As summer comes to an end, so does Mom's cooking and our healthy lifestyle; with the return of classes comes the return of stress which lends itself to bad habits. It's incredibly difficult to eat healthy and maintain a fit lifestyle when everything else seems more important, but we have to remember that our success begins with ourselves. The way we treat our bodies has a positive correlation with how we deal with the many struggles life throws our way. If you feed your body, you will feed your mind and reap the benefits of being happier and healthier all around. Though it may seem impossible to stay clean during the semester, it's not! Here are some tips to look and feel your best during the school year.
1. Cook for Yourself
I know it's much easier to swipe somewhere on campus for food, but your body will thank you if you take one day out of the week to meal prep and have some healthy food on hand. On Sundays, I'll cook up enough chicken breast, ground turkey, brown rice, and vegetables to last me for a week. Not every meal has to be the same and you can always add on to it later, but it's always handy to have some ingredients on deck if you get hangry after class. This way, you'll save a lot of money and feel better about it afterwards.
2. Stock Up on Essentials
The key to staying on track is not quantity, but quality. Rather than biding your calories to eat a piece of pizza, have your carbs and eat them too by instead choosing something like roasted sweet potatoes or whole wheat pasta. Make sure to have plenty of proteins such as chicken, turkey, eggs, and beans. For carbs, stock up on sweet potatoes, brown rice, fruit, and even whole wheat bread. As for fats, keep your pantry full with nuts, nut butter, olive oil, and avocados. There's an endless possibility of what you can do with these ingredients; eating healthy doesn't always have to be boring!
3. Always Pack Snacks
I usually find myself rushing to get out of the house only to regret it later when the hanger starts to hit me. To avoid munching out during meal times and overindulging when you shouldn't, pack snacks to eat throughout the day. Protein bars, fruit, nuts, and yogurt are some good starters that you can easily travel with. This way, you won't have cravings during class that lead to going off your desired track.
4. Eat Breakfast
I cannot stress how important eating breakfast is for your body. It wakes up your metabolism, allowing you to burn more calories throughout the day. Without it, your body has no fuel to provide you energy and you are left feeling groggy, tired, and out of it. Even if you only eat a piece of toast, a protein bar, or a smoothie, eat something because your body will thank you for it.
5. Go Out Responsibly
"Going out" has multiple meanings here; on one hand, going out for food with your friends. Of course you shouldn't deny yourself a meal here and there, but don't let it happen every single day; once you start eating unhealthy, it's much more likely that it will become consistent. Allow yourself a cheat every now and then so you won't have built-up cravings and end up binging.
On the other hand, if you know you are going to be partying, cut your carbs a bit short for that day. Make sure you eat plenty of protein and fats, but maybe substitute your rice at lunch for a salad. You'll be able to process what you are putting in your body that night a bit better and you'll avoid a carb overload.
