Written by Shama Hussain, Relate Contributing Writer
While living on campus is fun, living off of dining hall food is not (most of the time, at least.) Having greasy pizza and fried chicken every night leads to the dreaded “Freshmen 15.” However, you don’t have to resort to an unhealthy eating style if you live in a dorm. Here are some helpful tips to avoiding those extra pounds:
Buy healthy snacks.
If you leave boxes of Twinkies and Oreos in your dorm, that’s what you’ll be munching on during those all-nighters. Instead of stacking up on sugary sweets, keep healthy snacks around. Opt for cheese and crackers instead of Ring-Dings. Buy Wheat Thins instead of brownies. Whole grains or fruit like apples, bananas or pears are always non-perishable pluses, too. All these snacks are normally available in your campus market. This way, when you’re feeling hungry for a snack, you’re limited to the healthier options in your room (and you don’t need a car to get to them!)
Choose meals wisely.
Don’t go for the pizza every time you’re at the dining hall. Go for a turkey sandwich, pasta or veggies instead. Most dining halls offer several choices. Opt for the healthier ones and don’t pile on hile-calorie condiments all the time.
Work out!
Go to your college gym! This is included in your tuition, so make use of it. Working out will keep you in good shape, keep you active and help you fight off the college calories. Not to mention….it will boost your immunity during times of stress and when that winter bug is going around.
Take a walk.
If you’re living at school, take a walk around campus. Instead of riding the bus to your next class, leave early and walk. Moving around on your feet is an easy calorie burner.
Watch high-calorie/sugar drinks and alcohol.
If you’re drinking every time you go out, you’ll put on weight faster than you can imagine. Watch how often you consume alcohol if you’re of age, and remember that full sugar sodas, lemonades, fruit drinks and energy drinks take a serious toll on your calorie count, too. Opt for flavored water or Crystal Light if you want some more flavor.
