Being a college student, it’s hard to have control over the balance of foods you put into your body. From tempting pizza runs with friends on the weekends to the never-ending platter of cookies in the dining hall, filling your plate with the necessary fruits and vegetables seems almost impossible. However, as my mom always says, every new today is a day to be brand new. So, what better time to eat more fruits and vegetables than right now?
Fruit:
What better way to start your day than by consuming delicious, ripe fruit? As much as I tried to make that statement sound more appealing than it probably did, starting your day with servings of fruit not only is good for your body, but for your mind as well. Berries, such as strawberries, blueberries, and raspberries, act as natural awakeners, which will help you think clearer during your most dreaded class. Blueberries make a great on-the-go snack. Simply fill a sandwich-sized Ziploc bag with a handful or two of blueberries to battle through your daunting night class. Throw in some almonds for some crunch and you’ll be good to go!
You can also incorporate fruit into your daily meals to get more of the nutrients and vitamins that you need. If you go for cereal in the morning, such as Honey Nut Cheerios or even Cinnamon Toast Crunch, cut up a banana and add it to your cereal fix. Believe it or not, my go-to cereal fix is Cinnamon Toast Crunch, a banana, and soymilk. Hate all you want on that combination, but I promise you it’s a good one! If you opt for granola, adding blueberries and a banana to your bowl is not only super yummy, but also really good for you. Add a scoop of peanut butter, a splash of almond milk, even a handful of chocolate chips (because who doesn’t love chocolate), and your stomach will be more than satisfied.
Places on campus, such as your dining halls, have stations that offer pre-cut fruit. Market has a section near the gluten-free area that offers freshly cut pineapple, cantaloupe, melon, and strawberries, for your fruit needs. Instead of going for ice cream after a meal, try to trade in the hard-to-resist flavors for a plateful of fruit. You’ll feel more satisfied with your choice and won’t have that icky-sickness feeling from overeating too many unhealthy fats and sugars. When it comes to grocery shopping, most supermarkets have pre-cut and washed containers of a variety of fruits. My newest guilty pleasure, Whole Foods, makes a container with diced chunks of pineapple, raspberries, strawberries, and blueberries, which makes for my dessert (when I’m able to splurge on it, of course).
Vegetables:
When people think of vegetables, this dreaded food group is often associated with bland and boring salads. However, I will be the bearer of great news: there are more vegetables in life than lettuce. Though salads can be made un-boring with things such as spiced almonds, wasabi peas, and lemon and olive oil salad dressing, there is an abundance of other options available. If you enjoy a heaping serving of hummus, crunchy veggies, such as celery and carrots, go hand-in-hand with any type of hummus. Cucumbers, broccoli, and sliced pepper make a super yummy and mouth-watering pairing with ranch and hot sauce.
Sandwiches are a great opportunity to load up on different types of veggies. From banana peppers to spinach, the options and combinations are endless. I often use the sandwich station in Market as a test kitchen to come up with super yummy and out-of-the-box combinations that ensure I am happy yet filled with all kinds of vegetables imaginable.
In addition to fruit, supermarkets often offer pre-cut and washed veggies that are ready to eat or cook with immediately. My favorite go-to is pre-washed and cut celery that’s ready to dip into my oversized tub of everything hummus. If that doesn’t make your mouth water, then you need to go try it out for yourself. Trust me—the combination is life changing.