A day in the life of the average student consists of a very
limit amount of things being accomplished. These are mainly sleeping, getting
to class, drinking coffee, studying, working a part time job, and if they are
lucky- eating 3 nutritious meals.
It is no secret that a lot of the University student
population does not eat as well as they should. Even though the “freshman
fifteen” (a term used to explain the fifteen pounds that freshmen are expected
to gain) has been debunked by an Ohio
State University study, a study done by the Oregon State University in 2011
found that many students
were not even getting a single serving of fruits and vegetables a day, let
alone the recommended five daily servings.
Photo from: http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/college-students-not-eating-enough-fruits-and-vegetables-study-2340412.html
Time is often the factor when students say that they do not
eat the healthy meals they know they should. One idea to get around this is it
to make a meal that will last over several days by using a slow cooker. These
are inexpensive appliances that could not be any easier to use, even for the
most inexperienced cook!
You can purchase a great slow cooker for as little as $20 at
Superstore, but if you want to invest a little more time into getting the perfect
slow cooker for you, check
this out for some helpful information to know before making the purchase.
Photo from: http://www.squawkfox.com/2009/11/03/how-to-buy-a-slow-cooker-crock-pot/
One fast, easy, and healthy idea for the slow cooker is making
a beef stew. You can add in almost any
vegetables you have on hand, plus some inexpensive beef stewing cubes, water,
and an oxo cube for flavor. Leave it cooking on high before you leave for
classes, and come home to a very filling meal that lasts for days. Here is a recipe for beef
stew to start you off (and remember, you do not need all of the ingredients
listed and this recipe can also easily be vegetarian).
Photo from: http://spoonful.com/recipes/slow-cooker-beef-stew-recipe
Here is another slow cooker recipe, this time for a
student-favourite, Spaghetti
Bolognese. This version is far healthier than the sauce-in-a-jar version,
and as long as all of the legwork is done early in the day, it is just as easy.
Photo from: http://www.realsimple.com/food-recipes/browse-all-recipes/spaghetti-bolognese-recipe-00100000074122/
Just remember, with slow cookers you can be very
adventurous, but don’t forget the herbs and spices!
Snacks are another problem area that students face, because
there is nothing easier than grabbing a few bags of junk food and sitting at
the same table studying for hours. While it is important to stay energized while
studying, it is also important to be aware of what different foods provide our
bodies, especially when it comes to snacks.
Some easy to carry, energy-providing snacks include nuts,
apples, bananas, blue berries, red bell peppers, and even dark chocolate. Here
is a good list of energy-providing foods.
Photo from: http://shine.yahoo.com/healthy-living/20-foods-energy-231200156.html
And here is another
article that has a smaller list, some repeats as above, but focuses more on
snack foods.
Finally, we come to breakfast- the most important meal of
the day, and often the most ignored one. Breakfast will rev up your metabolism
so that you burn more calories in a healthy way throughout the day, but it also
gets your energy, concentration, and memory going- three things that are pretty
important for students! It is common sense, but here
is an article that goes into a bit more detail about why breakfast is so
important. Even grabbing a piece of toast, a single-serving yogurt, or a banana
in the morning while you’re flying out the door will help, but here
is a list of a few more fast but delicious alternatives.
photo from: http://www.realsimple.com/food-recipes/recipe-collections-favorites/healthy-meals/breakfast-to-go-10000001047596/index.html
