One of the hardest things I’ve had to figure out in college was how to eat healthily. I have never been an unhealthy eater but the second I got to college it was hard to find a rhythm. Especially when 95% of everything I eat comes from the dining halls on campus and the places that accept my student card. When not everything looks appetizing and the same meals are served weekly it can be extremely hard to not fall in the habit of eating pizza or burgers every day.
For your body to function properly you have to be feeding it the right nutrients. You can’t expect your skin to glow, or your stomach to not constantly be upset if all you eat is sugar and grease.
While it can seem incredibly daunting there are a lot of easy ways to make sure you eat a healthier diet amidst standard college food.
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Drink Water
Water is so important and I know I don’t drink enough of it, so I am sure others have this problem too. When dining halls are filled with soda and energy drinks and everyone is stopping into Starbucks everyday water can be one of the last things you are grabbing.
Water helps your body in a million ways, like not being dehydrated, helping with the dryness and overall look of your skin, digestion, and it helps flush out toxins and germs.
So next time you want to grab a third coffee or a can of soda, get some water. If you get bored of plain water add some fruit or lemon to your water to jazz it up. Also, carry around a reusable water bottle to remind yourself about water.
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Add some greens
Sometimes I look back on the meals I’ve had in my day and realized that they were all filled with cheese and carbs and bread but I couldn’t remember what greens I ate. Greens are packed with vitamins and nutrients and have a ton of health benefits.
Some yummy options are spinach, bok choy, lettuce and collard greens. And if we just go on the option of green foods, in general, there are tons more. Like AVOCADOS which are filled with protein and more potassium than a banana, green bell peppers, asparagus, and artichokes.
When you look at your meal and notice it looks a bit colorless go find some greens to add.
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Add some veggies to your pizza
If you are going to go the pizza route add in some veggies. Olives, spinach, sun-dried tomatoes, mushrooms, and broccoli are all great options.
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Get a smoothie instead of coffee
The caffeine in coffee may give you a quick energy boost throughout your day but it can really take a toll. Caffeine energy will eventually have you crash and burn not to mention caffeine is dehydrating if you aren’t drinking water along with it. Instead, grab a smoothie.
In the rec center of my school, there is a smoothie bar where they make smoothies with things like fruit, acai, and kale. It is a great way to add extra fruit to my diet and get an energy boost.
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Add some healthy snacks to your dorm
I know I like to snack and if all I have on hand is chips and candy that’s all I’ll eat. When I have things like fruit and nuts on hand in my room I am more likely to grab that to snack on. I really enjoy hard boiled eggs, raspberries, and pretzels with peanut butter.
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If you can, Cook!
One of the easiest ways to eat healthy in college is just to cook your own food. If you have access to a kitchen stop by the grocery store or get groceries delivered, and make your favorite homemade meal. When you cook it yourself you can better make a decision about what you are eating. Even when you don’t have access to a full kitchen you can make your own great meals with just a microwave. Stay tuned for a post about that coming up later this month!
Making sure you are eating right can help you feel more energized and better overall, and when running around in the day to day crazy college life you will totally need it.
What is your favorite way to eat healthier in college?
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