We are pleased to announce that on March 4, 2025, an updated Rich Text Editor will be introduced in the MyFitnessPal Community. To learn more about the upcoming changes, please click here. We look forward to sharing this new feature with you!

College eating and exercising...

marie72093
marie72093 Posts: 5
edited January 5 in Health and Weight Loss
Any ideas and or suggestions to eating better on campus? how about exercising?
On my college campus they have a lot of pop and a lot of fatty greesy foods. meanwhile all the healthy alternatives are more expensive and theres less food.
I'm broke and I can't really afford much healthy food.

Replies

  • ShaniWulffe
    ShaniWulffe Posts: 458 Member
    First off, welcome to the MFP forums :) I hope you have a great time.

    Secondly, to answer your question, look around to see if your school has an "all you can eat" type of dining. My campus has several and (bonus!) they have the calorie amounts on the signs :D Also try walking everywhere and doing more active things while hanging out with friends or whatever. I walked a good mile and a half each way the other day to go swing dancing with my friends... It's fun, it's unusual, and it's a great workout :) So just keep your eyes open for some good opportunities, and be very conscious of what goes in and what comes out. Best of luck!

    ETA: Also, most colleges offer physical fitness classes for around 1 credit hour (so it's pretty cheap!). You can always look into those
  • buffcleb
    buffcleb Posts: 150 Member
    campus food is always unhealthy... if your the type that likes to get involved get on the student council and they to get the option expanded... otherwise just choose wisely... even the unhealthy places usually have something that's not to bad for you...

    as for exercising I work on a college campus and having a gym right there is one of the things that keeps me on track... if I had to drive somewhere to workout I never would...

    good luck
  • ShaniWulffe
    ShaniWulffe Posts: 458 Member
    campus food is always unhealthy

    That's not true. It may be a little more difficult to find healthy options, but it is nowhere near impossible
  • workingthisout
    workingthisout Posts: 35 Member
    Unfortunately, the theme of healthy food being more expensive & you get less of it is reality for off campus too. But you just have to decide that all of the health benefits that come with the healthy food are worth so much more than settling for the cheap, greasy foods. Are there multiple choices for places to eat? I know at my school there is a big "main hall" with a buffet style menu, which offers a lot of really tempting comfort foods but does still have healthy options. Try to go for things like grilled meat, and load up on the veggies. Stick to drinking just water, tea, and coffee. For breakfast, have something like oatmeal, yogurt, grapefruit, something that you could make & keep in your dorm so you won't be tempted by all the eggs and waffles and bacon that the school probably offers. You should buy like 100 calorie packs for snacks to bring to class in between meals/late classes. And figure out a time to work out that you'll actually keep. Hope this helps!
  • marie72093
    marie72093 Posts: 5
    First off, welcome to the MFP forums :) I hope you have a great time.

    Secondly, to answer your question, look around to see if your school has an "all you can eat" type of dining.

    Thanks! I hope this site will help me and have some fun!

    My campus does in fact have an all you can eat buffet, I have recently started to substitute a meal with a salad when I go there. I also started to eat at least one veggie if I eat pasta or pizza. I usually limit myself on the pizza.
    Sadly, my campus doesn't give us calorie amounts on signs.

    I've actually recently started considering a fitness class to take. Hopefully I can find one!
  • marie72093
    marie72093 Posts: 5
    The past couple weeks I have been replacing the amount of pop I've been drinking with juice and water. The first time in a couple weeks I drank coffee with out creamer and sugar, but I did use splenda.
    I've been telling myself to go the gym on campus. I just can't ever find the motivation to go because I feel like I have no clue what to do. Although, I have started to walk every where instead.
    Also, I have got trail mix and 100 calorie snack instead of eating chips, ramen, cookies, etc. hopefully that will help.
  • estrobabe
    estrobabe Posts: 337 Member
    I live off campus, but I always pack my lunch and snacks. I only buy healthy foods/snacks. If you live on campus, try buying the best food they have. If not, you may have to find a grocery store or order groceries!

    For exercise, most college campuses have a rec center/gym. Utilize it! Especially since I am sure it comes with your tuition. If not, during your breaks, walk around campus. I do that sometimes. One or two good times around half my campus is a good workout!

    And if there isn't much healthy options on campus, try not to over do it and eat so much. Stick to your calories.

    :)
This discussion has been closed.

Categories