Hi, everyone! My name is Brittany and I blog at GOtheXtraMile. I am 20 years old and go to college at the University of Florida.
A lot of people think that it is hard to eat clean while in college. I would have to agree and disagree. I’ll get to that in a second. But first, let me give you a little background to my journey to eating clean. When I first went away to college, I was the queen of food products that I thought was healthy. Things like Yoplait light, frozen lean cuisines, low fat products, etc. I still ate fruits and veggies, but I almost never cooked real food. My number one used appliance in the kitchen was the microwave. I was also a pescatarian so I relied on vegetarian frozen meals and a lot of beans. Long story short, I gained quite a few pounds my first semester of college. I still exercised about six days a week, but going out a lot and snacking on fake food products contributed to the weight gain. Mid-way through, I knew I needed to make a change. I ended up eating meat again and getting creative in the kitchen. I researched my heart out and starting eating real foods. That is when the weight simply fell off me. I also fell in love with eating clean, coming up with clean recipes, spending time in the kitchen, and so much more. After about a year and half to two years of changing my diet, I found Jamie Eason’s LiveFit program. I fell in love with weight lifting, and learned even more about eating clean! When you’re in college, it’s a bit harder to eat clean if you live in a dorm. I actually had a kitchen in my dorm, so it was a lot easier. Another thing is, you have to WANT to eat clean while in college. It is definitely possible, you just have to make it a priority.
- Don’t get a meal plan. It is so much easier to eat clean if you skip out on the meal plan and buy your own groceries. That way, you don’t have to worry about what is going into your food since you make it yourself.
- Buy real food. I go food shopping every week since my food is mostly fresh fruits, veggies, meats, etc. Plus, buying a bunch of stuff that comes from a box ends up more expensive in the long run.
- Plan ahead. This is KEY for me. Having food available and ready to eat keeps me on track. Pack lunch, snacks, and anything else you need. Especially if you are going to be on campus all day. That way, you won’t have to worry about buying something out.
- Get creative. Getting creative with your food and switching it up with keep you on track to prevent boredom! I’m a creature of habit, so I could eat the same things over and over. However, some people will quit something if they are bored of it.
- Shop (money) smart. I do not have endless money to spend on food. Being on a college budget requires a little more planning. Try to find coupons, sales, deals, etc.
- Buy in bulk. If you have a bulk food store like Costco or Trader Joes, you can get a bunch of thinks for cheaper. I buy a HUGE bag of frozen chicken breast from Costco for a heck of a lot cheaper and it lasts so much longer.
- Allow yourself a treat. I love eating healthy and eating clean. However, I love things like wine, chocolate, etc. as well. I’m only human. Depriving yourself of things you like will only end up badly. Enjoy your favorite things in moderation.
-Brittany
Thanks for letting me guest post! I’d love it if you all stopped by my blog or followed me on Twitter and Facebook.
Hi Brittney, you gave some general points that we (clean eaters) use in everyday life. It doesn't seem to me that this is specific to college. Can you advise or suggest what to do when you are living in a dorm, with no kitchen, you have a small itty bitty fridge that sits under your bed and there is not even a stove in your building? AND, you are a recent vegan and would like to maintain that at school. I think it is those tough circumstances that is where you advise/suggestion would be beneficial.
ReplyDeleteHi Bridgette!
DeleteI actually work at a university and may be able to give you some advice. Our meal plan is required for first year students living on campus. However our plan is point based, so students only pay for what they take, it isn't a whole meal wasted if they just want an apple.
I would investigate the way your meal plan works, and if it is point based, this gives you a lot of flexibility. I would make a "list" of what you would be willing to eat in the dinning hall. Do they have fruit? Bananas, oranges, apples that you can easily grab? If so, grab what you need for a couple of days and go back when you need. Also, when eating in the dining room, make sure to have a plate that has at least 5 shades of bold color. This will ensure you are eating lots of veggies. Make sure to eat lunch meats when you can, and skip any pre-prepped food (go to the salad bar, for instance). You can also make requests and get a campus petition going for healthier options if you are unhappy with what they serve.
Hi Bridgette!
DeleteYou're right, I did basically give tips that any clean eater uses on a daily basis. My advice specifically for dorms would be to do your usual "food prep" days on the weekend in the community kitchen. I know at my school, every dorm building has a community kitchen where anyone could go down and cook at anytime. That way, you can cook everything, place them in a bunch of Tupperware, and then store it all in your mini fridge in your dorm. Your building doesn't have an oven either? Also, you can keep your fresh fruits and veggies there as well. I know a ton of fruit and veggies that do not need to be refrigerated like tomatoes, avocados, apples, bananas, and a lot more. If you wanted a meal plan, just opt for all the fresh foods, utilize the salad bars, and basically all the fresh options instead of pizza and things like that.
