Have you heard of the infamous Freshman 15 (or 20, or 30)?
Its named after a phenomenon where new college students reportedly gain on average 15 pounds by their second year.
While there are numerous explanations for this weight gain, chief among them is poor dietary choices.
Dont worry, well help you ace that.
Are You Doomed to Gain 15 Pounds?
Not automatically, at least.
Multiple studies have attempted to assess if the Freshman 15 is actually a thing, but thats just semantics.
Thats not even a whole year!
It all depends on your response to the influx of new dietary and lifestyle choices.
After a period of time, its the total energy balance that chiefly determines the changes in your body.
Conversely, eat less than you burn and youll lose weight over time.
The caveat: The math here isnt rigid.
(And thank goodness for that because I suck at math.)
make a run at avoid going to the dining hall only for a light snack.
Unless theyre prepared heavily in fat sources, vegetables typically have lower calories.
Sometimes you may have to MacGyver your food.
It doesnt have to be perfect.
beans, rice and potatoes).
Make special requests:Take more control of your situation by asking food service workers for modifications.
Drink a ton of water:Chug waterwith your meal, as it contributes to feeling of fullness.
Many times you may confuse hunger signals with mild dehydration.
Liquid calories are just too easily overconsumed, not to mention unsatisfying.
Eat when slightly hungry and until fullness:Common sense, right?
Dont worry if you cant do these things from the get-go.
These self-control tactics are actually fairly advanced skills that can take some time to develop.
This balance will be especially beneficial for when you eat with pals that might have less healthy eating habits.
Basically, dont eat like a jerk.
Hence, your dietary choices outside of those dining walls are just as critical to your daily healthy-eating strategy.
Lets say, youre not really a breakfast eater and youve got morning classes back-to-back anyway.
Educate yourself:Take a class on basic nutrition principles.
Seriously, its not like being forced to learn obscure mathematical equations that apply only to specific contexts.
Nutrition and health upkeep apply to every aspect of your life.
Dont expect gourmet stuff to come out of dorm-cooking, though, sincemost dorms arent equippedwith the proper equipment.
That doesnt mean you cantmake some tasty, healthy food.
Inevitably, you will groan at the thought of eating any more dining hall food.
I know, I knowthe horrorof first-world food problems.
In addition to those, its a good idea to have some non-perishable items at the ready.
If space and budget allow, there are some kitchen tools that can facilitate food preparation in your dorm.
Can opener:Yup, it opens cans.
eggs, egg whites, milk, etc.).
Microwave:The things you cancook in the microwavespan a surprisingly long list.
Thinkmug cakes, oats,rice,eggs, andeven salmon(just ask your roommate first).
Rice cooker:Did you know that you might cook more than just rice in a rice cooker?
you’ve got the option to find some interesting non-rice recipeshereandhere.
Magic Bullet blender:Oh, Magic Bullet, how I love thee.
Here are somerecipes for smoothiesandprotein smoothies.
Just think of the juicy steaks!
As a student, youll face a myriad of both exciting and gross stressors throughout your entire college career.
Hopefully with this eating more healthfully wont be one of them.
Image byUniversity of the Fraser Valley.
