Last month I resumed my life as a university student, and crammed my life into a small dorm room. In the process, I surrendered unlimited access to my own blender, steamer, oven, and the good ol’ George Foreman grill. I traded Mom’s kitchen for a mini-fridge and a sink.
Mom’s kitchen is the perfect place to stash nutritious treats and to prepare quality meals, and it is so much easier to satisfy my appetite with healthy foods when I am living at home.
I think that college students across America need to stop making excuses. “It’s too inconvenient to be healthy”, “I’m too busy”, “It isn’t a study group without Doritos”, blah blah blah.
As I browsed the aisles of the local supermarket, I was eager to take on the challenge. I admit that it is much harder to eat healthfully when your “kitchen” is a dorm sink and a mini-fridge, but I have discovered that it is definitely possible!
Contrary to popular belief, delicious and nutritious dorm snacks can be quite convenient. Want proof? Here is my own personal shopping list. This is not a strict set of guidelines; it is simply a glimpse into my own favorite must-have items for my life as a dorm dweller.
1.) Fresh produce: You can never have too many fruits and vegetables, and most supermarkets offer a wide selection. I usually save the produce section for last because I tend to take so much time surveying my options and pondering which ones to buy. Bananas, apples, oranges, peaches, grapes, strawberries, carrots, cucumbers, kiwis, potatoes, bell peppers…I always wish I could buy them all at once! Right now, two apples, a peach, and a yam are chillin’ (literally) in my refrigerator (yams and potatoes steam nicely in the microwave; just be sure to poke them with a fork a few times first).
2.) Pita bread: The Alternative Bagel Co. makes 110 calorie whole-wheat pitas that are high in fiber and even have some protein! This morning I warmed a pita in the microwave and spread a little bit of peanut butter and honey on top. It was delicious! Sometimes, when I am tired of eating in the cafeteria, I cut a pita in half and stuff the inside with chicken or lunch meat, and a few veggies.
3.) Peanut butter: I love peanut butter; peanut butter on apples, peanut butter on bread, peanut butter on crackers, even a spoon of peanut butter straight from the jar. Yum! The other day I mentioned how much I love peanut butter and a girl said, “You know peanut butter is really bad for you.” False. Poor peanut butter is not given the credit it deserves. Yes, it is high in fat and calories…and my response is, it is a good thing that our bodies need fat and calories! Peanuts have healthy fats in them. The key is not to eat an entire jar in one day. The healthy fat and protein in a spoon of peanut butter is packed with nutrients and energy.
4.) Deli sliced turkey: It fits perfectly in my fridge and is full of protein. It is great on crackers, stuffed in a pita, or even by itself. It is the perfect snack in the middle of the day, or following an afternoon jog.
5.) Tea: Herbal tea, green tea, black tea, chai tea…I can never have too much tea. It is soothing after a long day of studying, and satisfies my cravings for something warm and flavorful. It is full of nutrients, antioxidants, and can be found with or without caffeine.
Mom’s kitchen is the perfect place to stash nutritious treats and to prepare quality meals, and it is so much easier to satisfy my appetite with healthy foods when I am living at home.
I think that college students across America need to stop making excuses. “It’s too inconvenient to be healthy”, “I’m too busy”, “It isn’t a study group without Doritos”, blah blah blah.
As I browsed the aisles of the local supermarket, I was eager to take on the challenge. I admit that it is much harder to eat healthfully when your “kitchen” is a dorm sink and a mini-fridge, but I have discovered that it is definitely possible!
Contrary to popular belief, delicious and nutritious dorm snacks can be quite convenient. Want proof? Here is my own personal shopping list. This is not a strict set of guidelines; it is simply a glimpse into my own favorite must-have items for my life as a dorm dweller.
1.) Fresh produce: You can never have too many fruits and vegetables, and most supermarkets offer a wide selection. I usually save the produce section for last because I tend to take so much time surveying my options and pondering which ones to buy. Bananas, apples, oranges, peaches, grapes, strawberries, carrots, cucumbers, kiwis, potatoes, bell peppers…I always wish I could buy them all at once! Right now, two apples, a peach, and a yam are chillin’ (literally) in my refrigerator (yams and potatoes steam nicely in the microwave; just be sure to poke them with a fork a few times first).
2.) Pita bread: The Alternative Bagel Co. makes 110 calorie whole-wheat pitas that are high in fiber and even have some protein! This morning I warmed a pita in the microwave and spread a little bit of peanut butter and honey on top. It was delicious! Sometimes, when I am tired of eating in the cafeteria, I cut a pita in half and stuff the inside with chicken or lunch meat, and a few veggies.
3.) Peanut butter: I love peanut butter; peanut butter on apples, peanut butter on bread, peanut butter on crackers, even a spoon of peanut butter straight from the jar. Yum! The other day I mentioned how much I love peanut butter and a girl said, “You know peanut butter is really bad for you.” False. Poor peanut butter is not given the credit it deserves. Yes, it is high in fat and calories…and my response is, it is a good thing that our bodies need fat and calories! Peanuts have healthy fats in them. The key is not to eat an entire jar in one day. The healthy fat and protein in a spoon of peanut butter is packed with nutrients and energy.
4.) Deli sliced turkey: It fits perfectly in my fridge and is full of protein. It is great on crackers, stuffed in a pita, or even by itself. It is the perfect snack in the middle of the day, or following an afternoon jog.
5.) Tea: Herbal tea, green tea, black tea, chai tea…I can never have too much tea. It is soothing after a long day of studying, and satisfies my cravings for something warm and flavorful. It is full of nutrients, antioxidants, and can be found with or without caffeine.
