You heard it before you took the ACT, before an important game, and before your first midterms: “Make sure you get a good breakfast.” Unfortunately when this was instructed, it was rarely accompanied with a reasoning, or even with an example of what a “good breakfast” looks like. Nope, it’s not just a granola bar or a stack of pancakes.
So then… what really is a good breakfast? A good breakfast starts out as a balanced meal, and turns into a good habit. Understanding healthy eating can be complicated, especially in today’s age where there seems to be hundreds of diet options that exist. It’s important to recognize that eating healthy is not strictly following a diet. In most cases, it can be accomplished by switching out the obviously bad foods for a more nutritious option. Another thing to remember before embarking on your health journey is that no two bodies are alike, and different things work better for certain people.
How do you find what works best for you? Starting is often the most difficult phase because it requires a habit change that may need some experimentation. If you’re stuck, here are some suggestions to help you get started on a healthier lifestyle:
- Keep your body on a predictable eating schedule
- Don’t start your day with a sugary breakfast - it can lead to sugar cravings throughout the day
- Decrease the amount of fried and greasy foods you eat
- Increase your intake of fruits and vegetables
- Limit sugary snacks
- Drink a glass of water for every carbonated drink you consume
- Most importantly, listen to your body
Now that we’ve established what healthy eating can look like, let’s look at why it matters so much to your life, especially as a student. Studies show that eating healthy makes a significant impact in a student’s performance. Higher grades, improved memory, attentiveness, and faster information processing have all been related to healthy eating. This is due to the fact that more fiber, fat, and protein content keeps a person fuller longer, allowing them to maintain their attention and energy for longer durations of time. On the flip side, students who stick to unhealthy sources of food tend to suffer with lower grades, shorter attention spans, and most alarmingly, an increased risk of sickness. In order for your mind to operate to it’s greatest capacity, you must treat your body properly and fuel it with good, nutritious foods.
If along the way, you see yourself struggling against certain obstacles, this website offers great solutions for college students when it comes to meal plans, prices, and time management: affordablecollegesonline.org.
