You are what you eat…

Many of us who were raised in the 90’s were educated about the food pyramid in health class-what we should be eating each day and how much of it. Now, with the fast paced lifestyle that most college students lead, sometimes breakfast can be non-existent, lunch can be a bag of chips and dinner is a time where you shovel it all in and never look back. If you’re finding yourself limited by low energy and think you could change up your diet a bit, these tips are for you. One idea from WebMD.com is to eat a variety of foods in moderation. Although we may want to have macaroni and cheese each night for dinner, that won’t give the body anything essential to keep you going for a long period of time. Eating a little bit will not overwhelm your body and food will be easier to digest. Also, limit items that are mostly fat and sugar. Sweets are fine once in a while, but you don’t want to be like the cake boy in “Matilda.” Dietaryguidelines.gov is a site that gets updated every five years with the most up-to-date information on a healthy diet. The 2010 guidelines are in the process of being made and will be available in the future. For now, the 2005 guidelines are the ones recommended for use. The document is 80 pages in length, but a supplemental brochure that was also published, titled “Finding your way to a healthier you,” has some useful information for students. “You may be eating plenty of food, but not eating the right foods that give your body the nutrients you need to be healthy,” the booklet starts off, “You may not be getting enough physical activity to stay fit and burn those extra calories.” A healthy diet emphasizes fruits, vegetables, whole grains, low-fat milk, lean meats, poultry, fish, eggs and nuts. It is low in saturated fats, trans-fats, sodium and added sugars. You already knew all that, right? How many of us actually eat all of these things on a regular basis? Not really, because it’s way easier to go to Subway then make a sub from scratch. McDonalds is delicious and can be in my belly in about five minutes as opposed to… however long it takes to cook a hamburger (can you tell I don’t really do it?) Sometimes the limits of my cooking are what I can make in the microwave. The truth is, we’re all busy with school, extra-curricular activities and friends and sometimes only when our stomachs are roaring do we even remember to feed them. Many students may be feeling the winter weather blues and are already starting to go into pig-out mode. Sometimes when the seasons change and our body feels the difference in lack of sunlight and temperature, we can respond by over-eating a lot. If you find yourself sitting around and eating literally all day, the best tip I can get is to just get off the couch and go for a walk. Over-eating will not give you the energy you need but will just make you into a food-bubble. You don’t want to be the blueberry girl from “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” do you? To be healthy and feel beautiful inside and out, you can’t cut corners. Many Americans have eating disorders in this country because body image is something that many people emphasize. You want to live life as wholly as possible so if you’re looking to lose a little weight or maybe even just eat healthier, make it a personal goal and stick to it. A lot of the choices start in the grocery store- if you don’t buy it, you can’t eat it. And although quick on the go meals are the most convenient, you could make cooking a nice dinner into a little hobby and even impress your friends. You have that little voice in the back of your head… listen to it as often as you can. React to what it says about eating right and you will feel phenomenal!