How to Eat Healthy in College?

College days are considered the best days in one’s life; thanks to the change in lifestyle. But this lifestyle also causes a sudden gain in weight as per a number of surveys taken throughout the world. And one of the best ways to lose weight is by eating healthy during the college days. So, in this article, let us talk about how to eat healthy in college for staying fit and in shape.

College days aren’t cheap, and hence you need to plan your budget in advance for managing the costs, especially when you are staying away from your home. So, you don’t have the luxury of simply choosing to visit a restaurant to order something healthy and good. So, let us check the ways to eat healthy in college while staying your budget limits.

7 Ways to Eat Healthy College –

Set Cooking Tools and Stock Right Foods

The dorm rooms normally don’t have kitchen setups, but you can surely set one for you. Get the basic necessities you may need for a quick, healthy meal from time to time. A mini-fridge, microwave, blender, and rice cookers will be enough for the basic healthy meals for your college days.

When you are done setting up your kitchen, store some quick options to have in hand when hungry. For example, you can go with tuna, beans, chicken, etc. for easy protein supplements to your meal.

Having protein keeps you healthy and full for more time which helps in avoiding the extra fat. You can also stock some of your favorite fresh fruits and vegetables like berries, carrots, bell peppers, spinach, etc. as well as oatmeal for healthy recipes and delicious smoothies.

Make a List in Advance

The most important thing to do for eating healthy while on a budget is to plan in advance. So, use the convenience of the internet to sort out a few healthy recipes for the week and list down all the materials you will need for it.

It is better to jot down the list either or paper or smartphone to get from the weekly supermarket. Also, add the items that you run out during the week. This helps in buying only the items needed and picking up random items from the counter.

So, it saves spending extra money while staying healthy for the meal.

Never Shop Hungry

As a college student, you should always work smart, and so should shop smart. The first rule to eat healthily is by avoiding to shop with an empty stomach.

When a person is hungry, he is more tempted towards high-calorie and sugary food items. So, have a healthy, high protein-stomach filling meal before you step out to go shopping.

Go for frozen food if you are not planning to prepare the meal right away. The frozen fruits and vegetables retain all the healthy nutrients, and so is the best choice to pick for later meals. You should buy the staples like oatmeal, olive oil, brown rice, nuts, seeds, etc. in bulk as you can use them for your meals every day.

Go Seasonal

The best way to eat healthy during college days is to go for seasonal vegetables and fruits as they are fresh and cheap during the season. These foods are also best in nutrients value during the season, especially the local ones.

So, choose these seasonal fruits to get a local cuisine and recipe taste along with high health factor.

Schedule the Meals Properly

College days are extremely busy with project submission, extra classes, college events, etc. This routine without any fixed schedule can dampen your appetite and force you to eat unhealthy in between two heavy meals.

Moreover, the hectic schedule can also tempt you to miss the meal and grab something easy to have instead. This can mess with your eating habits. Therefore, it is important that you schedule the meals properly and plan them in advance.

The best way to do it is to have a healthy, heavy breakfast right before starting the day. This high protein breakfast will keep you full for most of the day, and avoid eating them in-between unhealthy takeaways.

If you are short on time in the morning, then you can prepare the breakfast right at night with some oatmeal and smoothie and keep it ready for the next day morning.

Once you are on time with breakfast, have something healthy when you start feeling hungry and don’t wait till you feel famished. You can also keep a fistful of nuts for in between snack time.

Explore Healthy Substitutes

The best way to eat healthy while in the college campus is to find healthy substitutions for your favorite meal. For example, go for sprouted grain bread, cauliflower rice, coconut milk ice cream, pizza with lots of veggies instead of cheese, brown rice or chickpea pasta, etc.

There are a number of healthy options available as alternatives to your favorite meals. You just need to explore the internet to the best of its use.

Also avoiding sugary meals will help you. While eating in the dormitory canteen, make sure to avoid the high-calorie items and jump to the salad counters instead.

There are a number of combinations and delicious meal options when you start searching for the best ones and start eating healthy.

Focus on Balance

The final thing you need to keep in mind to eat healthy in college is to focus on the balance for staying healthy as well as happy. If you keep on dieting and avoiding your favorite meals at all times, you may end up bursting at some time or other.

You don’t need to be that strict with yourself. Choose a cheat day for yourself and treat your taste buds. Keep these cheat days for the birthday parties or other outdoor events. But make sure to keep it to a minimum.

Eating healthy does not mean to starve yourself; it simply means to eat healthily and avoid other unhealthy stuff. However, you can surely treat yourself with the favourite dessert of yours once in a blue moon even while eating healthy in college.