Guest blog submitted by Cathy@Healthkicker
Being a college student, it seems impossible to live a healthy life at times. When I was a freshman, I looked at the crispy chicken and pizza in the cafeteria and thought to myself that I was destined to gain the freshman 15, especially since it was required for us to use our meal plan card.
Two years later and living in a dorm with only two kitchens and a $125 meal plan card, I still have that same uneasy feeling.
With a low amount of money on my meal plan card and the same unhealthy food in the cafeteria, the only options left are to cook, get some take-out, or starve myself.
Starving myself isn't an option because I love food too much, but cooking isn't my thing either. I can cook some pasta, make eggs, fry some tilapia, and that's pretty much it. I know it's better than nothing but I am the type of person who likes change -- there's only so much pasta and seafood I can eat before I feel like a fat Italian lady.
So, since cooking isn't exactly written in the stars for me, I resort to buying wraps at the grocery store. It's funny I said I like change because almost every day, I buy a Spinach and Feta Cheese wrap for dinner. I know, it's sad and I don't know how I'm able to eat that every day, but I guess the fact that it has healthy spinach makes me justify everything. But besides that, I am either eating Subway, buying cold cuts (ONLY turkey and cheese), eating chocolate, going to Little Italy or some diner, or snacking on apples and peanut butter. Yeah, it's crazy.
I'm counting down the days until I am broke and become a freegan or just buy a dozen chocolate bars and become obese.
Do you find it difficult to eat healthy when you're in college or away from home? What advice could you give to college students who have limited healthy options?
Comments (48)
It DOES make you real fat! I been goin' to college for three weeks and now I weigh 487 pounds and 2 ounces.
I was definitely a Ramen junky my freshman year of college. I had to borrow my friend's microwave though. I was lucky that my dining hall catered to most diets, including vegetarians and people who wanted to eat healthy. I had a microwave my second year, so I learned how to make "dorm room gourmet" which basically involved a giant box of couscous, some hummus, crackers, and healthy choice soups. I actually managed to lose 20 pounds during college because I lived at the top of a mountain. I was required to climb 300 stairs and quite a bit of hill to get from the transportation system to my dorm room. I had to do that several times a day. It's hard to eat healthy in college, but I think as long as you do the best that you can in any eating situation and make sure you get enough exercise, you should be fine.
In the college I attend, there's a salad bar everywhere, and there's always 'healthy' options. We can also order specific things we want, so I don't really have a problem with finding healthy food. I just don't want to eat healthy...lol.
We're pretty much left on our own for food. I've always been a big fan of the frozen kids' dinner trays. There's a pretty good variety, and they are fairly reasonably priced.
@Dare2BDiferentt@xanga - lol
@brittanymullins@xanga - I actually don't go to college, that was just for a laugh. xD
My cafeteria had a salad bar, so I always ate a salad there. The cafeteria was actually quite healthy, so I didn't gain weight, even though I wanted to.
I go to a school where I don't even have access to a kitchen. It's rough.
- Cheap fruits + veggies are your friend. Try bananas and dried beans.
- Steal some fruits/veggies from your salad bar for later
- Try foods you can eat/prepare quickly, like cereal, wraps, salad, etc.
@Dare2BDiferentt@xanga - Yeah, I figured that much...I go to college though, and there is healthy foods to eat btw
My college is vegetarian. It isn't hard to eat healthy.
when i was living in residence it was so difficult. we did have a salad bar but it wasn't the best and it was faster and cheaper to just grab something else. which was almost always some kind of carb (pasta, rice) steamed veggies (no nutrients!) and brown mush with meat. i gained a ton of weight.
now that i'm living on my own i eat so much healthier. and i've lost weight. plus, i love cooking and this has been really great for me.
now i'm craving apples and peanut butter
I actually think it's easier to eat healthy. I pack my lunch, so I know what's in my food and I don't have to "grab and go" with whatever place in the food plaza has the shortest line. It costs more to eat out, so I buy at the grocery store and that tends to be better for me.
i think that's just a lazy excuse.
i've lost 20 pounds since i've been at college. i eat the healthy options and buy healthy groceries for myself.
