A Reality Check On Your College Diet | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Health and Wellness

A Reality Check On Your College Diet

It seems that the odds are against you and Pinterest isn't all it's cracked up to be.

19
A Reality Check On Your College Diet
The Kind Tips

Class is starting, yet again. Did I mention that this is your third class today and you’ve only managed to shove a granola bar into your mouth at about 10 a.m.? Your focus is minimal, as you hunch over the table while grasping your rumbling stomach.

Classes are hard, especially when you are running back to back with about ten minutes to spare in-between. Although your Pinterest account is harbored with delicious recipes: Detox smoothies, elaborated “cheap” eats and fabulous dinners. Here you are purchasing quick sandwiches and cream cheese stuffed bagels.

You aspire to be fit. Yet almost every cafeteria meal consists of Taco Tuesdays and pasta. Sure, you could go to the never changing salad bar and eat healthy this way. You know that’s not ideal. The salads aren’t switching like a restaurant special, they generally consist of the exact same vegetables as they did yesterday.

The gym is filled with athletes who don’t train alone. You make a plan to workout in your bedroom. Hours later, you haven’t put a dent in your homework and it’s nearly midnight. Also, you’ve forgotten to eat again and the dining halls are now closed, the coffee shop only offers sandwiches until 7 pm and you don’t have the time to make any of the elaborate “cheap” eats.

The result of this? Delivery. You could order the diet dishes presented on the Chinese food menu but is soy sauce that healthy? You might be able to find a pizza delivery with thin crust or in some cases, gluten free. Here's something to keep in mind, gluten free has almost as much starch as traditional pizza crust. Is there really a difference?

You scroll through your Pinterest and begin to notice each meal isn’t necessarily cheap, not for someone living week to week. They might be cheap when “splitting” these ingredients into servings but to purchase numerous meals is an easy $150 at Target. At least you save five percent on your Redcard though, right?

How can one be healthy in college? They say student health comes first and yet you are stuck rushing to class and sacrificing your health by not sticking to your eating goals. Each Youtube Health Guru seems to have the answers until you realize that you don’t fit into the same category. You don’t have the money, or the time to eat and your school doesn’t always provide the best eating alternatives.

I myself, struggle immensely with this. Last year I lost 100 lbs. I'm almost ashamed to admit, that I've gained most of it back within this past year. I became obsessed with recipes and Youtube videos and became SO frustrated with this idea of doing it their way because my way was no longer working. I was in classes back to back from 8 am to 3:30 pm, with one 40 minute break to spare. I couldn't follow what I was doing, I didn't have time to be mindful of lactose intolerance or gluten intolerance. I simply had to succumb, I had to order pizza and Chinese. I had to eat bagels.

The truth is, I've never felt worse. I love the idea of treating oneself, of having a cheat day to just eat whatever you may be craving but not because you are hungry, because you deserve to take it easy and to congratulate all of your healthy eating.

Tips for sticking to your eating goals during college: find something that fits for you. Stop idealizing all that Pinterest has to offer and spend days in frustration. Preparation days sound fun but do not pick Sunday. Sunday is the epitome of homework, it is the one day you sit and work nonstop because you decided to relax during the weekend. Plan for you. Don’t give up on what you want, because you deserve to succeed and still stick to your own goals.

My way of getting myself back on track? Weighing myself, writing in my Blogilates fitness planner. Even a simple notebook, I write what I've eaten, what I've done (exercise, no exercise) and how it made me feel. Nothing contributes to your health more than you. No one knows how your body feels more than you, listen to it. Don't go through the same struggles I have this previous year. Simply plan ahead, to your own schedule and not to Pinterest. Listen to your body, what do you want? Do you feel good?

Love yourself. In all ways possible.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
campus
CampusExplorer

New year, new semester, not the same old thing. This semester will be a semester to redeem all the mistakes made in the previous five months.

1. I will wake up (sorta) on time for class.

Let's face it, last semester you woke up with enough time to brush your teeth and get to class and even then you were about 10 minutes late and rollin' in with some pretty unfortunate bed head. This semester we will set our alarms, wake up with time to get ready, and get to class on time!

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

The 5 Painfully True Stages Of Camping Out At The Library

For those long nights that turn into mornings when the struggle is real.

925
woman reading a book while sitting on black leather 3-seat couch
Photo by Seven Shooter on Unsplash

And so it begins.

1. Walk in motivated and ready to rock

Camping out at the library is not for the faint of heart. You need to go in as a warrior. You usually have brought supplies (laptop, chargers, and textbooks) and sustenance (water, snacks, and blanket/sweatpants) since the battle will be for an undetermined length of time. Perhaps it is one assignment or perhaps it's four. You are motivated and prepared; you don’t doubt the assignment(s) will take time, but you know it couldn’t be that long.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

The 14 Stages Of The Last Week Of Class

You need sleep, but also have 13 things due in the span of 4 days.

687
black marker on notebook

December... it's full of finals, due dates, Mariah Carey, and the holidays. It's the worst time of the year, but the best because after finals, you get to not think about classes for a month and catch up on all the sleep you lost throughout the semester. But what's worse than finals week is the last week of classes, when all the due dates you've put off can no longer be put off anymore.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

Top 20 Thoughts College Students Have During Finals

The ultimate list and gif guide to a college student's brain during finals.

67
winter

Thanksgiving break is over and Christmas is just around the corner and that means, for most college students, one hellish thing — finals week. It's the one time of year in which the library becomes over populated and mental breakdowns are most frequent. There is no way to avoid it or a cure for the pain that it brings. All we can do is hunker down with our books, order some Dominos, and pray that it will all be over soon. Luckily, we are not alone in this suffering. To prove it, here are just a few of the many deranged thoughts that go through a college student's mind during finals week.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

28 Daily Thoughts of College Students

"I want to thank Google, Wikipedia, and whoever else invented copy and paste. Thank you."

1382
group of people sitting on bench near trees duting daytime

I know every college student has daily thoughts throughout their day. Whether you're walking on campus or attending class, we always have thoughts running a mile a minute through our heads. We may be wondering why we even showed up to class because we'd rather be sleeping, or when the professor announces that we have a test and you have an immediate panic attack.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments