Get Your Fellow College Students Into a Healthful State of Mind!

As a nutrition student, you're likely more attuned to healthy habits than your average college student. One of your great powers with studying this craft is the ability to influence your fellow students' health choices! You know your peers best, and you have the ability to point them in the right direction with safe, healthy advice they may actually listen to! 

Today's blog comes from Tracy Williams, and she gives some great advice for college students to practice healthier habits! Take some inspiration from her and go forth into your own campus armed with some ideas! 

Tracy Williams is a graduate of Dominican University with a degree in Nutrition and Dietetics. She is also a public speaker using the toolkits of the Kids Eat Right campaign.

Do you have some resources or ideas to promote healthier habits on your college campus? Comment below or send your descriptions and photos of your promotion efforts to Road2RD@gmail.com to be included in an upcoming blog! 

 
Healthy Lifestyle Tips for College Students 
By: Tracy Williams 

College students are learning how to navigate the world of higher education, as well as young adulthood. The higher education experience might be the first time a legal adult as started to make personalized daily decisions. A college student may be experiencing having to make financial decisions for the first time, managing their first job, managing school work and meeting new friends. There are so many decisions and new experiences during college that a young adult may let their overall health be a secondary concern. 

How can a college student become more aware of the life choices that impact their health? College students should learn about proper portion sizes within their meals. It is important for college students to learn how to vary their meals when they at the university cafeteria. No matter how stressed college students happen to be in the early morning, it is best for them to always start the day off with a healthy breakfast to fuel their brain and body for the day ahead. To avoid the junk food, it is best for a health conscious student to provide themselves with some healthy snack options, like granola bars, fruits, veggies, dried fruits and other items of the healthy variety. College students are known for partying, but college students can still have a good time without consuming the extra calories that come along with alcohol, while avoiding hangovers and other negative effects by enjoying 1 or 2 drinks. Even if college students do not usually include fruits and veggies into their diet, it is never too late to start. College students should make it a goal to make eating right convenient and easy by stocking their refrigerator and dorm room with the healthy snacks mentioned above to ensure that the healthy foods are accessible when they get hungry. 

How do college students bring fitness back into their lives? Instead of driving a car or taking the bus, a college student could start riding their bike or walking to class or playing a sport. Even if the student is not on a sports scholarship, they can still join an athletic intramural team or play recreational sports through school to get active and have fun at the same time. Most schools provide students with gym facilities they can take advantage of for free. It is great to head to the gym between classes or when students get up in the morning to squeeze in a workout. While taking public transportation might be quicker, walking will give college students a chance to stretch legs, burn some calories, and relax before the next class. 
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How can college students protect their mental health? Napping can be very beneficial as well as avoiding all-nighters and getting a full night’s rest whenever possible. Fun and relaxation should be part of a college student routine in order to relieve some stress. It is better for college students to be realistic about daily and weekly goals and to get help when needed. It is great to relax with new hobbies and spend time meeting new friends. New experiences will help nervous students build self-confidence and feel a sense of community. A great way for a college student to gain new experiences and friends is by getting involved on campus by joining clubs and social groups. Volunteering can bring about a sense of satisfaction that a college student cannot get from work or class work, so get out there and help others in the community. The college years are a great example of how young adults can learn life lessons in a safe environment.