This is the first year that I am living in an apartment and I’m feeling thankful to be out of the dorms. I know firsthand that being in college can make us lazy and just want to do whatever is tastiest and easiest for us after a long, tiring day. Although I have a nice kitchen, a big fridge and lots of cabinet space, I still found it hard to make myself meals that were healthy and nutritious. I would always go for the box of mac and cheese or the frozen pizza — until I realized that there are better ways to feed myself and take care of myself.
If you can relate to my own dinner-time struggles, here are five ways to make better meals and food choices for yourself in a college lifestyle:
- Protein
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Before coming to school I was used to home-made meals almost every night. My parents would always make sure that we were eating well — and our dinners always included some type of protein. My first tip to eating better in college is to make sure to incorporate some type of protein into at least one meal a day! I am a huge fan of eggs and I try to eat them most days for breakfast. This is a quick and easy way to get a great source of protein, and it will get you off to a great start for the day. I also buy a pack of chicken breast tenders each week, and I make them on Sunday so that I have all of the chicken for the week.
- Frozen Veggies
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This may sound simple, but it is an awesome way to make sure that you’ll have veggies on-hand. Before coming back to school after winter break I bought a huge bag of frozen cauliflower. (My Dad looked at me like I was crazy when I put it in the cart but I thanked myself for buying it!) When I decide I want some vegetables in my meal, I take some of the cauliflower and put it on a pan with a little but of oil and seasoning, and boom! I have a tasty snack. Sometimes I will eat the cauliflower as a side with my eggs, or my chicken, or I’ll even put it in my pasta. Basically every vegetable can be found in the frozen aisle of a grocery store, and they’re cheap, too!
- Meal Prep
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If you haven’t heard of meal prep before, just look it up on YouTube and there are thousands and thousands of videos on how to get started. This is a great method to ensure that you will have meals for each day. I typically meal prep for lunch or dinner, so, for example: in the beginning of the week I will make rice, chicken and a vegetable (like cauliflower or brussel sprouts). Once I have made all the food and put it in its respective tupperware containers, I pop it in the fridge and then I have food for lunch and/or dinner for the week! Meal prep is simple and easy, and makes it so that I don’t even have to think about what I want to eat, because it’s already waiting for me in my fridge.
- Conscious Food Shopping
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Being conscious of the food you are buying is a simple way to ensure that you will have good meal and snack options in your home. Make a point to get protein, veggies, and healthier options. Instead of grabbing a bag of Doritos, maybe get some veggie straws. You could opt out white rice for brown rice or kale chips instead of potato chips. This isn’t to say that you can never buy “unhealthy” snacks — because honestly, everyone loves them. Rather, this is to remind you to be conscious of the things that you’re putting into your shopping cart-and how they can affect your health both mentally and physically.
- Conscious Eating
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Along with being aware of what you put in your shopping cart, being aware of what you eat and when you eat is a major key to healthy eating. As I’m sure your parents always told you, breakfast really is the most important meal of the day. In order to get a good start on the day with your mind and body, do yourself a favor and eat something for breakfast. Whether you have the time to make eggs or oatmeal or only have time to grab a granola bar – eating anything is good. The same goes with lunch and dinner. Our college schedule can be difficult with timing in terms of eating, but try to stick to the same times and schedule so that your body is regulated.