Why Eat Healthy?
It's no surprise that eating healthy is good for you, especially compared to a diet full of foods high in fats and calories. People with healthy eating habits live longer and are at a lower risk for many health issues like heart disease, obesity and type 2 diabetes (CDC, 2021).
Young Adults and Eating Habits
In the transition to adulthood, a plethora of college students find themselves making their own food choices. This freedom to choose could have negative consequences on a student's health if they have not previously been equipped to make healthy choices while in adolescence (Deshpande, 2009).
At the same time, some of the most important factors typically associated with food choice are taste, cost, nutrition, convenience, pleasure, and weight control. There is evidence that has shown that people develop these tastes while they are very young, and they can often persist in the transition to adulthood (Deshpande, 2009).
But how can a young adult fix a not so ideal habit?
Take It Slow
If you take a quick look at google and try to find ways to eat healthier, everywhere online will say to stay away from saturated fats and high calorie foods, to cut added sugar and highly processed foods from your diet.
They're right.
But doing that all at once can be difficult, especially for someone who isn't used to a sudden change in their diet.
Taking slow steps to changing what you eat is extremely important, as long as the end goal is the same.
The biggest goals for healthy eating are :
- Getting a variety of nutritious foods and beverages (water, vegetables, fruits, lean proteins, whole grains).
- Limit foods high in added sugar, saturated fats and sodium.
- Eat and drink the right amount for you. Everyone has different calorie and nutrient needs, finding your balance can help you keep those healthy habits (Health.Gov, 2017)
Play With Your Food
No, really, play around with new food combinations.
Healthy eating might not happen all at once, especially for working college students who might find themselves short of time. But small changes can be made on the fly, even on foods that could be found in any college student's cabinet.
Only using half the ramen seasoning packet and throwing in some frozen veggies can make a meal just a tiny bit more nutritious. Trying out a quick 5 minute pasta recipe that randomly showed up on TikTok. Social media is a fantastic resource for recipes that anyone can make.
But don't be afraid to treat yourself every now and again, healthy eating doesn't mean completely staying away from foods that are unhealthy. The key is moderation, there's a perfect balance that can be made with healthy eating and enjoying all that food has to offer!
References
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention . (2021). Nutrition: Why It Matters. https://www.cdc.gov/nutrition/about-nutrition/why-it-matters.html
Deshpande, S., Basil, M. D., & Basil, D. Z. (2009). Factors influencing healthy eating habits among college students: An application of the health belief model. 26(2), 145–164. https://doi.org/10.1080/07359680802619834
Office of Disease Promotion and Health Prevention. (2017). How To Build A Healthy Eating Pattern. https://health.gov/sites/default/files/2019-10/DGA_Healthy-Eating-Pattern.pdf