Being healthy in college seems even harder than passing organic chemistry. I personally never have a spare moment to really make time to go to the gym seven days a week, study, go to class and work.
However, there are little ways that I try to get that extra exercise during the day. Plus eating healthy seems so expensive. I swear, almost all money goes to buying food. Here are a few ways that I try and stay healthy in college
1. Walk everywhere
If you can, try and walk everywhere. WSU is pretty big, so just walking to class feels like a marathon sometimes. Not to mention the monster hills that are everywhere — trust me, cougar calves are a real thing. This also means skip the elevator and just take the stairs. Ultimately, it will save you the extra trouble of waiting for it, just to feel like a sardine packed in with other random people who didn't want to take the stairs.
2. Schedule your gym time
Setting time aside to go to the gym can be difficult, trust me, I get it. Everyone has busy schedules, but if you make it a point to always go to the gym Tuesday and Thursday at 5:30 p.m., you’ll make a routine out of it, and it will become just as part of your day as that one class where attendance counts. Plus, if you sign up for a class and have to pay for it, you might as well not let that money go to waste.
3. Meal prep
Meal prepping is key. I never really have time to cook, and when I do it's not very much, so I just make something fast. However, there are so many cool and healthy meal prep recipes out there. You are guaranteed to eat all your food groups if you plan your meals out in advance.
4. Eat your fruit and veggies
This is a tough one. I am guilty of not eating enough of them, too. But what I try to do is have a smoothie a few times a week or sneak spinach and other veggies into my dinners. My favorite thing to do is add spinach to my spaghetti sauce, fajitas, or even a quiche.
5. Limit ordering out to once a week
Going out or ordering food is so easy, but it's expensive and not very healthy. Try and limit yourself to one meal out a week. This will not only save you some money but also some calories.
6. Coupons are your best friend
Once you're on your own, you finally realize that groceries are expensive! Especially the stuff that's good for you. However, there is a solution my friends — coupons. They are not just for your grandparents. You’d be so surprised how many coupons there are for organic products, vitamins, and meat.
7. Treat yourself
Lastly, I have the worst sweet tooth on this planet. I have to have dessert after dinner, so instead of ice cream, I have a bowl of yogurt and berries. Just remember, eating healthy is fantastic, but don’t forget to treat yourself to some junk food or sweets every once in awhile so you don't go crazy.
