Under Pressure

A crust eaten in peace is better than a banquet partaken in anxiety.  ~Aesop, Fables

Everyone would agree that a meal eaten in peace is better than one eaten in haste. College students, whether undergraduate or graduate, are stressed out. Eat, sleep, and exercise (three keys to health) are thrown aside to complete projects, write papers, and study for tests. Diet can play an important role in stress management. A diet void of wholesome, nutritious food can make a stressful time even more challenging.

Here are some basic nutrition principles to help manage stress...

Snack Attack

Snacking isn't just for little kids. A busy college student, who may skip a meal or two, may be in need of a snack on-the-go. These thoughts may run through your head from time to time…did I remember to eat breakfast…do I have time to grab dinner before my night class…I’m not going to get lunch with this project due. Snacking can help your blood sugar remain stable throughout the day, keeping your energy up. Avoid snacks high in fat, sugar, and caffeine to make sure you don't crash in the middle of your 3 pm class.

What Does Brown do for You?

Many think in terms of nutrition, brown is always best. Unfortunately, sometimes the “brown” things are not much different than “white”. Read on to learn how to navigate the grain world.

Make half your grains whole. Health professionals recommend increasing whole grains to reduce the risk of chronic disease: stroke, type 2 diabetes, and heart disease. Taking this recommendation to the grocery store is a little harder than it might seem. Choosing the brown stuff (breads, crackers, cereals, chips, etc.) will not always ensure that you are choosing a whole grain, in spite of the front of the box labels. Ignore the front of the box labels and flip to the ingredient list where you will know for sure if you are choosing a whole grain. To be the most nutritious option, a whole grain ingredient must be the first on the list. This rule leaves many of the “brown” breads, crackers, cereals, and chips in the dust. Ritz Whole Wheat Crackers and Tostitos Multigrain Tortilla Chips are just two examples that advertise whole grains, but are actually very similar to their “white” counterpart.

Gesundheit!

Midterms are coming and Spring Break may feel like it is a world away. All of a sudden your throat is scratchy and you feel exhausted...all...the...time. Nutrition becomes even more important when school seems to run you down.  Help protect your body and strengthen your immune system by doing the following...