Snack Healthy This Spring

One of the things that makes transitioning to college challenging is striking the right balance with your responsibilities and your newfound freedom. From having a more flexible daily schedule to laundry to setting your own curfew, having this independence means having to figure some things out on your own, perhaps for the first time. One of these new areas to explore is what dining habits you choose.

While the University Center offers many great options for meals, they aren’t always open when cravings strike (like when you’re up at midnight studying, for example). It can be challenging sometimes to maintain a healthy diet at school as so many snacks marketed as part of the standard college fare, many of which lack any nutritious ingredients. It’s important to make sure you’re eating healthy while you’re in school because proper nutrition will help you maintain focus, energy, and keep you on track with your overall health. The good news is that if you know what you are looking for, there are some tasty, healthy options for you to eat right and stick to a budget! There are plenty of options that are friendly for a college budget, especially if you do a little planning before you shop. Some great choices that can be easily stored in your residence hall room are:

• Fruits and vegetables! Bananas, nectarines, apples, grapes, peppers, broccoli, carrots, and cucumbers are all finger foods that can be easy to snack on while studying

• Dairy foods like cottage cheese, Greek yogurt, and string cheese can provide nutrients while tiding you over until that next meal

• Oatmeal can be versatile, delicious, and has a longer shelf life so you can stock up and enjoy throughout the year

• Almonds, pistachios, edamame, snap pea crisps, and pumpkin seeds provide you with plenty of protein and can satisfy those savory cravings

• Popcorn, when not over-loaded with butter, oil, or salt, is a great snack to munch on while providing you with some protein and fiber in your diet

Each of these snacks do not require much preparation or effort to enjoy, but there are plenty of other choices for simple, easy, and healthy snacks that you can make and keep in your room as well!

If you have questions or concerns about eating on campus, Chartwells has a registered dietician available for meetings. They can talk through meal options, healthy eating, special diets, allergies and intolerances, and anything else you might need concerning your diet! You can contact them by e-mailing diningservices@uwrf.edu. While maintaining a healthy diet can be trying at times, with a little research, help, and preparation it can be entirely possible to do so while staying on top of classes and your social life.