A guide to healthy eating

A First Year Guide to Healthy Eating

The notorious frosh fifteen refers to the extra fifteen pounds (or more) typically gained by students in the first year of university. Unlike your kitchen at home the Dining Hall at school comes with 10 different dinner options each night. With a little discipline and some helpful hints you can eat healthy.

1. Choose lower-fat meals. It is tempting to go for the comfort foods of chicken fingers, preogies or burgers, try to limit these choices. Instead try the daily roasted meat, potatoes or rice and vegetables. Opt for stir-fries or pasta with a tomato base sauce. Order the burger without the cheese and bacon and instead of fries, have a salad.  
2. Downsize portions. Opt for the half portion at lunch or if you are going back to your room store left-overs in the fridge for later. 
3. Eat regular meals. Stick to a regular eating schedule. Eat breakfast, lunch and dinner and a mid day snack to prevent hunger and then over eating.  
4. Avoid the late night snacks. If you do snack while studying, keep healthy foods within reach like yogourt, fruit, carrots, hummus, low fat granola bars and cereal like mini-wheats. Place food in a bowl to prevent from eating to much straight out of the box. 
5. Healthy Beverages. Limit the amount of pop you drink and instead enjoy fruit juice or milk. Juice will provide you with vit C to boost your immune system and milk provides calcium as teenagers need 1,300 mg a day. 
6. Alcohol and Calories. Limit your alcohol intake and drink slowly. A regular beer has about 150 calories. Eat a meal before you go out to prevent overeating and snacking. 
7. Exercise. Not only is exercise good for the body, it is good for the mind. Physical activity will help reduce stress. Invite a friend for a 30 min power walk, go to the gym or walk between classes and take the stairs if possible.

Eating well will provide you with optimal energy to keep your body healthy, prevent disease and help you study.