the Informer

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For those trying to navigate the somewhat restricted world of college nutrition here’s a hint, the rumor of the dreaded freshman 15 is real and it’s going to get you if you don’t watch out.

One in four freshman will inevitably suffer from the freshman 15 according to Heidi J. Wengreen and Cara Moncur of the department of nutrition and food sciences at Utah State University, however that doesn’t have to be the case.

The transition from home life to dorm life can cause a major change in the way one eats and exercises, especially when Commons and Konover are your main providers of nutrition, so the best way to combat excessive weight gain is to figure out a diet that works for you and stick to it.

From my own experience living in B Complex freshman year and having to survive off of Commons, Gengras, Hawks Nest and Konover exclusively, maintaining my High-School extracurricular sports physique was nearly impossible.

But here’s a tip, exercise is your best friend. That doesn’t mean you have to chain yourself to an elliptical in the Sports Center for hours on end, a simple walk around campus will suffice, however you have to be consistent. That was where I went wrong freshman year. I would work out for 30 minutes and then feel like I could reward myself with a Konover Sandwich at midnight when I needed a break from studying, worst idea ever.

It has taken me three years to become aware of the pitfalls of the Konover Sandwich so I urge you to steer clear right from the get-go.

It’s impossible to survive off of Gengras’ and Common’s salad bar alone, but there are so many options available if you learn how to use your dining dollars wisely.

The best part about living on campus, which I have recently learned to appreciate, is the distance between the dorms and every other building you need to get to. The walk from the Village fives to Auerbach may seem tedious in the dead of winter but it forces you to get up off of the couch and move and that’s the key to living a healthy lifestyle.

Plan your meals so that you don’t get forced into Hawk’s Nest for every evening meal, once a week is fine but eating French fries and pizza for dinner every night will not do you any favors.

And yes, it’s tempting to feed your soda fix at every meal but the water option is always there.

For those looking to relax on the weekends with a cold beer, think about how many empty calories your shoving into your body and choose a lighter option.

Avoid late night snacks that you’ll regret in the morning and look for fresh options when you’re perusing through Commons.

The benefits of paying attention to what you put into your body are great, so be conscious of your choices and your waistline will thank you.