College Freshman who needs some variety!

hilldill22
hilldill22 Posts: 19
edited September 22 in Health and Weight Loss
I'm a freshman at Wheaton College (MA) and I have finally become able to avoid that dreaded dessert table (my downfall is sweets) and have figured out how to get my calories in using their healthy options. However...having steamed broccoli and chicken for dinner and a turkey sandwich for lunch are both starting to become pretty boring for me. I'd love to branch out to try new food combinations that the college meal plan has to offer, but I am afraid that if I do, I'll be on the first train out to the Freshman 15. What are some easy to make breakfast, lunch, and dinner ideas that are easy enough to make at a college dining hall that don't require too much time or effort to make? Thank you!

Hillary

Replies

  • emay45
    emay45 Posts: 32 Member
    The freshman 15 mostly comes from the binge drinking the most freshman decide to take up their first time away from home, so I wouldn't worry about it too much. As far as variety goes you could always try some wraps and soups. I don't know exactly what the colleges there offer since most tend to be a little different.
  • SkinnyCate
    SkinnyCate Posts: 116
    I think you can venture out more into what they offer - but just have a SMALL portion of it and have a nice big salad full of veggies with it!

    Also, grab a cup of any kind of broth based soups - skip the crackers :)
  • hilldill22
    hilldill22 Posts: 19
    Thank you! Good thing for me, I choose not to drink, so alcohol will never be an issue for me.
  • NatalieWinning
    NatalieWinning Posts: 999 Member
    I agree, branch out, but small portions. Skip the deserts often.
  • ashleynicoleb
    ashleynicoleb Posts: 376 Member
    Unfortunately, I gained the freshman 15 and some last fall. Drinking wasn't an issue for me because I RARELY drank, and when I did, it was not much at all. Because the transition form high school to college and being away from home was tough for me, I completely stopped working out for the majority of the fall semester and ate without a care in the world. Needless to say, it definitely caught up with me and I ended up at the heaviest point in my life. The following spring semester, I had a wake up call and began exercising everyday and made a conscious effort to research all of the nutrition facts of the foods provided at the dining halls. Finding healthy choices was really difficult, but I found a core group of meals that I stuck to. The only downside was the fact that I lacked a lot of variety and just stuck to eating the same things in a routine all the time. Hopefully you can find more variety...good luck!
  • Knbrooks42
    Knbrooks42 Posts: 63 Member
    Instead of eating in the dining halls, eat in your room. I just keep healthy food in a mini-fridge. Also, it helps a lot if you don't buy desserts and candy at the store. If it's not there, you can't eat it. Good luck!
  • Egger29
    Egger29 Posts: 14,741 Member
    As a student, one of the best things you can do is find as many healthy "on-the-go" foods as you can that you can have something quick between classes - Fruit, Granola, Cheese, Veggies, Nuts...there are alot of options out there.

    The hardest part is that it seems the healthier choices in the Grocery store are always far more expensive than the poor choices and that makes it rather difficult on the student budget. (Hence the Kraft Dinner and Ramen Noodle diet for many).

    I made alot of Casseroles in my student days - (Kraft Dinner, Frozen Mixed Veggies and Tuna), also Chicken and Rice.

    Two must-haves for any student - A rice Cooker and a George Foreman grill. Then you're set!
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