by Brooke Lorren

Created on: September 03, 2009   Last Updated: September 04, 2009

College is often the time when young adults are out on their own for the first time. At the same time that they have to deal with the pressures of professors, exams, and assignments, they also have to deal with the complexities of living on their own. Part of that involves planning and preparing meals. Many new students have difficulty with that task and often gain weight in their first year of school. It is possible to eat healthy, even when in college. Here are some of the ways that you can eat healthier while in college:

1. Avoid fast food. That is easier said than done, but fast food is usually unhealthy, and it can be costly as well. If you know that you are going to be in class for most of the day, pack a lunch instead. Try to include fruit, vegetables, and a sandwich or other easy-to-pack item. Avoid chips and cookies, although they might be tastier.

2. Cook from scratch. This can seem difficult at first, but if you get into the habit now, you'll reap the benefits of better health for years to come. This doesn't mean that you have to bake your own bread, but you should avoid overly processed food. In order to save time, cook food ahead of time. Instead of cooking one chicken breast, cook a whole package of chicken. Cut up the rest of the chicken and use it in salads, soups, and tacos.

3. Limit what you eat on pizza night. Pizza is a popular food for many college students, especially when they're busy studying. It is easy to order, but it also is packed with fat and calories. If you are studying with your friends and they want to order pizza, it is okay to eat every once in a while, but try to limit the amount of slices that you eat.

4. Limit the alcohol you consume. Not only does alcohol have more calories than carbohydrates and proteins, drinking alcohol makes it more likely that you won't be getting the nutrition that you need from other kinds of food.

5. Drink water. The general recommendation is that you drink eight 8-ounce glasses in a day. If you exercise a lot, you may need to drink more. While soda may be tastier, it is not very good for you, and often contains ingredients like caffeine and high-fructose corn syrup that should be avoided.

6. If you eat in the dining hall, make good choices. Salads are usually a good choice, but if you drown your salad in high-fat ingredients like dressing and bacon bits, you could end up consuming more calories than you had planned. Be sure to include fruit, protein, and vegetables in your daily diet as well. Remember the food pyramid.

7. Limit the junk food that you keep in the dorm. If you keep it in your room, you will eventually eat it. Junk food is okay as an occasional treat, but you should limit how much you eat. If you keep it out of your dorm room, chances are, you won't eat as much.

Learn more about this author, Brooke Lorren.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.