Nutrition Tips for College Students
As a
college or university student, you need to keep your body fueled. There are
several ways that one should do that. Working out, getting an adequate amount
of sleep, and eating, of course. Considering how hectic college years are for
most undergrads, nutrition becomes something most young people tend to care for
last. Busy with classes, extracurriculars, and part-time jobs, college and
university students believe that eating healthy in college is impossible.
Wrong! The good news is that with some simple nutrition tips for students
below, you will surely build much healthier eating habits even while living on
a budget.
How to Eat Healthy as a
College Student
There’s
no doubt that starting a new healthy habit can be challenging for busy college
students. If you’re ready to start the new academic year with a new habit that
will transform your life eventually, keep on reading!
Do not Skip Breakfast
If you
wonder how to eat healthy in college, start with your breakfast. If you have
morning classes, your very first meal during the day is crucial. The point here
is that your brain needs some fuel. That is why having some healthy breakfasts
like Nordic porridge, avocado toast, oatmeal pancakes, salmon sandwiches, etc.
If you make sure to go for healthy college student nutrition when it comes to
breakfast, chances are you will make healthy choices throughout the day and
stick to a well-balanced diet.
Drink Water
One of
the key hydration tips is to drink enough water during the day. Your body needs
hydration to be energized. Water is something that doesn’t cost much and is
readily available. For that reason, you have an opportunity to carry a reusable
water bottle with you as you migrate from class to class on campus.
It
doesn’t really matter where your water comes from. Ensure it is perfectly fine
if you go for the tap water. At the same time, you can use a water filter
pitcher or purchase bottled water.
Vegetables Is a Must in a
Balanced Diet
No
matter what meal of the day you’re about to take, including vegetables in each
is the best (and the easiest!) way to ensure your body is supplied with all
important nutrients and vitamins. Vegetables and fruits are full of vitamins
that you can’t find in any other meal. Needless to say, they’re one of the most
crucial elements of a balanced diet for students.
Plan Your Meals
College
students may think that planning their meals is something that only people in
huge families should do. Nonetheless, those busy people in college should plan
their meals in order to switch to smart snacking and include all needed food
groups into their diet.
The
best thing here is that meal planning doesn’t have to necessarily include
complex recipes, gluten-free options, or grocery lists you can’t afford. If
there’s such thing as a campus meal plan, all you have to do is to pick the
dining hall restaurant and healthy meal you will have there.
With a
plan at hand, you will be able to focus on things that really matter. Just
imagine yourself enjoying a healthy snack that you planned before while being
focused on more important thoughts like, “It’s time to write an
essay for me” or “I’m fully energized to get ready
for the exam!”
Tips on Eating Healthy
Food on Budget
Affordable
healthy eating does exist! With the
right planning and strategies, undergrads can make good foods choices that
support their long-term health and college success without breaking their bank
accounts. Meet some practical tips and tricks on how to stick to the
budget-friendly meal while making the most of your resources.
Eat Local & Seasonal
Whether
you’re a meat fan or someone who prefers vegetarian and vegan diets in college,
check out your local market to get some seasonal products. All the seasonal
vegetables and fruits are always more affordable since there are tons of those
in the market. If you’d like to go for some exotic options, keep in mind that
they will be highly expensive.
Shop in Bulk
It’s
better to choose bulk shopping instead of visiting your local store every day
to buy a little of this and that. Now that you have started to plan your meals,
you will be able to calculate how many groceries are needed. With the whole
scope of products at hand, you will be able to cook in batches to always have a
healthy snack during busy days in college. What is more, you will thus avoid
eating outside and reduce food waste along the way.
Go for Basic & Simple
Meals
When
you buy your groceries, ensure to choose basic (very simple!) foods. Get a
better idea of how carbs and proteins work and purchase ingredients that are
pocket-friendly yet nourishing. Below, we offer a simple, standard, and healthy
grocery shopping list template that will guide you at the very beginning of
your healthy eating path.
●
A pair of legume-based
proteins (such as lentils or chickpeas alongside Tofu or Tempeh);
●
A duo of animal-derived
proteins (including eggs and a selection of fresh or cured meats such as bacon
or sausages);
●
Three cereal options
(comprising rice, various flours or pasta, and a choice between oats or
quinoa);
●
2-3 types of veggies (one
will be used for cooking whole, two others will be for eating raw);
●
2 kinds of fruits (you will
use one to make a dessert while the other will become your snack);
●
The “others” category (1
sauce + yogurt + seeds and/or nuts + some treats like maple syrup/cacao/honey,
etc.
Nutrition Tips for College
Students: Meet the Top Don’ts
When
trying to stick to healthy food on a budget, a lot of college and university
students tend to make tons of mistakes. Below, you are welcome to check some don’ts that are the kind of taboos in
the healthy eating routine.
●
Shop for individual meals. Instead of purchasing items
for a single mean, consider how single ingredients can be used for multiple
purposes.
●
Purchase name brand. Tons of quality store- or
off-brand things are there today. A lot of groceries today even provide a range
of free from gluten, organic, and many other diet meals under the name of their
brand.
●
Never use loyalty cards. Even if there are no student
discounts available in your local store, chances are they have the so-called
loyalty card. Thus, you will be able to save some bucks on grocery products,
and, as a result, you will get some points for future discounts.
●
Eating out. Taking into account how much
money people tend to spend on eating out, it is better to save this money and
spend it on healthy meal options. Let’s attend fancy cafés and restaurants on
special occasions only while eating healthy every single day, benefiting from
the money you save.
There’s
no doubt that eating healthily in college can present loads of challenges.
However, dozens of ideas exist for bringing nutritious and healthy food into
your college routine. Never let things like a lack of high-class appliances, a
tough budget, or a lack of nutrition skills derail your efforts.
