It’s midnight and you still haven’t finished studying for that insane test you'll have to take today. The moonlight is bright, but you don’t even notice because you’re too distracted by that unavoidable, monstrous-sounding roar of your stomach that screams out, “Why are you still awake? FEED ME NOW!”
As I prepare to embark on the journey to college that will undoubtedly lead to the aforementioned situation (and as I coincidentally munch on a tostada), I can’t help but remember my first bite of being on my own and thus having to completely manage what I eat while being very VERY busy. Let me tell you that this first "taste" of independence was not 100% successful. It happened during my MITES experience, a 6-week program which you can learn about here.
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| Fast, Easy, Greasy. |
Imagine being given seventy dollars a week to spend on food and an unlimited buffet-style dinner practically every weeknight. This is a generous meal plan scenario that you would probably find yourself in if you’re going to college. When I heard that this was what I would be dealing with I thought, "Hey, I don't even need to think about it. I'm definitely not going to starve, and there's nothing difficult about eating!" I was very right.
Unfortunately, my naive self hadn't considered that avoiding horrible foods like this at late hours of the night isn’t as easy-peasy as it used to be.
During my six weeks, I admit I encountered pizza and chocolate-covered pretzels more than what was reasonable, and now that I’m about to be put in the same time-restricted, stressful situation again, I’ve been thinking that I need to remind myself to ear right from the mistakes I’ve made firsthand as well as the advice others have given me. Without further ado, the list of thoughts and advice I will memorize by the time I leave for college regarding food and being healthy:
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| This is my attempt to cook like my mother. Not too bad, ay? |
- The freshman fifteen is not a monster that will undoubtedly come and attack every freshman. It is merely a consequence of poor and/or rushed decisions.
- Take the TIME before leaving for college to learn how to make healthy meals. Learn not only from websites and cookbooks, but from whoever has been providing for your food! Gone are the days when I came home to lovely meals like this from my mother, but that doesn't mean I can’t replicate it!
- If you cook your own meals at college, make sure you MAKE time for preparing and planning meals. You’re busy, I know, but it’s worth it. Cooking can be healthier and cheaper than getting your food already made, but it does require more work!
- If you have an unlimited buffet-style meal plan like I did last summer, do not splurge on a daily basis. This seems obvious, but it only takes a few times for dining like a king or queen to become routine. Trust me.
- Exercise! (Chewing, doesn’t count, mind you.) Walk places, run, and play games like ultimate frisbee, sports, etc. instead of watching a movie or sitting in front of the computer on Tumblr to relax. Walk to the grocery store instead of walking to McDonald's.
- Cheerios will always be healthier than large amounts of Lucky Charms. (I used to have quite an obsession with my Leprechaun friend.)
I won’t promise you I’ll be able to follow my advice all of the time, but I’ll promise you that I’ll try!
Bon Appetit!
