Uh oh, your stomach is growling again. Didn’t you just have a snack from your room an hour ago? You really don’t want to have to eat that disgusting dining hall food again, do you? Then again, you don’t have the money to buy food from anywhere else either. You and your friends decide to go to the dining hall anyways. You’re broke and your friends are broke. It’s time to tough it out and face the D-hall firsthand. You walk into South Dining Hall and are immediately overwhelmed by the smell of fried foods, pizza and what’s that- another thanksgiving dinner? CARB OVERLOAD! Don’t panic! There are so many other options you aren’t even considering. Take a breath.
First, start out by checking out the salad bar section. There are always so many good choices you can check out while you’re over there. It may seem like you’re the only one over here- but don’t worry. Make a simple side salad on your plate. Load up those greens- lettuce, green peppers, cucumbers- you name it! Now comes the hard decision of which salad dressing to choose. Don’t, I repeat, don’t douse your salad with ranch or blue cheese dressing. Instead, find a light vinaigrette for your salad. It’s healthy and tastes just as great! Now comes the hard part - where do you go next? You’re probably thinking that a salad isn’t going to fill you up. That’s right - it probably won’t! Take a trip to the meat section and pick out a nice portion size of grilled chicken breast. This is probably the best option you can have and will go perfectly with the salad you already made! This chicken breast will give you the strength you need to finish out your day! If you’re still thinking you might still be hungry - don’t worry. That ‘s totally normal for an average college student. You can add a side portion - one scoop with the spoon - of rice or another veggie. And there you have it! You have your meal. Top it off with a refreshing infused glass of water South Dining Hall provides or even a fresh glass of milk. See? That wasn’t so hard. You just need to take a deep breath when entering the dining hall and relax. This may take several days or weeks to get used to. That is completely normal. Everyone else is probably thinking the same thing you are. No one wants to carb overload and eat multiple fried foods for every meal. All it takes is for you to start the trend and your friends may even follow you!
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Despite the fact we have created a pro-health campaign, we’re not going to tell you that alcohol is a no go. This is college, and you are going to have fun the way you desire. That being said, if you aren’t careful with your drinking habits, then some serious health consequences can follow. The key is moderation and choosing your drinks wisely. Combined with exercise and hearty eating habits, it can be really easy for you to stay healthy with some alcohol in the mix. Here are some tips to keep you in tip top shape while still being able to drink: 1. Chase away chasers Because most liquor has no sugars or carbs, it's your mixers and chasers that quickly become the enemy. Your average cola has nearly 100 calories in just one 8oz. serving, while sweet and sour mix has 140 calories in only one 4oz. serving! Instead, your best bet is to stick to fresh fruit juices or, even better, just plain soda water. 2. Light over dark Liquor turns dark with the presence of congeners, a by-product of fermenting and aging liquor for it to produce more flavor. This maturing process gives the alcohol its dark and heavy color as well. Many studies have found that alcohol containing congeners give a much more severe hangover the following morning. 3. Stay away from beer If you are counting calories, liquor is going to prevail over beer. A regular 12 ounce serving of beer averages to about 150 calories, while a 1.5 ounce serving of hard liquor normally contains about 96 calories. If you are sticking to one or the other for the night, it is likely you will consume more beer than liquor, so your calorie intake will exponentially grow. 4. Eat before, and eat enough! This is extremely important. Eating before a night of drinking will allow the alcohol to be absorbed by the food in your system instead of it all going to your blood stream and sitting in your liver. Choose foods with a lean source of protein and healthy fats, and you definitely will not regret it later. 5. Pace yourself with H2O Always follow an alcoholic drink with a cup of water. Not only will this prevent you from going overboard, but will also allow you to stay hydrated. Alcohol decreases the body’s production of anti-diuretic hormones, which are used to re-absorb water. You end up losing more fluid than normal through increased trips to the bathroom. (As a bonus, you'll also pace your caloric intake!) If your heart desires it, drink up! But do so responsibly. Following these tips should lead to a successful night of drinking without the consequences. Have fun, stay healthy! Having fun participating in our 15 day challenge? We hope that in some way, our health and wellness tips + tricks are having a positive impact on your daily lives! As a Senior here at UConn, I have witnessed firsthand how hard it can be to balance a healthy lifestyle with your college workload, and potentially perhaps a part-time job! Committing to a fitness club, or a full hour or two at the gym each day can be overwhelming. However, I assure you our 15 tricks are not only manageable, but also promote a more fulfilling lifestyle in general! But what happens when the 15 day challenge is over? Falling back into old habits is much easier than committing to new ones. That’s why our team would like to extend to you a comprehensive list of additional campus resources that you can utilize to continue your path toward a healthier lifestyle in mind, body, and soul. Even if you can not commit to any resources full-time, they may offer specific workshops, classes, or events that will enable you to create long lasting friendships and a sense of accountability when it comes to your personal health.
UConn S.H.A.P.E. This organization’s mission falls right in-line with our motives for UConn starting the “15 Days 15 Ways.” S.H.A.P.E. stands for “Students Helping to Achieve Positive Esteem,” and our campaign recognizes that positive esteem comes from within! How you treat yourself and your body, using the tricks we have given, will in turn generate the esteem that comes with self-love, and joining S.H.A.P.E. could allow you to spread this positivity to others! BodyWise Eager to take your fitness journey to the next level but not sure how to start? UConn’s recreation center offers Bodywise classes where you can join an instructor in spin classes, strength training, and pilates! Joining a group of other UConn students, Bodywise is a great way to enhance the practical applications we presented toward students in our 15 day challenge. UConn CHAARG This female-centric fitness group has a commitment to teacher women to own their body and in turn, their lives. We encourage all female student’s who made a commitment to our 15 day challenge to extend that commitment by joining a group like UConn CHAARG, where they will help change poor health attitudes and actions for a more fulfilling future. Active Minds Our community fully recognizes the way in which physical and mental health go hand-in-hand. Exercise and healthy eating habits are known to promote mental wellness, and in turn, enhancing your work-ethic as a student or employee. For this reason, joining an organization like Active Minds, who raise awareness of mental health issues and eliminate the stigmas and myths surrounding it, would be a valuable resource for those who participated in our campaign. Conscious Eaters This organization of UConn’s campus will make you take a more critical look at your diet in ways that you never thought! As our campaign has shown you dining hall hacks and healthy splurges, Conscious Eaters will help you discover how your eating habits affect your day to day life, as well as discusses the different economic and environmental impacts the food you eat has on our world. Fit UConn Have you practiced our recommended dorm workouts, but don’t necessarily feel comfortable practicing them in the gym on your own? Fit UConn is a club that allows your to participate in weekly group workouts in a comfortable environment with people just like you! They also host nutrition seminars and specials events to keep you on the right track throughout your college career. Yoga Club At “15 Days 15 Ways” we recommended you do yoga every morning, and with this group, you can enhance those yoga skills once a week with group yoga sessions! There is a science behind the multitude of benefits yoga has to offer. As we discussed, the “freshman 15” shouldn’t just be about weight. Allowing yourself to relax, relieve stress, and improve flexibility are additional facets that yoga can add to your physical and mental wellness. |
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