You can eat healthy today!

If you’re like me, health is last on the list of priorities. You have so many things to worry about like tests, money, food poisoning or organizational projects. Although this way of thinking is common, it has to change. Food is your fuel. The foods you choose to eat can help you live a healthier life. So I decided to have a talk with one of the dietitians at the Rec Center. 

Joncece Writt gave me some great tips on eating healthy on campus. Just to give you some background info, she is a Nutrition Specialist with substantial knowledge and dietetic experience. She is also a member of the American Dietetic Association (ADA), which is the world’s largest organization of food and nutrition professionals.  She suggested the following:

Plan

·      Try planning your meals and snacks for the week. It will give you an idea of how much you’re eating during that week.

·      If you live off campus, make sure to check for sales and coupons in the local papers or online. Also check for quick, easy and healthy recipes. It’s amazing the different things you can find just from 5 minutes of surfing the web.

·      When you make meals, make sure you vary the colors of the foods on your plate. Different colors have different vitamins and minerals.

Purchasing

·      It helps tremendously if you buy groceries when you’re not hungry. When you’re hungry, you tend to over buy and over spend. 

·      Stick to your grocery list people! And make sure you stay away from aisles that don’t contain items on your list. Again, this will help you stay in your budget.

·      Buy store brands if they are cheaper. Most of the time the product quality is the same. It helps if you compare unit prices listed on the shelves to get the best price. Also, keep in mind that pre-cut fruits and veggies, individual cups of yogurt, instant rice and hot cereals usually cost more than those that require a little bit more prep time.

·      Most of the time, it is cheaper if you buy things in bulk. Try to go to the store with some friends that need the some products so you’re not obligated to eat the whole amount. 

·      If you can, try to buy fresh fruits and vegetables in season. Most of the time these options are healthier. If you have to buy canned goods, make sure to buy the ones with less salt (Sodium).

Preparing:

·      Some meal items can be prepared in advance like chicken or beef. Try to pre-cook on days when you have time. On these days try to double or triple up the serving sizes so you’ll have more of that meal. It’ll last longer.

·      To give your system a break once and a while, try eating a few meatless meals by substituting them with beans, peanuts or peas. Also try salads.

The biggest thing I took from her advice was to be creative with your meals. Eating is fun and you should have fun with it. Try using different food in different ways and see what you come up with!

- The News Reel form yo boy D.Hill