The first time that I walked into my college cafeteria, I was blown away by all of the food choices. I couldn’t wait for my fresh lifestyle to start. I was going to try to eat fewer processed foods, feel better, and be healthier in the long run. However, the long run was farther out of sight than I imagined. Two weeks into class, I had already exhausted all of the obvious healthy food combinations. Sure, college dining options are unlimited in the categories of cereal, desserts, fried meats, sandwiches, and pancakes. However, when it comes to being healthy, you have to get a little creative.

This year, I invested in a smaller meal plan in order to buy more of my own groceries as a part of my quest toward cleaner eating. Below are 15 tips that I’ve picked up on (along with some simple recipes) for adopting a clean or cleaner diet in college:

1. Eat the rainbow. I’m sure you’ve heard this one before. Learn to love fruit and veggies and they’ll love you back. Spinach or arugula, tomatoes, microgreens, black beans, and olive oil make for a delicious and simple lunch. Olive oil isn’t even necessary if you use canned black beans. The bean juices soak through the salad and give it a Latin flavor.

2. Eat breakfast every day. Make breakfast your biggest meal of the day. In college, it’s especially important. First of all, a big breakfast will help you focus in all of your classes. It’s amazing what a difference it can make. Secondly, eating a big breakfast will keep you from being hungry throughout the rest of the day, ultimately helping you to view the greasy stuff for what it is rather than “food that needs to "get in my belly now!” I love to pre-cook steel-cut oatmeal at the beginning of the week. Every morning, I just add a little water and heat it up in the microwave. If berries are in season, they’re a decadent addition. Finally, a drizzle of honey adds the perfect touch.

3. Invest in a NutriBullet! Believe me when I say that the NutriBullet is the best kitchen invention since the microwave. We're all on a budget in college, but this fancy contraption gives you more bang for your buck than all of that late-night takeout. In this magical blender/food processor, one can make smoothies, soups, guac, and salsa galore. When I’m not eating oatmeal for breakfast, I like to blend about 8 oz. of almond milk, 1 sliced banana, 2 spoonfuls of almond butter, and 2 big ice cubes for 1 minute. So simple. So delicious. Hint: The older the banana, the sweeter the smoothie.

4. Snack smart. Are you a test stress eater? Me too. However, over-snacking can lead to a dangerous cycle of just wanting to mindlessly eat anything all the time. When we’re not conscious of what we’re eating, we’re not as likely to fill our bodies with the right nutrients. Carrots are perfect for munching endlessly without skimping on nutrition. Dip them in hummus for some protein if you’re actually hungry.

5. Take the time to prepare your own food. In other words, make quinoa and mix it with a bunch of random things. Quinoa goes with everything! Below, it is thrown together with some vegetarian sausage that I had left over in my fridge (don't ask me why), oregano, thyme, and olive oil. I get it, there’s not a kitchen in your dorm room and cooking takes time that frankly, college students don't have. However, cooking can be a great study break or study enforcer as you wait for your food. Additionally, your food tastes better when you make it yourself and it will be more likely to be nutritious because you’ve thought about what exactly is going into it. You can also make cooking a community event, spending time with your friends while doing something productive and meaningful (properly feeding your body)! Cooking your own food actually helps you to maximize your time!

6. Get a lot of sleep! This one’s pretty simple. When you get the proper amount of sleep, your body works better, craves the right amount of food the next day, and craves less junk food.

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7. Don’t be afraid to mix and match. Sometimes, flavors work in mysterious ways. Try baking a sweet potato and then loading it with your favorite clean things like black beans, kale, guacamole, cinnamon, quinoa (there’s that quinoa, again), or mushrooms.

8. Don’t let your meal plan get you down. It’s still possible to eat well in the cafeteria. The salad bar is your best friend. Try mixing raw veggies that you would normally put in your salad and microwaving them. Then, add some olive oil and salt to taste. Sometimes, something warm is so much more satisfying than the old pattern -- another day, another salad.

9. Get creative. You have to if you want to take advantage of your meal plan and still eat well. Look around the cafeteria. What can you mix from different areas? What resources do you have to prepare food in different ways (microwave, panini grill, waffle iron)? Grab peanut butter from the bagel station to make mini PB and banana sandwiches! Cafeteria peanut butter may not be considered totally “clean;” however, doing the best you can with your resources is better than not trying to improve your eating habits at all.

10. Satisfy your sweet tooth. Clean eating does not mean giving up sweets. Dark chocolate, honey, and fruit are all great ways to satisfy that sugar craving. If you’re feeling crafty, chop an apple up into a bowl, add a drizzle of honey with a pinch of cinnamon, and microwave for 1 minute. Add some granola to the top for a clean apple pie!

11. Don’t put too much pressure on yourself. Every once in a while…the makeshift apple pie won’t do it for you. That’s OK. Treat yourself. The occasional splurge will help prevent a buildup craving that results in a crash and burn (a.k.a. eating the whole box of Oreos and bag of potato chips in one sitting).

12. Be mindful of your beverage choices, too. Your safe bets for non-processed beverages include water, tea, coffee, and milk. Drinking extra soda to make up for a lack of processed food in your diet is not necessarily any better than just eating the foods.

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13. Capitalize on your favorite clean food. Find your favorite healthy food and try a lot of different things with it. Sweet potatoes are my weakness. Here’s a recipe that I can’t wait to try:

http://mariahspleasingplates.com/how-to-make-perfect-sweet-potato-chips/

14. Make conscious choices. This is the bottom line. Feed your body the fuel that it needs. Be conscious of what is fuel and what is poison to the system. Fill your plate with lots of fruits and vegetables, but make sure that you are getting a proper source of protein, as well.

15. Know your resources. Where can you get good food on or near your campus? What do dining services offer? At Wake Forest University, there is a nutritionist who is almost always on call. Students can also order lots of good, clean food from No Bad Apple to be delivered to campus! Farmers markets are likely abundant in the larger community of your university, as well.

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Well, there you have it. If you follow these tips, you will be well on your way to a cleaner, healthier lifestyle (even if it's just so that you have more room for Cookout later). If you're looking for somewhere to begin, a skeleton of an on-a-budget grocery list is below:

Starter kit (things that can last for the whole semester)

--olive oil

--honey

--favorite spices

Weekly Groceries

--black beans (canned beans are super cheap)

--peanut butter or almond butter (The latter is more expensive but better for you, so I usually buy it about once a month.)

--guacamole or whole avocados

--apples

--bananas

--spinach/arugula/kale

--carrots

--quinoa

--steel-cut oatmeal

--milk (or almond milk)

--Greek yogurt

--Ezekiel bread

--almonds

Take baby carrot-sized steps toward a healthier you. You won’t regret them when you feel more full, more awake, and more whole. Be wary: side effects may include losing 15 pounds instead of gaining them, complimentary comments about the smell of whatever you're cooking, and a serious appreciation for Trader Joe's. Go forth and eat good food!