Let’s face it, when going away to college there are tempting foods that make you stray from a balanced healthy diet. Late night pizza, take-out, and sweets available at your disposal are the reasons why many college students gain weight at college. Along with weight gain, most people tend to break out, feel tired and worn-down, as well as lacking the concentration needed to finish that term paper. While it may be hard, there is a solution to keep the weight away, clean eating!
In order to eat clean, you’re going to need to follow some simple guidelines:
1. Eat lots of veggies and some fruit.
Vegetables and fruits have a vast amount of nutritional value in them, as well as being fairly low in calories! So when looking around the student center cafeteria, also head to the salad bar to get those greens and pick up a banana or apple as a mid-afternoon snack.
2. Eat high-quality protein sources.
No matter if you are a vegetarian, vegan, or you eat meat, high quality protein is a must in a clean eating routine. Go for a freshly grilled chicken breast, salmon, or veggie burger from Hofstra’s many eating establishments and stay away from the meat that has been sitting in the hot food bar as it is cooked with overly processed sauces and excess amounts of sodium.
3. Eat healthy fats.
I know what you’re all thinking, “Won’t eating fats make me fat?” Well I’m here to tell you that it will actually keep you from getting fat! Healthy fats, which are found in greek yogurt, nuts, and avocado, actually improve brain function, strengthen your immune system and improve your mood. Now you can eat the good fats without getting fat!
4. Drink 8 glasses of water daily.
The average adult human’s body is 50-65% water. By drinking 8 glasses of water a day, you can avoid dehydration, flush out toxins, and curb cravings of a bored stomach! Sip water throughout the day and if you feel hungry but aren’t sure if you’re just bored, sip a glass of water and wait 5 minutes. Most of the time the craving will be gone and you can keep the junk food away!
Following these clean eating guidelines and avoiding overly processed foods and drinks, you’ll be on your way to feeling great and keeping the college weight gain at bay!