The balancing act of adapting to university life
Eating well when moving away to university, or coming back to school after being off and active all summer long, is definitely a task – like everything else in life, it is something that you need to consciously focus on to accomplish. There are plenty of long days spent on campus and many of them aren’t anticipated, so there are some steps you can take to ensure that you will not go hungry and feel the urge to overindulge (but do make sure to do so sometimes – give yourself a treat).
Eating healthily on campus with a meal plan is difficult – there are so many choices, both healthy and unhealthy, and it is up to you to make the right one. Keeping your body well-fueled is step one. University can at times feel overwhelming, but don’t skip out on meals to study a little longer, or choose not to make breakfast before an exam you have at 9:30 am because you are too busy cramming (cramming, by the way is always a bad idea). Your brain needs nutrients and water to function – skipping a meal will only cause you angst while writing the exam and serve as a distraction, potentially resulting in a lower grade.
Take your time to get to know the different eateries on campus and keep hydrated by bringing a reusable water bottle with you around for the day – there are places on campus where you can fill up for free, so take advantage of this service!
If you live off campus and are without a meal plan, eating on campus can be expensive, and realistically, you can make delicious meals and snacks at home to bring with you that will keep you energized throughout the whole day. Some great ideas for quick, easy, and healthy snacks are: hummus and veggies, nut butter and an apple, or cottage cheese or yogurt with seeds. These will all fight hunger and keep you healthy.
When you eat well, you function better; you have more energy to do the things you need to accomplish and do them well. Like everything at University, planning and organizing are the keys to successfully completing what you have set out to do. Don’t allow your eating habits to fall off that long to-do list! It is just as important as – or even more important than – keeping up with your studies.
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The following segment is from Lindzie O’Reilly, Registered Dietitian in Student Health Services, who students can meet with, for free, by making an appointment through Student Health Services.
“We are quite lucky at the University of Guelph to have access to a variety of food options on campus – you can find everything from comfort foods like mashed potatoes to a more adventurous curry or samosa. The University of Guelph makes a strong effort to include locally sourced meat and produce in its dishes, meaning your meal will travel a shorter distance, taste fresher, and be jam-packed with nutrients” said O’Reilly.
“We eat for many different reasons – for health, for fuel, for enjoyment, and for social and emotional reasons, to name a few. Campus eateries provide us with an opportunity to meet up with friends, relax, and enjoy a meal. Eating well will improve concentration and focus in class, can improve your mood, and will help you juggle the stressors of university life” stated O’Reilly.
“As a new student, eating on campus will likely look quite different than eating at home with your family. With a busy schedule and endless food options, it can hard to know what to choose. Try these three tips:
1. Eat often over the course of the day. Eating often will keep your energy levels up and help you retain information learned in lecture. Waiting long periods of time or until you are starving prior to eating will set you up for snoozing in class and craving foods that are high in sugar and fat but low in nutrients later in the day.
2. Make time for meals and snacks. With a hectic schedule, it can be easy to fall into a pattern of eating on the go, or skipping meals altogether. Food provides us with fuel, but also with a time to unwind. Rather than seeing meals as an inconvenience, try seeing them as a crucial part of health and self-care. Take a 15 minute break and enjoy your lunch rather than trying to study while eating. When you return to work, you will feel refreshed and more productive!
3. Build your meals and snacks around whole foods such as fruits, veggies, whole grains, meat, nuts, legumes, and dairy. These foods give us the energy and nutrients we need to perform. Enjoy coffee and sugary foods from time to time with your meals, but if a coffee or a snack from the vending machine becomes your lunch, your energy levels are going to suffer!”