New Year’s. A time for rejuvenation of the soul, body and mind. Mind? Nothing a little class work can’t fix. Soul? That’s what the weekend is for. Body? Not so easy.
College life can take a serious toll on the body, be it from that triple Baconator that you ate on the run, those late night snacks while studying, weekend partying, and the all-important exercise, or lack thereof. So how can we get back into shape without sacrificing the pleasures of college life?
According to Molly Kimball, who is a registered dietician at Ochsner’s Elmwood Fitness Center, the first step to becoming healthier is to create an eating plan that is rigid enough to be effective, while also loose enough to maintain.
“Don’t strive for perfection, but rather say ‘what are those things that I can and cannot live without,’ then figure out ways to manage your eating habits accordingly,” Kimball said.
Another way to stay on your eating plan, Kimball says, is to learn your schedule, and accommodate mealtimes, as well as exercise, into your day.
“If you know your schedule for the day, try to accommodate time to work out and eat right. If you know you have a busy day, make your meals ahead of time, so that you can grab quick food on the go without resorting to fast food or unhealthy snacks,” Kimbal said. Furthermore, eating healthy is manageable in any living situation, whether you live in a dorm or an off-campus apartment. According to Heather Bacque, who is the General Manager for Sodexo, the Orleans Room provides ample options for healthy eating, including a multitude of vegetarian and vegan options.
“We have a beautiful salad bar that offers a variety of fresh fruit and vegetables. Last semester, we began serving tofu everyday on the salad bar as an additional healthy protein option for our vegetarian and vegan students. Our deli station also allows students to create their own healthy sandwich,” Bacque said.
It is also possible to maintain your eating plan when eating out, Kimball said. Even in New Orleans, most restaurants provide healthy alternatives to meals, such as whole-grain bread, healthier side-items and lean proteins. The same goes for other on-campus restaurants, such as Flambeaux’s or Smoothie King.
“All of our restaurants offer something that can meet a student’s healthy option needs. You can also ask our servers to modify any of the items on the menu to make them more healthy,” Bacque said.
Even weekends, the time when most people slip up, can be manageable, according to Kimball.
“If you know that alcohol is a big part of your usual consumption, cut out something else that you find expendable,” Kimball said. “Cut out sweets, desserts or white pastas on the days you know that you will be drinking. Even weekends can be healthy.”
Patrick Rafferty can be reached at [email protected]
Political science junior Haley Harris eats a salad at La Divina Tuesday, Jan. 24. La Divina salads are one of the healthier choices availble on campus. (CHIKA JOHN/PHOTO EDITOR )
