Let's be honest here: eating healthy in college can be hard. We go to the dining hall and are surrounded by dry chicken and overcooked burgers, so we opt for what appears more appetizing; the dessert. And this is what causes the dreaded freshman 15. But healthy eating is so important, and especially essential to us college kids. We're in class all day and stay up late trying to finish that last assignment, but without the proper nutrition, we have such limited energy and are brain dead. Healthier food choices will make you feel so much more alive and will help you focus and in general, you'll just feel better about yourself. Plus let's not forget the unwanted weight gain you'll avoid. But clean eating in college has to be realistic. Odds are you aren't going to walk to the dining hall everyday for some eggs and orange juice and odds are you're going to get bored of eating that salad for lunch every day pretty fast. So what little changes can those who dorm make to be healthier? Well, here's a simple meal plan for you.
Breakfast:
If you are up early for class, stop at the dining hall for an egg sandwich and a piece of fruit. However, if you wake up late and don't feel like trudging all the way to the dining hall, a bowl of cereal is totally reasonable. Keep a half gallon of skim milk in your mini fridge and poor yourself a bowl of cereal that is not full of sugar, and instead full of fiber. I suggest Kasha Go Lean Crunch, or keep it simple with a bowl of Cheerio's. Steal some berries from the dining hall and add them into your cereal. Or you can trade in the cereal for some oatmeal instead! And if you're in a rush and don't have time for all of this? Grab yourself a KIND bar. And most importantly, remember to start your day off with a bottle of water.
Lunch:
Try to opt for a salad a few times a week, but be realistic and know this won't happen everyday. Salads get boring fast. Spice up your salad by adding different ingredients. Personally, I love adding fruits to my salad like pineapple and clementine. I also love adding dried cranberries. If this isn't enough to fill your tummy, get yourself a bowl of soup also. Other healthy lunch ideas would to be to pick up a healthy wrap or sandwich from a deli. Switch it up and try turkey one day and chicken the next. Keep it interesting. Add a side of veggies to your sandwich and you've had a fairly nutritious lunch.
Dinner:
No one wants to eat the same thing for dinner every night so make sure to switch it up. Grilled chicken may not be the most exciting meal, but it's healthy and could be great if you add vegetables on top. Another night you could trade in the chicken for salmon or any other type of fish you like. And pasta night once a week is totally acceptable. A few carbs never hurt anybody.
Dessert:
If you had a day full of healthy eating and you feel like you deserve to indulge yourself in that chocolate cake, then no one is stopping you. However, if you'd like to stay on your health kick but are still craving something sweet then make yourself a fruit salad. Add some berries, cantaloupe, and whatever else it is you have a craving for!
Snacks:
My biggest advice is whenever you are at the dining hall, steal some fruit. Always keep some apples and bananas in your dorm room and along with this, a jar of peanut butter. Fruit and peanut butter is my go-to snack in college. Oranges are another fruit that make for a great snack. Granola bars are also something you might have in your dorm that are good for snacking on, along with yogurt you can pick up at the grocery store. It would also be a smart idea to keep a bag of almonds or cashews in your room, or even seeds. This can serve many benefits to your health.
Eating healthy in college can be challenging, but it is possible! Remember it's perfectly okay to indulge every once in awhile, but do your best to eat clean and remain healthy!
