Avoiding the Freshman 15

Now I'm sure you've heard all the warnings - "Watch out, freshman year is a stressful time. You will gain weight. Beware the freshman 15!" I'm here to tell you that the rumors need not be true. I'm a testament to that - during my freshman year, I actually lost almost thirty pounds. Granted, I started out a bit overweight, so weight loss might not necessarily be what you're looking for. The key is to focus on staying at a healthy weight, and I've composed a couple of tips to help you do just that.



Make healthy choices: For resident students, most of your eating will be done in dining halls. Most offer a variety of different foods to choose from, ranging from the more healthy options to less healthy comfort foods. As we all know, there's nothing wrong with indulging yourself every once in a while, but a semester spent eating only grilled cheese sandwiches is not one of healthy choices. Good options include the salad bar and the sandwich bar, two places where you can ensure that you're eating healthy. Also, the lunch and dinner options offered there always have food prepared in various ways - why not opt for grilled chicken one day instead of a burger? You can also find numerous wraps and salads, as well as yogurt and other healthier snacks. In other words, there's nothing wrong with stopping off at the vending machine for a bag of chips between classes, just don't go overboard.



Balanced meals: One of the hardest things for resident students to learn is how to eat healthy when Mom and Dad aren't around to cook us balanced meals. So opt to have that salad with your sandwich, or grab a cup of vegetable soup to go with your dinner. You always want to make sure to have a protein, a fruit or vegetable and a carbohydrate (at least) at each meal. As corny as it sounds, think back to that food pyramid you learned in second grade and try to follow the serving amounts as well as you can.



So grab some carrot sticks and a cookie (because we all deserve one from time to time) and prepare to wow your family and friends back home during winter break when you've outsmarted the freshman 15!



Robert Garilli
St. Thomas Aquinas College
Class of 2012


September 2009


 
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