When I entered college I was determined to start over. I wanted to be healthy and with that came many plans. I had planned on only eating the healthiest of foods for meals, mainly salads, fruits and vegetables. I told myself I wouldn't eat any sweets, would always have only healthy snacks, no pizza and that I would exercise every day, no matter what.
That was a good joke.
Almost immediately when I started college, I realized that many of my goals and plans to be healthy were completely unrealistic. The cafeteria doesn't always have the healthiest food choices, you get tired of salad really quick (especially when there are burgers nearby), there are never enough hours in the day to get in the exact workout you want, and sometimes pizza and sweets are too tempting to resist. That being said, I would still consider myself a healthy college student, because eventually you find a balance and you learn what is more important to you, a brownie or a peanut butter cookie. Most people say moderation is key and I agree with that, but I think making many healthy choices is even more important. Here are some realistic tips to being a healthy college student.
1. The cafeteria often has lots of empty carbs and eating a few isn't too bad, but consistently eating lots of useless carbs like white bagels, muffins and plain noodles can be an easy bad habit to fall into. Often there are also whole wheat or natural options which is a more nutritious substitute to empty carbs.
2. Do not keep candy or junk food within easy reach. One problem I ran into was people would give me chocolate, chips, and all kinds of yummy unhealthy foods and I would put them in a bowl by my desk. The candy and I would have a staring contest and it would win, every single time. What I started doing was putting my candy into harder-to-reach, out-of-sight places so I wouldn't constantly be thinking about it. This way if I did eat candy, it was a real choice.
3. Don't get into the habit of ALWAYS getting a certain item at meals. This is mainly for pop (even diet pop is bad) and desserts. It is okay to have them, but not at every meal. Do not allow yourself to get into the habit of always getting Dr. Pepper and ice cream continuously. Instead, have them as a treat and not a routine.
4. Exercise. This is still important! Often my friends and I will go for walks or hikes that will give us some easy exercise while getting to talk and have fun. You can also do fun activities like playing basketball, volleyball, ultimate frisbee and swimming. If you want to workout, plan when you are going to go so you don't keep putting it off. Make it a routine you can follow everyday.
5. Get healthy foods you like! Stop trying to convince yourself to eat brussel sprouts. Instead, get foods you like that are also good for you. Some of my favorite snacks are bananas and peanut butter, air-popped popcorn, clementines, applesauce, broccoli and hummus, raisins, nuts, cheese, yogurt, granola bars, and fruit snacks. These aren't always crazy nutritious, but they are a whole heck of a lot better than chips, oreos, cookie dough (my personal weakness), ramen and easy-mac.
6. Drink water! Keep a water bottle with you at all times. You will end up sipping water naturally throughout the day. This will keep you slightly fuller, while being good for your skin.
7. Sometimes you need to cheat, whether that be eating unhealthy or skipping your workout for the day to go shopping instead. Don't beat yourself up about it. Remember that it is worth it to skip a workout if you are making new friends, reconnecting with old ones or doing something out-of-the-ordinary. The important thing is to have that cheat be only a day or a meal and not allow it to become a habit.
