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Show EVEN POOR COLLEGE STUDENTS CAN BREAK THE JUNK FOOD HABIT or years people have lived under the assumption (or excuse) that it is impossible to eat healthy in college. For starters, you're suddenly on your own without your mother nagging you to eat your veggies. Between classes, work, pulling all-nighters to cram for tests, internships, struggling to incorporate a social life and an exercise routine and whatever else the typical college student endures, it can be difficult to avoid the temptation of a quick run to the drive-thru for that high-sugar, high-fat, quick-energy meal. But it is actually possible to eat reasonably in college, and it doesn't necessarily have to be the hassle and burden that so many people make it out to be. In doing so, all those extra activities and engagements you're trying to juggle will become easier to manage. With a little extra effort to eat right, you'll likely feel much better overall and have more energy to accomplish everything that needs to be done. So, what does it take to eat better in college? Elizabeth Kiefer, writing for teenvogue. com , recommends that students stock their refrigerators and shelves with good foods "with a long shelf life, like nuts, seeds, dried fruit, rice cakes and multi-grain crackers:" Additionally, apples and citrus fruits are good choices because they can last up to a couple weeks. Kiefer's article proceeds with a list of options to improve eating, including eating "high-quality junk food" to savor it more as a once-in-a-while thing, so it doesn't F become a daily habit. Additionally, she talks about treating the dining hall as a classroom and educating yourself on what you're really consuming, paying close attention to your body and what it really needs and being patient and experimenting with what makes you feel good and function well and what doesn't. Then, once you've got that figured out, set and stick to an eating routine. That way, eating well becomes a habit and not something you have to think about all the time. My personal experience has taught me that, aside from developing good eating habits, getting enough sleep and managing my time efficiently are some keys to eating healthier throughout the day. Getting enough sleep really helps reduce any cravings I might have for high-calorie and sugary pick-me-ups throughout the day. Managing my time effectively is a major stress-reducer for me. Stress is often considered a big contributor to unhealthy and unnecessary snacking. Also, good time management keeps me from feeling rushed, which reduces my desire to grab a quick meal at a fast food drive-thru. So, as surprising as it may seem, eating healthy is not too difficult to pull off in college with a little discipline and good habit-building. The issue has become more and more prevalent over the years with school dining halls working to improve their food selections and accommodating peoples' requests. With the help of advocates and cooperative universities, students seem to be breaking away from the stigma that just because they're in college they have to survive an intense and active college lifestyle on things like ramen and soda. letters@chronicle.utah.edu CHEESE STICKS COST A CHUNK OF CHANGE AT THE U MALORIE JAHN niversities all over the country are home to "poor" students, and by "poor" I mean either having a lot of student loans (which equates to having a lot of debt) or simply living below means by taking the cheap way out. Along with paying tuition, college students are faced with the additional prices of textbooks and other fees. Yes, you can sell these textbooks back at the end of the semester, but the original price is usually never refunded. Students are also compelled to purchase an electronic device that allows them to connect to sites such as Canvas for weekly assignments, tests or quizzes. U The Daily Utah Chronicle is hill Along with money and class stress, students are faced with the necessary task of maintaining their physical strength and psychological health. Students also have to purchase food. Unfortunately, though there are many cafes and snack booths on campus, the U doesn't lighten this burden by making food prices affordable. If you visit the "snack place" in OSH you will find insanely overpriced food. A cheese stick is selling for over a dollar when a package of 12 to 24 cheese sticks normally sells for $4 to $5. When you do the math this equates to less than 50 cents a cheese stick. At Mom's Cafe in the Marriott Library you will also find overpriced items. A Yoplait yogurt is selling for over a dollar when they can be purchased at grocery stores for under a dollar. The Union, which is home to chains like Panda Express and Einstein's Bagels, also has their own selection of food products. These too come at a high price. Students living on campus are "privileged" to have a Contact Courtney Tanner at c.tanner@chronicle.utah.cdu for more information. orters meal plan. Trips to the Peterson Heritage Center offer a buffet with a wide variety of food; however, it is apparent that the PHC does not follow the "quality over quantity" rule. Basically, the food sucks. The "flex" spending money that is awarded to students with the purchase of meal plans is nice because it can allow for a chance for good food. However, the money doesn't last long, as food is so expensive. One of the perks of flex dollars is that there is no tax, but the U should do more to help, or at least offer the same quality of food at the PHC that they do elsewhere on campus. I understand the concept of raising prices to make a profit, but a huge university gaining money from students in so many other ways should be able to loosen up in some areas, like the price of food, to help the struggling students out. Perhaps a student's best bet is to invest in a mini fridge and make weekly trips to the grocery store to purchase these food items at a reasonable price. letters@chronicle.utah.edu Visit us online @ &1I (yLitOACAreiliC 4 { THECHRONY I NEWS I OPINION I ARTS I SPORTS I WEDNESDAY, APRIL 15, 2014 } |