Can you feel those jeans getting tight? It’s bound to happen at college. College food can really pack on the pounds without anyone knowing. Similar to studying for exams, it takes some self-discipline to get to the place you want to be. For those of you who either want to lose the extra pudge or focus a little more on health, here are some ways to fight those empty calories.

1. Eating at the dining halls? Eat this, not that.

This tip is fairly simple. Just choose the healthiest or healthier option of what’s available! Instead of a cheeseburger and fries, try picking up a chicken sandwich and a side salad. Eliminating a bit of the unhealthy food a few times a week can really make a difference in the long run.

2. Make meals in your dorm room.

Buy some food from the market or the supermarket. This gives you a way to track what you eat more closely. Focus on the vegetables and fruits, not the chips and candy! 

3. Think in terms of moderation. 

You don’t need to completely cut out all the good, greasy food we have here at school, but eating them a couple of times every few weeks is fine. Rewarding yourself for good behavior will keep you on track while you fight the weight gain.

4.   Don’t drink your calories. 

This one can be a real diet breaker. One can of Coca Cola has 140 calories and a whooping 39 grams a sugar. For 140 calories, you could have eaten one a and half bananas, 2 and a half servings of grapes, 3 servings of broccoli, and 5 servings of carrots. While this might be a little difficult, especially with Starbucks now selling their Pumpkin Spice Lattes, take a step back a think which option will keep you full for longer. 

5. Work that body.

If changing your diet can be harder than expected, getting that body moving can bring great improvement. Hitting the Rec Center just a couple times a week for a half hour or so will have your body thanking you greatly. Walking to class also provides some light exercise that will help your legs strengthen over time. Can’t find time to hit the gym that often? Try working out in your dorm room or apartment. Finding YouTube videos online or even buying a pair of dumbbells can make exercising at home easy. 

While this advice might seem pretty obvious, we tend to forget eating habits when we’re away from home. With school, Greek life, extracurricular, homework, and friends, it’s simple to forget to take care of ourselves. Keep these small tips in mind and you’ll be good to go for the rest of college.