Five ways to eat healthy in the dining commons.
Over a month of the school year has passed, and everyone’s trying to avoid the infamous freshman 15. It’s a topic that’s never-ending and that affects everyone — not just freshmen. So many students want to maintain a healthier diet, but it’s not an easy thing to do with the all-you-can-eat style of the dining commons… or is it?
- Try the salad bar
You may not notice it most of the time, but those leafy greens are always there. Substituting another dish with a salad is always a good way to fulfill your daily vegetable requirements. Even trying a salad before delving into your main course is a healthier way to fill you up. Be careful though; just because you’re eating a salad doesn’t mean it’s always healthy. When making your salad, go easy on the cheese and dressing. You don’t want your ‘healthier option’ to end up being closer to a dessert item.
- Stay hydrated
The DC offers a wide variety of drinks — everything from soft drinks to coffee to hot chocolate and much more. However, if you’re trying to be healthy, choose water. There is no drink healthier than water, and on top of that, it’s important to stay hydrated, especially with all the walking and biking you do on campus.
- Opt for natural sugars
After eating dinner, it’s almost impossible not to stop by Plaza Sweets for some dessert. Do your best to avoid grabbing dessert — if your taste buds are craving something sweet, eat fruit instead. The DC offers fruits like bananas and apples for students to take home, which are much healthier options than a sugar cookie or brownie.
- Say “NO” to Late Night
Even though late night’s freshly-baked chocolate chip cookies are to die for, avoiding Late Night is a step in the right direction to eating healthy. Eating later in the night allows less time for the body to properly digest food, which is unhealthy and adds to the freshman 15. Try to plan a decent amount of time between each meal to avoid indigestion.
- Skip the DC
If you’re not required to get a meal plan and all else is failing, just don’t eat in the DC. Save money and your health — it’s simple, really.
Now that you have some tips to eating healthier, the freshman 15 might seem a little less daunting than before. Remember that everything’s good in moderation — except for fruits and veggies, so make sure to splurge on those all you like!
