As a self-admitted picky eater, one of my largest worries when headed off to college was the food options. College dining halls and cafeterias tend to have a bad reputation for lack of variety and quality. I never appreciated my mom's flexibility and kindness when it came to catering to my (very few) likes more than when I finally had to leave home.

The first few weeks weren't bad, anyone – even me – can find enough options to eat well for a few weeks. And I'm pretty sure that the school rolls out the red carpet for the freshmen for the beginning of the year. So during those first couple of check-in calls when our parents ask, "how's the food?" we'll respond with enthusiasm. From there on out, everything just seemed to decline. I found myself eating the same few things and getting to the point where I was hungry at night.

While I worked on expanding my tastes and stocking up my room with food I actually liked, eating became a chore I dreaded. When I returned for my sophomore year, I brought lots of food with me and started spending (some would say too much) money outside of my prepaid meal plan to get "real food" at off campus restaurants and grocery stores. I'm quite jealous of my friends who are going to be living off campus next semester for this reason. As a resident assistant – which I love – I obviously live on campus and am required to have a meal plan.

This summer, I am taking a course at my local community college to finish my core science requirement. The class is called Introduction to Nutrition and I'm learning so much about what my body needs. So I've made it my quest this summer to attempt to eat a little bit healthier, especially while I have the resources on hand – my own kitchen, my car, grocery stores.

After class this past week, I was so inspired by what we were learning that I went to the grocery store to pick up some of the foods that we had been discussing. As an avid baker (the amount of raw cookie dough I've consumed since returning home is absurd) I figured it was finally time to try my hand at something that didn't involve insane amounts of sugar.

I failed my first avocado attempt, not realizing that it wasn't ripe. I bought some whole grain bread, oatmeal, fruits, salmon and more. My family never eats fish and I've been learning how important omega-3 fatty acids are in a diet. So I cooked up a nice dinner of salmon, salad with nuts and a fruit salad for my mom and I. It only cost me $20, including some ingredients I already had at home. I felt so energized and healthy afterwards, and it wasn't dreadful either. I enjoyed what I ate and I was proud to have cooked it myself.

I'm not going on some crazy summer diet and I'll never be a health nut – I love chocolate more than anything in the world. But it was nice to have the liberty to cook what I wanted and when I wanted (don't get me started about ridiculous dining hall hours).

So whether it's cooking one healthy meal a week or adding something nutritious to your diet, every little bit can benefit your body in the long run. Learning a new fact about food will never hurt. I had no idea that my body was missing so many nutrients by not eating fish often. I would argue for college campuses to improve their nutritional options (why are there never strawberries? Why are the bananas never ripe?), but for now I'm just focusing on taking advantage of the opportunity I have now.

Depending on how you're spending the summer – I know I won't have as much time for things like this once I start my internship – realize you're (most likely) no longer constrained by your college's dining options. A small healthy effort can go a long way and be more exciting than you'd imagine!