We all “strive” to be healthy in college while juggling heavy course loads, part-time jobs, constant social events, and a cheap budget. With no time to spare and little money to spend we often find ourselves pushing our health to the side. However, staying healthy in college IS possible. Below are 5 awesome tips, recipes, and workout routines to incorporate into your everyday schedule that won’t take much time at all!
1. Drink Water
The moment you wake up before consuming anything else, and yes even before your morning dose of coffee, drink a glass of water! Water assists in kick-starting your body’s metabolism for the rest of the day, allowing for quicker food digestion. Staying hydrated also improves skin complexion by removing toxins from your blood. Also, be sure to drink water throughout the entire day by carrying around a water bottle wherever you go!
2. Squeeze in a 5-10 Minute Workout Everyday
Going to the gym can take a good chunk of time out of the day and for those with a hectic schedule, skipping the visit tends to be the call! However, a quick workout routine everyday will ease the guilt of missing a visit and can be very beneficial to your health in the long run. Here are a few different exercises to be alternated throughout the week:
Morning Quickie
25 Jumping Jacks
25 Crunches
10 Push-ups
10 Burpees
(x3)
Sexy Legs
30 Lunges
40 Calf Raises
50 Sec Wall Sit
40 Squats
20 Squats
(x2)
Flat Tummy
25 Regular Crunches
25 Bicycle Crunches
20 Side Crunches (alternating right/left)
10 Sit-ups
(x2)
3. Prepare Your Meals Ahead of Time
During a busy morning and especially if you’re running late, it’s easy to let breakfast fall low on your list of priorities. We are all guilty of this, but don’t do it! Breakfast is arguably the most important meal of the day. It gives us the fuel we need to wake up and start our busy day. Take a few minutes to prepare breakfast the night before to be quickly eaten in the morning or taken on the go One of my favorite recipes is Overnight Outmeal! It’s cheap, quick to prepare, and easy to spice up throughout the week.
Ingredients:
• ½ cup rolled oats
• ½ cup milk
• 1 tablespoon plain yogurt
• ½ teaspoon honey
• 1 to 2 tablespoons raisins (depending on how much you like raisins!)
• ⅛ teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 2 to 3 pinches cinnamon
Instructions:
Mix together all ingredients, cover, and refrigerate for a minimum of 5 hours before eating. Alternatively, you can mix it in an insulated thermos container (left unrefrigerated), and wait no more than 7 hours before eating. (Writer’s tip: Mix it up by adding your favorite fruits, nuts, berries, chia seeds, flaxseeds, etc.)
4. Clear Your Fridge of Tempting Junk Food
When we’re hungry or bored, one of the first things we find ourselves doing is exploring the fridge for something to munch on. Stock up your fridge and pantry with healthy snacks that will ease that temptation of mowing down a bag of potato chips, or finishing that chocolate bar that you try to hide away (but always seem to find). When in a hurry and in need of a quick pick-me-up, it’s important to choose foods high in protein. Some of my favorite energizing snacks include:
· Dried fruits & nuts
· Bananas/apples with peanut butter
· Whole grain crackers & hummus
· Greek Yogurt
5. Walk Don’t Drive
Avoid making the drive to class or taking the shuttle around campus. If you have a few extra minutes to walk or bike, just do it (as Nike says)! Sometimes we spend more time waiting for a packed shuttle than simply taking the 10-minute walk! These little bits of exercise throughout the day count more than we know, especially when we are spending most of our days on our bums in class!