No matter how old you are, eating healthy is a challenge.
Oh, andlearn to cook them.
The problem only gets worse when youre a college student.
But it is possible.
And its also really, really important.
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You only had to swipe your meal plan card once and you could stay as long as you liked.
Id haul in all my books and call it a study day, eating whenever I felt like it.
I convinced myself I was making an economical choice.
They totally cancel each other out, right?
Id half-joke with my friends.
Its not hard to see why.
Also, um, there isliterally endlessfood in the dining hall.
But you dont have to resign yourself to graduating with a wider waistline oran empty wallet.
Otherwise, you may find yourself whiling away those hefty loans on… well, less-than-studious choices.
That might include tuition, your room-and-board fees or rent.
Maybe you also pay for car insurance or your mobile data plan.
(you’re free to make this process easier by digitizing your financial life with a budgeting app.
Here are some of thebest budgeting appsweve found.)
Fortunately, you came to college to learn new things (right?
), including how to stretch those food budget dollars as far as they can possibly go.
Eating Healthy in College Dining Halls
Not sure how to eat healthy while you live on campus?
I promise, its totally doable!
(Hint: Walk away from the fro-yo machine slowly…)
1.
Cook in Your Dorm.
Plus, many dorm halls come equipped with a full-sized community kitchen, which gives you absolutely no excuse.
Get your butt in there and start cooking!
Take Advantage of the Buffet but Do So Wisely.
(No, bringing back three dozen donuts from breakfast isnt a good idea.)
Prime candidates for dorm-room stockpiling include pre-packaged yogurt, handy pieces of fruit or hard-boiled eggs.
DONT Use the Endless Buffet as an Excuse to Save Money.
And you wont just blow money on your enlarged wardrobe.
Stuffing yourself with unhealthy foods could also lead to health problems down the line.
Load Up on Veggies.
So go ahead and fill up on fresh veggies before you take the bulk of your meal.
Ditch the Soda Fountain.
Your body will be happier, and your head will be clearer if you switch to water.
Heck, it might even improve your grades.
Nobody does well at a 3 p.m. exam while experiencing a sugar crash.
Incidentally, water is also available for free out of your tap, unlike Coke.
Heres how to take control of your food budget and your health you adult, you!
Make Your Meals at Home!
College towns are always filled with a ton of tempting and convenient restaurants.
Even healthy restaurants likely add more oils and additives than you would in your own kitchen.
Strategize When You Do Go Out.
Of course, youre going to go out to eat occasionally and you should.
Even for the frugal, socializing is an important part of the college experience.
Hit a restaurant that serves big portions of nutritious, high-quality food.
As America becomes increasingly health conscious, there are more and more of these cropping up.
Then, instead of stuffing yourself, eat until youre comfortable and take the rest home for later.
Youll save money and keep those extra pounds at bay.
And maybe there wassomemethod to moms madness in not making deep-fried bacon macaroni and cheese sandwiches every single night.
Base your meals on simple, affordable, and healthy basics, like chicken breast and fresh veggies.
you’re free to wait to become a gourmand until after you have topay for college textbooks.
Get Smart About Grocery Shopping.
And we know youre busy, but if you have time, considermaking multiple stopson your grocery trips.
You might be surprised at how much you could save!
Finally, dont dismisscouponingand always check for rebates onIbotta.
All you have to do is snap a quick pic of your receipt!
Team Up With Your Roommates.
If you share yourapartmentwith roommates, you have a whole host of savings opportunities you wouldnt otherwise.
Just ensure to read the fine print and ensure the membership will work for non-familial households.
There you have it, Penny Hoarders, a crash course on healthy eating!
Was than a easy A, or what?
(Can you sense my millennial sarcasm there?)
You know which ones were talking about: rent, utilities, cell phone bill, insurance, groceries…