I buy veggies for a salad with my roommates, we split the cost and the food tends to not go bad before you eat it all... and then you can make your own salad dressing with balsamic oil and vinegar... find alternative sources for protein and ensure you are getting a fresh fruit and vegetable daily. Canned can help you meet this requirement - look for canned fruits without added preservatives/lower sugar content. (ie. if the fruit comes in syrup or not). good luck!
Nope, never had a problem with eating healthy. When I lived in the dorms & had to eat dining hall food, I usually got grilled chicken and salad, pasta, or sometimes I'd take advantage of stir fry day. There are healthy options at most schools~ it's just a matter of having the willpower to pass over the pizza & desserts.
Now I've been living off campus for a little over a year. Most of the time I cook for myself, because it's much cheaper than constantly ordering out. Plus I know exactly what goes into the stuff I cook, so no hidden calories from restaurant food. A lot of times my lunch is just a simple sandwich or salad, and yes, I do eat a lot of ramen, but I make sure to get an adequate balance of carbs, protein, fiber, etc. Keeping the grocery bills low can be tough too, but I've figured out shopping tactics that keep my costs low. It is definitely possible to eat healthy, but it does take some effort and willpower.
EXERCISE
@TakingxOverxMe@xanga - Where do you go?
@TakingxOverxMe@xanga - You have a vegetarian college?!?! Where do you go to school at? Feel free to send that in a msg if you wish...I know you may not want to broadcast that.
I think the biggest issue I've had is that it is cheaper to buy unhealthy foods. I'm in college, and I'm a waitress. I get by. I also don't live on campus, so the cafeteria is not an option. But the thing is, since I live alone and cooking always produces too much for one person, it is cheaper to eat unhealthy foods. I mean, a cheeseburger at McDonalds is just over a dollar. I have REALLY had to curb this and change the way I eat, b/c buddy, I packed on the freshman 15 and then some. But the thing is, I would rather spend a little extra now than regret it in the future and pay for it with medical bills. It is tough, but there are ways to eat healthy. You just have to really seek them out.
@LaLaLici0us@xanga - @Annalyn04@xanga -
La Sierra University. It's a seventh day adventist school.
I gained a lot of weight my first year of college (and a bit of my second year) What helped me a lot was I started to take P.E. classes and joined a physical club (Scottish Country Dance). I'm not one who enjoys going to the gym, so I found other physical activities to keep my weight from sky rocketing.
Dear god you tell me.
The most important thing isn't how to not eat junk in college, but how to not spend all your money buying bagels and cream cheese because the place is so effing expensive.
I vacillate between starvation and using up all my money on odwalla.
There has to be other options in the cafeteria. No seriously, there are. Even if you make breakfast your main meal because it tastes the best, there are options. You simply have to decide what it is you like (or can at least choke down) and start there. Supplement with other meals like wraps or the few things you cook.
Rather than just assuming there is nothing, look for all of the things they offer or talk to the food services at school.
Become an exchange student to Japan. My god you'll starve- I've lost so much weight that I'd give anything for a taco salad from taco bell right now WITH a chalupa and crunch wrap supreme, damn..... If your college isn't smart enough to have a salad bar or something, you should protest and create the interest in such a thing to make the change to food services. Either that, or visit another cafeteria. Do you only have one?
Basically, be grateful that you can make your choices. You have the choice to change up what you eat everyday, even though it seems you don't, and you have at your disposal delicious american supermarkets with great healthy (and unhealthy) foods for you to get creative with. If you ever become an exchange student, you'll understand just how amazing our selection is at home. It's really a privilege.
@Dare2BDiferentt@xanga - Me too!!!