This may or may not be my second article about food in two weeks, but I honestly feel qualified to share my knowledge of food with you.

So with all the excitement that comes with the beginning of the school year, I have been eating a lot of garbage. As in, I probably eat McDonalds more than once a week.  However, I am here to tell you I DO NOT FEEL GUILTY ABOUT MY RECENT EATING HABITS and you should not feel guilty about yours. I am a firm believer in cheating on diets. There are certain, specific situations when I allow myself to eat like a teenage boy.

1. Sorority Recruitment/ Lock-In: While I should be focused on eating food that will help me fit in my denim shorts, the long days of cheering and girl flirting has me clinging to carbs the way a Little clings to her Big. I cannot deny the convenience of pizza delivery. Besides, if ordering pizza means I can go to bed sooner, it’s worth every calorie. 

2. All-Nighters in Hick’s Underground Library: Something about cramming for exams makes me cram French fries in my mouth. Maybe I should regret this, but I don’t. Fried potato sticks might not be brain food exactly, but food related study breaks are the reason I passed Botany. 

3. The Weekend: With all the social activity that comes with Friday night, sometimes you just cannot deny yourself a quesadilla at 3 a.m. I would be embarrassed to wake up and say I had a salad after a function. I don’t think I need to explain this any further. 

4. When I Am Home: My mom has a recipe box bigger than my sorority house and let me tell you, I never go hungry when I go home. My morals do not allow me to follow a healthy diet when food has been prepared simply from my mother being excited to have me home. Three words: BUFFALO. CHICKEN. DIP.   

The important thing about cheating, is that the rest of your nutritional routine has to be somewhat regular. Hate to break it to you, but these excuses are not valid if you are using them four out of five days a week. Workout, eat right (most of the time), and feel good. It is important that you are happy with yourself and the way you feel physically. If you can’t allow yourself to have a few moments alone with your favorite junk food, then you will never make it through college.