EATING HEALTHY IN COLLEGE

It's time to face the facts -- the Freshman 15 (or 25 in my case) is a real thing. It hit me pretty hard, and losing it has been a challenge. It comes down to a couple of things that we've all heard time and time again... Exercise and healthy eating (cue eye rolling). Healthy eating in college is tough though. What about late-night pizza runs, or that time the dining hall had mac-n-cheese, or wait for it.... alcohol?! While I may not be able to curb your drinking habits, I want to share some healthy eating tips that help me feel confident and energized.

DRINK WATER - LOTS of water. I have a cute pink water bottle that goes everywhere with me. I try to think at least one whole water bottle full during each class. A lot of the time, we think we're hungry when we may just be slightly dehydrated. If you start to feel hungry, chug some water, wait a while, and see if you still have an urge to eat.

START OFF YOUR DAY WITH SOME BREAKFAST - Try to eat something within an hour after you wake up. I love having eggs and toast in the mornings, but you could just grab a banana or make some instant oatmeal if you aren't into the dining hall. With breakfast, try to have some type of fruit... leading me to my next point...

ADD FRUIT OR VEGETABLES TO EVERY MEAL and try to substitute veggies or fruit for your snacks throughout the day. An apple with peanut butter or even sliced cheddar cheese is a delicioous and filling snack (my fave!!).

IF YOU CAN'T PRONOUNCE THE INGREDIENTS ON SOMETHING, DON'T EAT IT - This stuff is all processed and holds little no nutritional value.

IF THERE ARE MORE THAN, SAY, TEN INGREDIENTS LISTED ON THE BACK, DON'T EAT IT  - I recently compared the ingredients on whole grain Tostitos chips to the ingredients on a bag of Doritos while proving to my boyfriends that the Tostitos were an okay choice (obvi, I was right).

INDULGE - Eat some ice cream! Go to Starbucks! Just don't make it a habit. This is my biggest downfall. I have a ridiculous sweet tooth.

HAVE MORE MEALS COMPOSED OF SMALLER SERVINGS - I try to think of my eating habits as more of several healthy snacks than three huge meals. It helps kick up your metabolism (kinda like each breakfast does!). Keep in mind that one serving of meat should be about the size of a deck of cards.

STOP DRINKING SODA - Now. Just do it. I'm guilty of occasionally using soda as a mixer, but otherwise it has been totally cut out of my diet. I don't think this really needs a lot of explanation...

So there's your 8-step eating plan! It works for me, but I definitely have my cheat days (Chik-fil-a, anyone??). We're all human, right? If you have a specific questions about meal ideas or food, I would love to answer them! Good luck and stay healthy!
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