Thank you for the tips The Lipstick and Stilettos Traveler!
DeleteNO my building doesn't have an oven or stove and I only have an itty bitty mini fridge that fits water and that's about it. I can't fit my weekly prep stuff in there, I can barely fit a 32 oz yogurt container. I didn't think about the fruits that can be stored out of the fridge so that will be helpful because I can buy apples and bananas to eat as my snack between classes and hopefully I can stock up on nuts ahead of time.
ReplyDeleteAlso, thank you @The Lipstick and Stilettos Traveler for your weigh in with regards to the point system. Unfortunately going to a SUNY school, whenever I walk into the dining hall I am charged no matter if I take an apple or an actual meal AND to top it off you can only take out 1 thing which is a piece of fruit or an ice cream! I shouldn't have to start a campus wide petition in order to eat healthy at school, it is sad that that is the world we live in. I want to be able to eat how I do at home at school but with everything against me in terms of requirements on fridges, hot plates (not allowed), no stove/oven, it's damn near impossible to eat healthy!
I completely agree! With all the health problems in this country, you would think that schools would be more likely to change their dining halls so that healthy choices were easier to find.
DeleteI'm actually going into my second year at my school, and I'm actually attempting to make some positive changes to my school's menus. I'm expecting to fill out many comment cards and emails, meet with the president and the dietary managers. I am not quite sure how I'm going to do it, but I have five years left at that school (because I'm in a six year doctorate of physical therapy program) and there's no way I'm eating french fries everyday until I graduate. (And I'm really going to miss my fresh fruits and vegetables when I go back to school.)
Great job on attempting to make positive changes at your school! Keep pushing forward with that - let us know what happens!
DeleteBridgette - This is what I would buy if I were you: Quest Protein Bars, Raw Nuts (almonds, walnuts, etc), Protein Powder, Apples, Tuna, Unsalted Rice Cakes, etc. With what little space you have in your fridge I would keep a carton of pasteurized egg whites & unsweetened almond milk (to make protein shakes). I hope this helps!
DeleteThis article doesn't really address how to eat healthy if you're living in a dorm. This is more like apartment style living tips. Many college students can't get to the grocery stores every week, and definitely don't have room to store any fresh fruits or veggies in their rooms.
ReplyDeleteI have a mini fridge in my dorm, but it is shared with my roommate. We're lucky if we can fit a few snacks and a to-go box from the cafeteria at the same time. The closest grocery store to my college is 3 miles away and, like many college students, I don't have a car. So I occasionally get one of my friends to drive me to walmart and I try to pick up a few healthy snacks that won't go bad without refrigeration.
The meal plan is not optional at my school. Everyone who lives on campus must have one. AND students who wish to live off campus must get special permission from their academic department. And that's IF they can find a place to live in our small town. So really, everyone on campus eats the cafeteria food.
So really, in my opinion, the most important thing to do in order to eat healthy in college is to voice your opinion and tell the college that you're not satisfied with the selection given. My college serves french fries EVERY DAY, but there's no spinach or avocado, or fresh berries. The selection of fruits and vegetables is extremely limited. But I'm not going to just sit there and eat what they give me. I pay $40,000 a year to go to a private school. They can afford to give us some better food.
I'm very impressed with your comment! I love it that you are standing up for what you believe in - the world needs more people like you! Like I mentioned above to Bridgette, this is what I would buy: Quest Protein Bars, Raw Nuts (almonds, walnuts, etc), Protein Powder, Apples, Tuna, Unsalted Rice Cakes, etc. Thanks again for taking the time to comment!
DeleteYeah I agree with everyone who has commented, this article doesn't have anything to do with eating healthy in a dining hall. Brittany's situation doesn't seem to be anything like your average undergrad's. FORTUNATELY there is lots of good advice going on here! I also recommend steaming your own veggies in the dining hall! Here's how (most dining halls have a microwave and toaster oven avail, as well as some seasonings like soy sauce.)
ReplyDeleteSteamed Asian Veggies:
- Put sugar snap peas, shredded carrots, water chestnuts, peppers, peas and whatever else you find yummy steamed in a salad bowl
- Add about 2 tbs of soy sauce, and a little hot sauce if it's available. You can also add peanut butter if you like a peanut sauce!
- Place a plate on top and put in the micro, with a little room for steam to release
- Micro for 2 to 3 mins, veggies will be soft and tasty!
Here's a link to a blog with some more DIY dining hall meals -- this is specific to Bard College, but having gone there, it's one of the most basic dining halls ever, and you should be able to find all this stuff in your college's.
http://klinecuisine.tumblr.com/
Its is rarely found that people behave in college in neat manner...
ReplyDeleteGreat post!! its recognize my college days with my friends. When I use to share my snack with my friends. I could forget that golden days of my life. Your article refresh it all. Thanks.
ReplyDelete