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Unlimited pizza and freshly baked cookies sounds good in theory, right? But two months on a diet like that, and you’re sure to notice your pants fitting tighter than before.
I know as a freshman living on campus last year, I absolutely LOVED eating at the dining hall. I loved not having to cook my own meals (because like I’ve said before, cooking isn’t really my forte), and I loved being able to pop in whenever I wanted to grab a meal to eat or a snack to munch on.
But more than that, I loved the freedom of eating whatever I wanted, however much I wanted. And with so many options to chose from, it was hard not to stuff my face every time that I walked inside. Because there was literally no restrictions whatsoever on the food that I put in my body.
And while I can’t attribute my entire “freshman 15” weight gain to eating at the dining hall all last year, I can surely say that it didn’t help my case much. Like I mentioned above, unlimited pizza and freshly baked cookies are hard to pass up on a daily basis, as is never-ending ice cream, French fries and chicken tenders.
But thanks to SELF magazine’s Jumpstart Diet, I’ve discovered that it’s actually quite easy to eat healthy at the dining hall. And even though I’m living off campus this year and cooking more (or attempting to, at least), I was given a number of dining hall meals as part of my job in the Dean of Students Office, so I’ve been trying to use them up before the semester runs out.
But I promise you this time around I’m not stuffing my face with pepperoni pizza and chocolate cookies. On the contrary, I’m making a conscious effort to find healthy alternatives in the dining hall, and I’m realizing that it’s really not that hard to do!
For example, today I ate dinner at my favorite dining hall on campus with my roommate and our friend, and I managed to put together quite a delicious dinner (if I do say so myself!) I had a banana, some strawberries, a side salad with ranch dressing (I would have preferred to use my fat-free ranch dressing, but it was at home!), and a pressed turkey sandwich with American cheese and mustard on whole wheat bread.
Now I know it can be a little intimidating and overwhelming picking out healthy options in the dining hall, because it’s always so much easier to go straight for the pizza. But for those of you eating your meals at a dining hall, I’ve outlined some easy rules to follow to help you stick to your diet.
- Control your portions: I think this is the biggest mistake so many freshman students make when they first start eating in the dining hall. Because it’s unlimited, it’s so easy to eat and eat and eat. And to continue eating, even when you’re not full. So make sure that you’re only eating enough to satisfy your hunger and not overeating just because it’s easy and the food is readily available to you.
- Seek fresh items: I know I always go STRAIGHT to the salad bar as soon as I get in the dining hall – it’s fresh, it’s big and it’s delicious. Also, I know that my dining halls always have fresh fruit that they put out every day, so I make sure to grab a banana or an apple to eat while I’m there. Fresh fruit and vegetables are great for you, so make sure you’re taking advantage of the ones the dining hall has to offer!
- Avoid fried food: There’s one section of my dining hall that is strictly fried food – fried chicken, chicken tenders and French fries. Obviously, it’s terribly tempting. But that fried food section will be your worst enemy if you’re trying to lose weight, so avoid it as much as you can while eating in the dining hall.
- Eat some protein: Protein is an important part to any well-balanced diet, so make sure you’re eating the right kinds from the dining hall! A turkey sandwich, a grilled chicken breast or an omelette are some great alternatives to a slice of pizza or fried chicken.
- Treat yourself in moderation: One cookie won’t kill you, nor will a scoop of ice cream, just make sure you’re treating yourself in moderation. It’s really easy to pig out in the dining hall, especially on sweets and treats, so if you’re going to splurge, chose one thing to splurge on and stop there. Your diet will be happy you did.
So just because you’re eating in the dining hall, it doesn’t mean you can’t join me on this Jumpstart Diet journey! With a little moderation, some dedication to eating healthy and a committment to losing weight, you too can eat right and lose your own “freshman 15”! (Or avoid putting on that dreaded “freshman 15,” which would be even better.)
How did you put on your “freshman 15”? Share with me your story and why you’re looking to lose that weight! Leave me a comment below, email me at sarakaner@hercampus.com or tweet me here, I’d love to hear from you!