Just because you’re in college doesn’t mean you have to gain weight, and using common sense and the nutrition skills you already know can help you maintain a healthy body weight.
For instance, make sure you eat plenty of fruits and vegetables. The dining hall is usually the easiest place to get food in college, but it’s usually packed full of unhealthy temptations like hot dogs, pepperoni pizza, and cookies. Although these things are tasty and acceptable in moderation, they should not make up the majority of your diet in college.
An easy way to ensure you’re eating healthily is to make sure your plate is full of color – not all beiges and browns. This shows you’re getting a good variety of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.
Another tip: Avoid soda when you can. Soda is probably the worst beverage choice you could make as a college student. Even beer might be healthier than soda (because it contains bone-strengthening silicon, though this does not mean beer is a healthy choice), and there are plenty of other, healthier caffeinated beverages for when you need a pick-me-up, such as coffee and tea. Even diet soda has been proven to cause weight gain (because, among other reasons, the artificial sweeteners stimulate appetite).
Finally, ditch the tray. If you carry a giant tray around the buffet with you, you’re very likely to feel the subconscious need to load it up with food. Instead, confine your meal to a single plate, and carry your beverage in the other hand.
Yeah, and once you get them, believe me, it’s hard to get rid of them!