So, you’re juggling full time school, a full time job, homework, tons of extracurricular activities and you think that there is just no way. No way you can eat healthy and on a budget. Well, think again.
I am living proof that being a healthier college student is possible. With full time school, homework, a full time job, a sorority that requires community service, and the literature magazine on campus, I am always running around and eating on the run. If I can manage to do it all with a super busy schedule, so can you; after all, the biggest issue is time management.
The cost, Literally!
Eating at home is always cheaper and healthier than eating out; no ifs ands or buts, it just is. Eating out three meals a week for about a total of twenty dollars can buy almost a week’s worth of groceries, that’s breakfast, lunch and dinner along with some snacks for in between. Plus, this way you know exactly what you are putting in you body.
Here are some examples:
A hamburger meal with around $5.00 A turkey sandwich with an around $1.50
fries and a soft drink apple, chocolate pudding
A crispy chicken salad with around $7.00 A tuna salad a granola bar around $2.00
ranch and a yogurt parfait and low fat yogurt
A bag of chips and soda around $2.50 A bag of homemade around $1.00
trail mix and fruit juice
The Time
Eating healthy and at home doesn’t have to be excruciating or complicated, all it takes is grocery shopping once a week and about 5 minutes a day. Just think how much “drive through” and wait time you will save in the long run. The key is to always have “good” food around, so that you never go hungry. Here is a list of items that I usually buy and just throw together in the mornings before I leave the house. Most of these items are also easy to keep if you live in a dorm room; and there are alternatives to cooking, like prepared grilled chicken and meats if you don’t have a kitchen available to you.
A loaf of bread or a bag of tortilla bread
A couple bags of prepared salad
Lunchmeat
Tuna
Seasoned frozen meat (chicken is the easiest)
Cheese (low-fat, or non-fat)
Cut veggies (frozen bags are easier to make and keep)
Canned Veggies (not as good for you)
Peanut butter and jelly
Eggs
Plain or flavored yogurt
Small pack of granola bars
Apples
Peaches
Grapes
Carrot Sticks
Fruit cups
Cheese sticks
Dried fruits and nuts (you can also add chocolate chips or M&Ms)
Ok, now that you’ve got all your groceries, you’re on the right track. A good turkey sandwich only takes about two minutes to make, and if you’re really ambitious about making it a healthy lunch, you can throw on some of your prepackages salad. A handful of carrot sticks and ranch makes a great side dish, and low fat pudding can be desert. For your mid morning or afternoon snack you can grab a cheese stick, a yogurt cup or separate some of your dried fruits and nuts into a small zip lock bag. Of course, you can always mix it up and pick and choose depending on your own preferences. If you think about it, this morning process takes less time than sitting through the busy McDonalds drive through during lunch, and it’s a lot better for you.
Dinner is just as easy. I usually prepare some sort of meat, soup or chili on the weekends and make enough for the whole week. For dinner I like to just kick back and relax if I can, so a hot bowl of soup or turkey chili and salad, or chicken and veggies usually does the trick. It’s simple and only takes a couple of minutes to heat up.
Healthy Snacks
Fresh fruits, veggies, and dried nuts make for great snacks and if prepared ahead of time, are just as easy and fast as the bag of chips in the vending machine. I usually keep lots of dried fruits and nuts around and even in my bags just for those times when I have to skip a meal or just get hungry. Fresh fruits like apples, peaches and bananas are also easy to just throw in your bag in the morning and peanut butter or yogurt can be eaten with just about any fruit you like. Dark chocolate is also a good comfort snack, but moderation is key.
Now that you have all the tools, eating healthy shouldn’t seem as scary and time consuming as before, so no more excuses! You can be a busy college student with a hundred things to do, but also treat your body well, because you deserve it.
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