Maintaining a healthy diet while juggling a heavy course load and work (not to mention a social life) isn’t impossible.
Follow these five pointers to stay healthy this semester.
- Eat Breakfast. Eating breakfast has been linked to better concentration, improved memory and cognition, lower cholesterol, greater energy throughout the day, greater performance at work/school, jump starts your metabolism, lowered risk for chronic conditions such as diabetes, obesity, and heart disease.
- Eat Lunch and Dinner, too. Skipping meals leads to overeating later on. Instead of helping you lose weight, skipping meals actually makes you gain. Your blood sugars go on a wild ride, making you moody, tired, and less able to focus as the day goes on. Plus, when you’re hangry, you grab quick, unhealthy foods to take the edge off. Keep a few healthy snacks handy for the times you can’t get a full meal in.
- Add Color. Focus on filling your plate with a rainbow of colors, because different colors provide different nutrients.
- Fill yo’ plate. Instead of focusing on what you can’t eat, focus on what you can. Eat a large salad, half a plate of veggies, or a berry smoothie before starting the rest of your meal. You will fill up on nutrient-dense foods, feel energized, and be less likely to overeat the other foods or crave the calorie-dense foods later on.
- Snack smarter. Here are 100 snack ideas that are 100 calories or less. These snacks are especially great for pre- and post-workout, but they’re good for other times, too.
Need more personalized help with your diet plan? Resolution’s Registered Dietitian, Brianna, enjoys helping people create realistic and deliciously healthy meal plans. Drop a note here and let us know how she can help.
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