College Eating 101

Hello College Life!  Hello Freedom!  Finally you can sleep when you want, as long as you want, study when you want to, as long as you want, hang out with whoever you want to, stay out as long as you want to and eat whenever and whatever you want to.   This frequently translates to skipping breakfast,   chicken strips and fries for lunch and pizza for dinner.  Without mom pushing veggies, salads and fruit, fresh foods are harder to get and not as satisfying as a burger and milkshake.  And you guessed it: eating this  way often leads to the dreaded college weight gain. 
 
Studies are mixed about how much weight the average college student gains, and certainly, some college freshman are still developing and growing into their adult bodies. However one thing is sure, this  is the time to establish good eating habits that will hopefully last a lifetime.
 
Here are some tips for dorm life and managing food:
 

• Keep your food in a container in the closet.    If your peanut butter and granola bars are within eyesight you are more likely to reach for them even if you are not hungry.

 

• Avoid eating while sitting on your bed.  Designate your desk as your “dining table” to avoid associating your bed with snacks.

 

• Resist eating while you are studying. It’s hard to be mindful of hunger and fullness if you are studying and snacking, and before you know it, one bowl of goldfish becomes the whole package.  Take a break from studying and mindfully enjoy a portion controlled snack.

 

• Avoid eating late at night.  Tacos sound so good after a night out, especially when everyone else is indulging; however those extra calories can add up.  Work on going to bed and skipping the late night snack.

 

• As long as we’re talking about late nights….keep in mind that alcohol has 9 calories per gram, so the average shot has about 100 calories.  Add in coke or lemonade, and we’re looking at 130-150 calories per drink. 

 

• Work in fresh foods in the caf.  Choose fruits and veggies at every meal.

 

• Hydrate!  Drinking adequate water will help ensure that you don’t eat food in response to thirst.