Aside from your busy class schedule, extracurriculars, social life and potential job, maintaining a healthy lifestyle can seem hard to execute. Binghamton University nutrition professor, Sarah Thompson, lent Release some tips to keep off the pounds and stay healthy.
It’s true that college is where many students are responsible for feeding themselves for the first time but can’t find the time to eat proper meals. Instead they turn to quick, easy junk food to fight hunger.
However, eating junk food frequently can wreak havoc on your body and overall health. Taking a page out of mom’s book and packing a bagged lunch is a healthier way to ward off hunger. Rather than relying on vending machines for meals, try investing in some Tupperware and plastic baggies on the next Walmart visit for that sandwich or salad.
‘Plan to always have healthy food available,’ Thompson said. ‘You can never be sure when hunger will strike.’
To avoid a sick stomach and smelly backpack, always check your snack’s shelf life.
‘Perishable foods will last two hours at room temperature before spoiling,’ Thompson said.
For healthy perishables, she recommends snacking on a cup of high-protein yogurt, fresh-cut fruit, to-go salads and a deli sandwich or wrap without mayo.
If your schedule doesn’t allow trips back to the fridge, try restocking your bag.
‘Think about foods that will not spoil throughout the day,’ Thompson said. ‘Pieces of whole fresh fruit, apples, bananas, oranges, pears, or your own trail mix from the nuts, dried fruit and mini crackers on the salad bar work well. You can mix them in a paper cup and take them with you to class. Or make a quick PB&J on a couple of slices of 100 percent whole wheat bread.’
Some of the biggest junk foods are sugary soft drinks. A Yale University study from 2007 showed that those who drank soda had fewer intakes of milk and other dairy products.
Hydration plays a major role in controlling appetite. The body often confuses the thirst signals for hunger ones, which causes dehydrated individuals to eat rather than drink. Students consume calories their body doesn’t need and are stored as fat.
Choosing the right beverage is an excellent way to keep your weight at bay and maintain proper nutrients. Water is the best replacement because it has zero calories and is a necessary nutrient for the body.
With midterm season in full swing, time is a precious commodity. During the late nights in the Glenn G. Bartle Library, fight the call of the vending machines by packing a cache of healthy meals and snacks. When it comes to eating healthy, consider following Batman’s old adage: ‘The victory lies in the preparation.’