With a busy schedule, a ton of classes and all the extracurricular activities, many students tend to eat unhealthy food. This is something not only freshmen have trouble dealing with, but older students as well, regardless of their lifestyle choices. There are some students who opt for junk food exclusively, which can lead to some serious health issues, not to mention being very expensive in the long run. If you’d like to pay attention to what you eat and remain healthy, here are some tips to help you stay healthy and always eat the best food.

Always eat at the same time

Establishing a daily routine may sound boring, but this is crucial if you want to avoid feeling hungry and eat unhealthy snacks. Look at your class schedule and try to find time for five meals a day, even if that sounds like too much food. Be sure never to skip breakfast, because it’s the most important meal of the day, providing you with lots of energy and helping you kick off the day correctly. Between your meals, always eat some fruit or a small vegetable salad just to keep that energy flowing and avoid having an early lunch. This routine will help you if you have a tendency of forgetting or skipping meals as this can cause problems with your bowel movement.

Stock up on healthy food

Sometimes, you won’t have enough time to make a healthy breakfast so it’s crucial to have a quick choice or two. Oatmeal is great as a source of everything you need in the morning, but the ones you can buy at a store are not the healthiest option. Instead of that, buy cereals and create your own mixture without adding too much sugar. You can always add fresh fruit just to keep track of your five-a-day portion of fruit and it can also be a great way to eat something sweet. If you don’t like sweet breakfast, you can always eat your cereals with light yogurt and some rice cakes as a healthy addition.

Have the right equipment

If you’re living in a dorm room, you don’t have enough space for kitchen appliances, but there are options for you as well. You can always add a small fridge and a microwave and make some healthy meals even in such a limited space. On the other hand, if you live in an apartment, you have plenty of space to make meals on your own and keep track of your diet. You don’t need a big kitchen, as a simple fridge and a quality range will be perfect for your meals, and you’ll have plenty of space to store them if you want to cook in advance.

Drink water

Students have a problem with the amount of water they drink on a daily basis and that’s something you need to pay attention to as well. This can help you boost your concentration and help you stay awake during the day. If you don’t have a habit of drinking enough water, always keep a bottle with you just as a reminder. If you simply don’t like water that much, you can always slice a cucumber or a lemon just to add some flavor to it. Staying hydrated is crucial especially during the exams because it will keep you going and prevent you from feeling tired and sleepy all the time.

Create a healthy diet

It’s important to know what you need to eat and what you can live without, as this will determine your meal plans. Vegetables and fruits should be included in every meal, as the main ingredient or as a side dish, and once you establish this habit, it will become a major part of your diet. Apart from that, the meat will provide you with proteins which are important not only for your energy level but for a balanced diet too. Always make sure your meals have different types of food throughout the day, and avoid eating the same food all the time.

Avoid snacks

Students like to indulge in snacks, especially while learning, and although this may have a calming effect, it’s not that good for your health. Instead of eating junk food, try to find some healthier options. Whole grain cookies without too much sugar can be a great snack between two meals. Apart from that, nuts have high nutrients and are a tasty source of healthy snacks. Fruit shakes are a wonderful way to add more fruit into your diet but are also a way to trick your brain into thinking you’ve just eaten something sweet.

If you want to make an effort, you can eat healthy even if you have a busy college life. Just make plans in advance, try to stay on your eating plan, and, soon enough, you won’t even notice you’re eating nothing but healthy food!

Emma B. Joyce is blogger based in Australia. She is a true home decor and DIY fanatic. Emma is interested in music and also is a big reading enthusiast. Finding new designs and patterns is her daily task. She is a regular contributor on https://smoothdecorator.com.