College is stressful, and stress may cause us to eat. When we stress-eat, the majority of the time we are simply trying to satisfy our hungers and do not think about what we are putting into our bodies. So, here are five simple things that can make us look, feel and sleep better during those stressful college days.
1. Let’s talk breakfast. Mornings in college can be fairly rough depending on the night before, whether you watched Netflix in bed or explored the wonderful land of Five Points. Try starting your day off with healthy foods. That way you will want to eat healthy for the rest of the day. A pack of nuts or granola are great ways to start your day because they are low in fat, easy to put together and full of protein that will keep you full and energized in all of your morning classes.
2. Avoid white flour at all costs! White flour is mainly in processed foods that are bad for your body anyway. It is difficult to lose the weight that is put on by white flour, and our bodies are usually unsatisfied when eating it, so we tend to overeat them. These foods include bread, pizza, crackers, burritos, and pastries.
3. Instead of reaching for that Diet Coke or Mountain Dew for a mid-study pick-me-up, grab a regular or diet green tea. Green tea boosts your metabolism and has a plant compound called ECGC, which naturally burns off fat in your body. Green tea also has a lower dose of caffeine than coffee, so on those nights when cramming for a test is not necessary, but you need to stay up a little longer to go over some notes, try some green tea.
4. Having trouble with breakouts? Everyone does! Try eating a little bit of watermelon everyday. Its natural sugars will help with your breakouts and oily skin, giving your skin that extra beautiful and natural glow.
5. Good sleep can be hard to get in college. Try eating bananas to help get that deep sleep that you deserve. Bananas have vitamin B6 that is needed to produce melatonin, which is a hormone that controls your sleep cycles. Bananas are also a good snack after workouts due to their high levels of potassium (they’ll stop your arms or legs from cramping up).
It may seem like eating nuts for breakfast rather than Chick-fi-la biscuits or eating a slice of watermelon a day will not make a big difference, but in the long run, it does. Remember, you are what you eat. So eat healthy and you will feel, be, and look healthy!