Dorm Diet: Dos and Dont's
With the possible bombardment of new routines, late nights and early classes- your best defense is to stick to these healthy eating habits
By Joanne Malar |
| Don’t skip meals
Make sure you are getting three meals a day with healthy snacks in between. This is the best way to ensure that your energy stays high and helps maintain a steady metabolism.
Tip: Your Mom wasn’t kidding about the importance of breakfast– make sure you eat in the morning.
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Drink up
Water is an excellent energy source to tap into. Forget the pop, and pass on the sugary drinks (including some fruit juices) and coffee. Both sugar and caffeine are false stimulants that can perpetuate a dependency cycle which can exhausts and irritate your system while excreting valuable vitamins and minerals from your body.
Falling asleep in class? Water will hydrate, refresh your body and help you stay alert. Tip: Invest in a good quality refillable water bottle rather than buying a new bottle everyday from the caf. Wide-Mouth Water Bottle, $7.25 – 8.50, 500ml, Nalgene . (Available at www.mec.ca)
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Easy on the sauce
Sauces often included with pasta or as a finish to poultry and beef can be very high in fat. Go easy on or limit buttery and creamy sauces like Alfredo and gravy.
Tip: Ask the cafeteria staff how a dish is prepared and what oil, if any in meal prep. Olive oil or canola oils are the healthiest oils.
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Steer clear of the high fat frenzy.
Choose baked or stir fried meals over deep fried or breaded dishes. When you can see the grease on your food and you require multiple napkins, it may not be the healthiest choice.
Tip: Instead of French fries choose rice (basmati or brown).
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Push away pretty packaging
Pre-packaged and processed foods are a cafeteria staple. Go for fresh fruit instead. The vitamins and minerals found in fruits and veggies are the most easily utilized and absorbed sources.
Tip: Find an organic market close to campus and keep some basics on hand.
Carry your groceries in a chic eco-friendly tote! Envirosax, $8 and Palomino, $21.50 totes, Eco-handbags.ca.
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Go fish!
Not all fat is bad for you. In fact, essential fatty acids (EFA’s), which are commonly called ‘good fats’ are also known as ‘brain food’. EFA’s are not created naturally by your body and should be provided from the food we consume. Choosing foods that contain EFA’s help improve your heart health and keep your skin, hair and nails healthy.
Tip: Add some EFA’s to your diet with olive oil, avocados, fish (salmon, mackerel, herring) and nuts (walnuts, brazil nuts).
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For more about nutrition, visit Joanne's website |