret eating it after, so I would suggest just skipping straight over the table and leave. Instead, try getting some more fruit like strawberries so that way you are getting something sweet and healthy.
So far, I have been feeling the difference in my energy levels and my skin even looks a little better. I hope y’all are able to find this helpful and know that little daily changes can lead to big changes in the future.