The freshman 15 isn't always freshman year and it isn't always 15 pounds; but it is not unusual for students to gain between five to 20 pounds the first year or two of college. So, let's take a look at some ways to deal with this less-than-favorable aspect of higher education.
Careful with Carbs
Chips, cereal, pasta, and bread can all be part of your diet, but you eat too much of these types of foods, too often, they will catch up with you with a vengeance. Simple carbohydrates should be eaten in moderation; they bring plenty of extra calories and little or no nutritional benefit. Keep an eye on your intake of bad carbs such as white bread, waffles, or white rice.Choose good carbs like brown rice and whole wheat bread whenever possible. Whole grains may take some getting used to, but in time, you may actually find you prefer them since they're heartier and more flavorful than their "regular" counterparts. They are a good source of fiber, as well.
Try to eat some protein with carbs; you'll stay fuller longer, which will help prevent over-eating.
WWMD?
When you sit down to your meal ask yourself, "What would Mom do?" No, you definitely don't want to say it out loud ... but it's a good way to put the voice of reason in your head. (Would she have ever prepared you a meal comprised of crackers and pepperoni eaten straight from the package? Let's hope not.)As goofy as it sounds, I still do this sometimes. My mom's voice looms, "What's missing from that plate, young lady? I don't see anything green!" If in doubt, I go with Mom's omnipresent-advice. (After all, she's always right.)
So Many Choices, So Little Time
That pre-paid cafeteria card sure comes in handy ... cheeseburgers, chili, chicken fingers, oh my. With the wealth of comfort foods available, you'll need a strong resolve to make healthier choices.One way to cope is to "go veggie" a few days a week and choose healthier vegetarian options like an egg white omelet, a hearty salad, or mixed veggies with tofu.
Sayonara, Soda
A can of soda here, a bottomless movie theater silo there ... nothing adds extra empty calories to your diet like those tall cups of sugar. Keep a running tab of your daily soda fixes. You will probably be surprised at just how much you drink and, as a result, inspired to cut down where you can.Diet sodas, herbal tea and coffee (without added sugar), and no-cal flavored waters are good alternatives to regular soda, but try to drink good, old-fashioned water as often as possible.
