During college, I have learned more about my eating habits than at any other time in my life. To say the least, I have had days where the only foods that went in my body consisted of ice cream, chips, cake, brownies…I think you get the point. That being said I have also learned how to correct that and make my daily intake consist of much healthier options!
I am sure you heard the saying “breakfast is the most important meal of the day” since the day you were probably born. I used to not eat breakfast and I have learned over time at college to agree with this statement.
Some tips to have in mind:
1. Keep a routine: Eat a healthy breakfast in the morning. It is so important! Between rushing to and from classes and then staying up late at night to study, you want to make sure you start your day with a healthy meal to kick start your day. My go-to’s consist of eggs, fruit, and yogurt. It keeps me full until lunch and also is nutritious!
2. Stock up your room with healthy foods: Surrounding yourself with healthy snacks and meals makes it so much easier and convenient to eat them than to walk over to Marshall street and pick up fast food. Overall, avoid bringing processes snacks and unhealthy frozen meals into your room because by 1 in the morning, it is difficult to ignore those! If you get hungry throughout the day like I very often do, pack little snacks to class! It helps you keep up your energy with eating throughout the day than eating big portions at once. Eating smaller healthy snacks will help keep your energy and focus
3. Saving time: In college, we’re always rushed and want food that is easy and ready to go. My suggestion is if you can cook, make twice as much so you can save it for another meal. By doing this I know exactly where the food is coming from and the ingredients. Ordering “healthy” foods from restaurants could be covered in unhealthy oils or drowned. In butter or salt! Some meals I make are salads, chicken, whole grain pasta, rice, steamed vegetables and eggs. Additionally, a great dinner idea is buying a rotisserie chicken from the supermarket. They’re delicious, all protein, and can give you a couple of nights of dinner.
4. If you want to go out on campus, the Syracuse University food scene may come across limited but there are some hidden menu items you all might not be aware of! Marshall Street is super convenient for food, you just have to get creative! I am here to share with you healthy foods and easy and accessible foods that are right here on Marshall street.
Bleu Monkey Café: As a freshman, I didn’t even know this place existed. There are a bunch of healthy options on this menu ranging from many different types of sushi to getting chicken or salads.
Kind David has been my favorite spot since the first time I stepped onto campus in 2016. There are many protein options including chicken skewers, shrimp skewers and Greek salads!
Recently, Faegans just updated their menu now containing cauliflower bowls. These bowls are super filling with any choice of protein you would like, some include chicken or salmon! They’re both filling and healthy.
A lot of people think of varsity as just a place to grab pizza or chicken wings but they offer many great options that are healthy for you such as make your own salads and wraps!
Pro tip: Trader Joe’s is an amazing place to get your groceries. They have very healthy options and the prices are much less than a bigger supermarket. The frozen section as well is stocked. Recently I tried the cauliflower gnocchi and it is filled with good ingredients and also filling!
If you are close to the dining halls, utilize them! I know it is extremely tempting but try to avoid the pasta, pizza, donuts, and muffins but there are healthy options you just have to look.
Dining Hall Ideas:
Salads
Replace all white toast with wheat
Make your own omelets (add vegetables)
Grilled chicken/meat
Brown rice
Adopting healthy eating habits comes with being creative and dedicated. Everything we put into our bodies is in our control and it takes being mindful and aware of everything we do to live a healthy lifestyle. What are your favorite healthy meals?
I love how you began this post by discussing the importance of breakfast! I always feel the negative effects, both physically and mentally, on days where I skip the most important meal of the day. My body aches, my eyes won't seem to stay open, and my mind feels cloudy and tired. With breakfast, however, I am a completely different person; my energy is constant throughout the day, and I feel more awake and alert overall. Eggs and yogurt are also my go-to breakfast foods! I also like to keep some avocado and wheat bread around to whip up some avocado toast on days where I need an energy boost. As for the food selection on the Syracuse University campus,…
Hi Jamie – I loved reading another blog dedicated to healthy eating (mine is too)! The tips you provide are simple yet super effective. Eating a balanced breakfast that is full of whole grains and protein is the best idea for busy days before class. I always make double of any recipes I make as well. Especially with roasting veggies, I’ll roast enough to last me for dinners for at least two more days! Last, your food recommendations for Marshall street are so helpful. Bleu Monkey is my go-to for quick meals. I love getting their poke bowls with zoodles, chicken and lots of veggies! I also love the salads and bowls at King David’s! They always cure my hummu…
Eating healthier has been something I've been working very hard on since I've been in college. It was kind of difficult to eat healthy my first two years because the healthy options in the dining hall were limited, boring and unpalatable. I would go on and off eating healthy salads one week, then pizza the next. It is hard for me to stick to healthy options when the appealing, unhealthy options are readily available and prepared for me. I am very excited to live in an apartment next year where I can cook my own meals and control my intake of food. When I start buying my own food on campus, I will be able to control which foods …
I really appreciate your guide to healthy eating in college. Since I’ve gotten to school, all efforts of trying to be healthy have pretty much flew out the door. I stopped eating breakfast, and still mostly don’t because I am so pressed for time. Especially when I had a meal plan in the dining hall, I’d often just grab the most appealing looking food option available, which was usually pizza or a quesadilla. Now that I have my own apartment, it has been easier to watch what I am eating and gives me the option to cook rather than order in. I started making eggs in the morning since I now have a place to store all the ingredients I…