The Struggle To Be Healthy In College Is Real
Start writing a post
Lifestyle

The Struggle To Be Healthy In College Is Real

That soft-serve isn't going to burn itself off!

278
The Struggle To Be Healthy In College Is Real
Decorin

This may be the biggest struggle for college students out there. With soft-serve ice cream machines available at every corner, greasy fries served daily, and all you can eat pancakes for breakfast, how can you NOT gain weight?

It is every kid's dream to have access to all these delicacies, but when you are a 19-year-old girl you suddenly lose interest in what your stomach wants and gain interest in what your mind is telling you-you should have. It wasn't until this fall that I really began to take charge of my own health and diet. In high school, I went to practice without even thinking about it. In college, I have to make the effort to put on my coat and shoes and trudge across campus to the Health and Recreation Complex, get on the elliptical, and tell myself, "Okay one hour, this won't be bad!" I have found that though I have the facilities here, it is harder than ever to get motivated! So, I have started to watch different health vloggers on YouTube. Watching these vlogs helps me to get myself out of bed, and into the gym...no matter how bad I want to stay in and watch another episode of Pretty Little Liars.

While the athletic facilities are great, it is the diet portion of my health which is the hardest to control. The cafeteria offers nearly zero healthy options for students to eat. While salad is always an option, everybody needs a source of protein. For those students who are vegetarian and vegan, even paleo, there are very very few options besides salad. While exercise is a great thing to get into a routine of doing, you need to eat healthy as well if you plan to maintain a healthy lifestyle. After my first semester, I have found that it is absolutely vital to stock up on healthy, nutritious snacks in your dorm room. Sometimes you don't feel like walking to the cafeteria, or you want to have a quick bite to eat before class. Some of my favorites are:

- Larabar's (Cookie Dough and Apple Pie are the best)

- Clif Bars (Chocolate Chip, Blueberry Crisp, and Oatmeal Raisin)

- Fruit (Apples, Grapes, Bananas, and Clementines are my go-to items)

- Kind Bars

- Luna Bars (Lemonzest is my all time favorite)

- Skinny Pop Popcorn

- Jif To-Go Peanut Butter cups with Pretzels

These are some of my favorites, but there are so many healthy options to explore! College is a time to study hard and learn a lot. But, it is also important to take these four years to build healthy eating habits, which you can take with you into the real world. After all, your diet is one of the only things you can control... so, do it the right way!

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Student Life

Waitlisted for a College Class? Here's What to Do!

Dealing with the inevitable realities of college life.

58402
college students waiting in a long line in the hallway
StableDiffusion

Course registration at college can be a big hassle and is almost never talked about. Classes you want to take fill up before you get a chance to register. You might change your mind about a class you want to take and must struggle to find another class to fit in the same time period. You also have to make sure no classes clash by time. Like I said, it's a big hassle.

This semester, I was waitlisted for two classes. Most people in this situation, especially first years, freak out because they don't know what to do. Here is what you should do when this happens.

Keep Reading...Show less
a man and a woman sitting on the beach in front of the sunset

Whether you met your new love interest online, through mutual friends, or another way entirely, you'll definitely want to know what you're getting into. I mean, really, what's the point in entering a relationship with someone if you don't know whether or not you're compatible on a very basic level?

Consider these 21 questions to ask in the talking stage when getting to know that new guy or girl you just started talking to:

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

Challah vs. Easter Bread: A Delicious Dilemma

Is there really such a difference in Challah bread or Easter Bread?

37621
loaves of challah and easter bread stacked up aside each other, an abundance of food in baskets
StableDiffusion

Ever since I could remember, it was a treat to receive Easter Bread made by my grandmother. We would only have it once a year and the wait was excruciating. Now that my grandmother has gotten older, she has stopped baking a lot of her recipes that require a lot of hand usage--her traditional Italian baking means no machines. So for the past few years, I have missed enjoying my Easter Bread.

Keep Reading...Show less
Adulting

Unlocking Lake People's Secrets: 15 Must-Knows!

There's no other place you'd rather be in the summer.

959226
Group of joyful friends sitting in a boat
Haley Harvey

The people that spend their summers at the lake are a unique group of people.

Whether you grew up going to the lake, have only recently started going, or have only been once or twice, you know it takes a certain kind of person to be a lake person. To the long-time lake people, the lake holds a special place in your heart, no matter how dirty the water may look.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

Top 10 Reasons My School Rocks!

Why I Chose a Small School Over a Big University.

193580
man in black long sleeve shirt and black pants walking on white concrete pathway

I was asked so many times why I wanted to go to a small school when a big university is so much better. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure a big university is great but I absolutely love going to a small school. I know that I miss out on big sporting events and having people actually know where it is. I can't even count how many times I've been asked where it is and I know they won't know so I just say "somewhere in the middle of Wisconsin." But, I get to know most people at my school and I know my professors very well. Not to mention, being able to walk to the other side of campus in 5 minutes at a casual walking pace. I am so happy I made the decision to go to school where I did. I love my school and these are just a few reasons why.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments