When most people walk into the dining hall, they are not typically thinking of nutritious, healthy food. Their taste buds are charged up for the tangy buffalo chicken, the quick comfort of extra large slices of pepperoni pizza, and the ever faithful and familiar chicken nuggets with fries. But with a little help, figuring out how to avoid the dreaded “freshmen, sophomore, junior, or senior 15” shouldn’t be too hard. If you want to treat your body right, making a few simple good choices will make a big difference.
1. Starting with Breakfast
Instead of piling on the pancakes and bacon or bagel and cream cheese every day, start by trying to choose a healthy option one or two times a week. There are so many alternatives that are good for you: yogurt with granola and fresh fruit, an omelet with lots of veggies, or a bowl of oatmeal. Starting your morning with a healthy breakfast will put you on the right track to thinking about better choices for the rest of your day.
2. Quick or Lazy Lunchtime
Some people may not have time to enjoy a lazy lunch so picking up a quick plate of chicken and fries may be tempting. It is okay to get sucked into the fried food and mac and cheese but try not to over indulge. Try having a whole grain sandwich or grilled chicken breast with veggies. The salad bar has lots of choices so get creative and visit it often. If you have to grab a quick bite, try hummus with veggies or crackers, carrots and celery or an apple and peanut butter.
3. Snacks
Choose some healthy snacks to carry around with you for in between classes. Instead of a candy bar try a granola bar, take an apple or banana from the dining hall, get some trail mix; or have some peanut butter crackers.Dinner is often the hardest meal to pick healthy options. If you want pasta try and opt for whole-wheat pasta, it tastes the same covered in sauce and is much healthier. Same goes for stir-fry, try the brown rice and minimize the amount of sauce you take – it’s loaded with calories. The dining hall usually has steamed vegetables and grilled meats so try and fill your plate up with those before you go back for the cheesy bread or pizza. Desserts are always tempting but try to limit them to two times a week. Try swapping froyo for yogurt and granola, or some cereal if you are craving something sweet.
4. Dinner
Dinner is often the hardest meal to pick healthy options. If you want pasta try and opt for whole-wheat pasta, it tastes the same covered in sauce and is much healthier. Same goes for stir-fry, try the brown rice and minimize the amount of sauce you take – it’s loaded with calories. The dining hall usually has steamed vegetables and grilled meats so try and fill your plate up with those before you go back for the cheesy bread or pizza. Desserts are always tempting but try to limit them to two times a week. Try swapping froyo for yogurt and granola, or some cereal if you are craving something sweet.
Eating too late sets you up for binge eating later so try to have dinner by 8pm. Nothing is worse than having a healthy dinner and then spoiling it with the sweets late at night in your dorm room.
5. Swap Soda for Water with Fruit
Soda is extremely bad for you, no question. There are so many benefits to drinking water; you will have clearer skin, crave less junk food, and just feel healthier. You can even add fresh fruit to your water to add some flavor. Try to drink water throughout the day, it will curb your appetite and help you avoid eating big portions of fatty foods. The truth is most of the time when you think you are hungry you are really just thirsty, so always reach for a bottle of water before you give in to the candy bar.
Make sure to check out the nutritional facts that the dining hall provides for their meals. Your body needs a balanced diet to function properly so feed it well! You don’t have to cut every unhealthy food out completely out of your diet, just cut down and replace them with a healthier food. Soon you will feel much better about your body and your body will have the fuel and energy you need to focus on your assignments.