By Brooke Brinker, Staff Writer
As college students, it is hard to have a balanced schedule and find the time to cook, let alone, cook healthy dinners.
The days pass by fast, and are packed with classes, work, and hanging out with friends. Amid the business of the ordinary life, it is tempting to grab a bag of chips or even heat something simple in the microwave for dinner, which is convenient, but not the best for you.
Therefore, here are some ways to make your snacks and dinner, and even desserts a little healthier, and still easy.
Pasta is a classic college favorite! So, here is a way to cook healthy and delicious pasta.
The dish is called “Spaghetti Squash.” To prepare this dish, you cut open the spaghetti squash, which you can get at any grocery store, put tomatoes inside, add some feta cheese and seasoning, put it in the oven, and you have your very own healthy pasta. It tastes as delicious as your favorite pasta, but you are eating vegetables instead.
To make cooking even simpler, you can trade out a dinner for a salad kit every week or even add a healthy side to your dinner, such as brussels sprouts, potatoes, green beans, etc.
It is normal to just want to take the easy route and eat some fries as a side, but replacing the “unhealthy sides” with more healthy ones can help you feel better about yourself and even make you feel energized.
For snacks, it is hard to find healthy options on a daily basis, especially with classes back-to-back. However, there are yummy snacks that are healthy, even though they are not the first option that comes to our minds when we think about something easy and fast to eat!
For example, carrots with hummus, pretzels, popcorn, cottage cheese and fruit, dark chocolate, and energy bites are all nutritious ways to get a quick fix.
Dr. Zacchilli, Professor of psychology, said, “I would say to cut back on snacks that are high in sugar and try to eat more fruits and vegetables.”
It is tempting to buy ice cream or cookies because of how delicious and simple they are. But trading ice cream out with a fruit popsicle or, although it sounds crazy, a bowl of fruit filled with your favorites and maybe a little bit of honey on top for a sweet taste can satisfy your cravings.
The everyday college routine can get tiring, and the last thing you want to do is make a healthy dinner at the end of the day. This means that as college students, it is normal for us to have poor eating habits.
But know that it is possible to change that! Replacing unhealthy meals and unhealthy snacks in your day will improve your mood and help you get a better sleep as well.
After all those tips, you are prepared to start the journey of eating healthy without worrying about it being too hard.
From now on, on your way to class, fill a bag of popcorn or carrots and munch on that as you study, make a fruit smoothie in the morning on the way out, or even try out the spaghetti squash!
