Advice for the Dorming Earthy Foodie
- Feb 2, 2017
- 4 min read
A friend of mine recently reached out to me and told me that she is having trouble making whole healthy meals that taste good at the same time all while living on a college campus While I was living on campus, I noticed there were not a lot of healthy options available to me and other students. There are also not a lot of options available to students with dietary restrictions. I realize that this is not the case with every university, but I am speaking from personal experience at a specific school that will not be named, though I'm sure so many other people have the same problem! In this article I'll focus on eating healthy, but will also touch on fitness, wellness, and self-care and self-love.
The first thing I will say is that it is always helpful to ask around. Ask some friends what healthy options there are on campus. If you don't receive any helpful answers, I'd be surprised and disappointed, but that's where I come in! (See our Earthy Foodie Partnership in the Shop if you need personalized motivation).
Let's start in the order meals typically go in, so that means we'll begin with breakfast.
Breakfast:
I think cereal is probably the quickest and easiest thing to go with in the morning, so when I go for cereal, I like to have some bran flakes with craisins in almond milk (but if you're not vegan, feel free to go with some regular milk). If I don't go for cereal, a slice of toast with peanut butter and some sunflower seeds and coconut flakes is pretty tasty! There's also usually some sort of granola available somewhere on campus, so that can be a tasty start to your day (just remember that if you are vegan, many kinds of granola have honey in it). Oatmeal is always a good, quick option as well and you can put whatever you want in it (brown sugar, fruit, nuts, etc.). Or if you're like me when you're in a rush, you can just grab a banana. If you love your fruit, please don't hesitate to grab a big bowl of strawberries, blueberries, banana, etc.! Breakfast can be tough, but when you have the right resources, you'll know what to look for.
Lunch & Dinner:
Lunch and dinner are probably simpler as there are more healthy choices available. For this meal, you can go with a rice bowl with a bunch of your favorite veggies. Soup is also simple and easy (but again, if you're vegan, this can be difficult because the broth may be chicken or beef broth). Salad is also a great alternative to the more unhealthy choices available on most college campuses. There's usually a salad bar somewhere on campus, especially with the resurgence of health consciousness and schools' usual willingness to comply with student demands for health-based options. If you can find a salad bar, you're set because you have so many choices! Also don't only eat, for example, kale with some vinaigrette because if you think what you're eating is boring and unsavory, you're not going to want to eat it; make your salad into something you'll want to eat with additions that taste good to you! Of course this article wouldn't be complete without the mention of the almighty sandwich. Peanut butter sandwich, veggie sandwich (hummus, cucumber, tomato, carrots), etc. are great delicious and healthy meals, just make sure to eat it on whole grain or whole wheat bread. Another yummy and simple food that can be easy to find is pasta! Carbs, as opposed to what you've probably been told, are good for you (though it is best if you get your carbs from fruits and veggies, like bananas and potatoes)!
Snacks:
This is probably the easiest part of this article for me to write. Healthy snacks are usually very easy to find. The best healthy snacks are – you guessed it – the ones that come from the earth, so fruits (like bananas and apples) and nuts (like almonds and cashews) are at the top of the list and also pretty easy to get your hands on on the go. Granola, popcorn, seaweed, baked chips, etc. are also pretty tasty and simple.
Wellness:
Hopefully your roommate isn't too loud or rude enough to oppose or keep you from doing some meditation. I've said this in my 7 Things You Can Do to Start Your Day Off Right article, but you really only need 10 minutes of meditation in order to get off on the right foot in the morning.
Fitness:
I assume your school has some sort of gym. If it does, put on some workout attire and head on over there to work out. If you're new to the fitness scene, that's totally okay, do what you can. Try to do some cardio (i.e. run on the treadmill or go on the elliptical for a bit). If your school doesn't have gym – or if it does and it charges membership – maybe try to go for a run around campus, but pace yourself and don't push yourself. Working out releases serotonin which is nicknamed the happiness hormone!
Self-Care & Self-Love:
Something I like to do every morning when I wake up is look in the mirror with a smile and tell myself that I am amazing and beautiful and that I love myself, even if I'm not feeling too hot that day. If you do this, it'll give you a little boost that will make your day just a little bit better.
If this helped, I'm so so happy I could give you some advice on how to stay healthy while dorming in college. If not and you are still having difficulty, feel free to comment and even contact me directly! Have an amazing day!
Comments