Royal Purple

Issue date: 2/27/08 Section: Lifestyle

Dear Abi [Click to enlarge]

Dear Abi,

Like many other college students, I am always on the go. Sometimes that means stopping at a fast food place for a meal. However, I am trying to eat healthy. Do you have any suggestions on what meals are easy to prepare, healthy and fast to make?

Busy Briana


Busy Briana,

It can be easy to fall victim to the fast food frenzy, especially as a hard-working college student. Somewhere between juggling classes, work, family, fitness, hobbies, and if you're lucky, a social life, finding time to focus on consuming nourishing foods is nearly impossible.

But the foods you consume become the fuels that set your day in motion.

Thedailyplate.com is a terrific tool to research nutrition facts on almost anything edible.

Breakfast

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Making it healthy instantly jump-starts your day by boosting your metabolism. As an alternative to spending fifteen minutes in the McDonalds drive-thru waiting for your Egg McMuffin, hashbrown and coffee with cream (460 calories), try oatmeal and blueberries, with a big glass of orange juice (369 calories).

Calories Saved: 91 per meal

Lunch

Skipping lunch has become an all-too-common college tradition. Do your best to not allow the long lines and greasy aroma of fast food joints to lure you in. Even gourmet sandwich shops such as Jimmy Johns, which seem to offer healthy options, can be deceiving. An Italian Night Club, whole pickle, and large Diet Coke (989 calories) may seem to be a healthy option, but in reality is far from nutritious. Instead, pack up a peanut butter and jelly sandwich on whole wheat with an apple (390 calories).

Calories Saved: 599 per meal

Snacks

Skimp on the recent snack gimmicks fast food franchises have been offering. Menu listings are misleading, for example the Snack Pack at Culvers should hardly be considered a "snack", as it consists of a Butter Burger, small fry, and small soda (895 calories). Instead, put a creative spin on your favorite foods. One of my favorites is a granola bar dipped in yogurt (160 calories). Or try the good ole ants-on-a-log, by spreading peanut butter and sprinkling raisins on top of a celery stick (185 calories).

Calories Saved: 85-735 per meal

Dinner

Avoid eating out of some sort of cardboard box every night by planning your dinners on Sunday night. This will help you to not only portion out your meals better, but also develop a strategy for grocery shopping.

Who are we kidding? Even though almost every restaurant has established some form of delivery, the options do become a bit monotonous after a while.

Not to mention, making your own spaghetti with whole grain noodles and meatballs (460 calories) will provide you with a much greater sense of accomplishment than will ordering pepperoni pizza from Pizza Hut (620 calories) for the fourth night in a row.

Calories Saved: 160 per meal

Best of luck,

Abi

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