If you were given the option of choosing between a huge, juicy burger or a plate of chicken and rice, which one would you choose? Many people, including myself, would immediately choose the burger. Why? Burgers are super greasy and delicious, and they pair perfectly with fries. It is a better choice over plain chicken and rice.
As college students, our schedules often get really busy. We have late classes on top of club meetings, internships, jobs, and so many other responsibilities. It all becomes so time-consuming that we often forget one of the most essential things on our to-do list: fueling our bodies with food. From my experience, this lack of remembering to eat would then influence me to eat out all the time.
In the midst of all the stress, cooking was the last thing I wanted to do, and I found myself eating at every restaurant around campus multiple times a week. At one point, I realized my health was crumbling, and I needed to take action, but I knew it wouldn’t be easy. There would still be temptation, and there would still be nights when I really craved a burger, some Thai Basil, or any meal that wasn’t home-cooked.
Learning to eat healthier has definitely been a challenge for me. Some days, I do an excellent job, and other days, not so much. However, I've learned to celebrate the good days and try not to dwell on the bad ones.
I was scared to start eating healthier because I had always heard that healthy food was more expensive than junk food. Throughout my journey, I have observed this, and I firmly believe it to be true, which saddens me. Thankfully, I was approved for EBT, which has helped me purchase all the groceries I would otherwise be unable to afford on my own.
Eating healthier has opened so many doors for me. I’ve learned how to cook a variety of meals that are not only delicious but also healthy. One of my favorites is baked salmon with baked vegetables. I also really love learning how to make healthy alternatives for some of my favorite dishes.
When I started eating healthier, I was worried that I would have to give up all the Mexican dishes I grew up eating, because they weren't the most nutritious. However, I realized I could still enjoy the same dishes I grew up loving, as long as I did so in moderation, and if possible, with healthier alternatives to certain ingredients.
This journey also helped me appreciate some of my moms’s healthier dishes that I had taken for granted so many times as a child. For many years, my mom tried to get me to like Caldo de Albondigas, a soup made with ground turkey meatballs, carrots, zucchini, and potatoes. I didn’t like it growing up because of all of the vegetables, but I’m glad I’ve given it another chance. Now anytime I want some soup on a cold day, that is my go-to dish.
I’ve noticed that eating healthier has also given me more energy and made me feel a lot happier. Eating healthy is one thing I am entirely in control of, and it feels nice to have that amidst all the stress and uncertainty that comes with life as a college student.
Still, I’m not perfect, and there are days when I eat unhealthily, but eating healthy shouldn’t mean completely limiting and restricting myself. To me, eating healthily is about ensuring that my body is fueled with whole foods, and if I fail to do so one day, I can make up for it the next.
My advice to any college student struggling to eat healthily would be to start small and not beat yourself up for treating yourself occasionally.