Staying sharp in school

Half the time that we’re on campus, we’re not thinking about ways we can get ready for lunches during the week. We’re thinking about that midterm, the required Blackboard posting for class and how much we still have to do for the final project in a class.

What this does, unfortunately, is leave our bodies to fend for themselves on a campus with high prices for healthy food choices. When inundated with the cheaper, less healthy food, it’s easy to make wrong decisions day after day and end up tired and unhealthy by the end of term.
Here are a few tips to help out with the term without adding a lot of stress to your already busy days.

Lunches

Sandwiches

If you’re avoiding even reading this paragraph because you’re thinking of your grandmother’s bologna-and-mayonnaise concoctions, don’t worry: I wouldn’t do that to you. With such a great selection of breads and meats in your local grocery store, don’t torment yourself with old school recipes for sandwiches.

Take a hoagie roll—which freezes well if you need to have clear counter space—and toss on a little dijonnaise and barbecue sauce. Then, slice out some of your favorite cheese and layer it on both sides. Fill the middle with either shredded chicken (see “protein cups” for preparation tips) or some sliced deli meat.

If you’re more of a meaty sandwich person, keep the lettuce use to a strip or two of Romaine and add a slice of tomato, and you’re set. Vary the ingredients based on what you prefer, and the good ‘ol sandwich will never lose its charm.

Vegetables

I know what you’re thinking, “Vegetables? Really?” And yes, that’s what I’m talking about, those often- green things that require you to prepare them. Here’s some good news: They don’t take that long to prep. Every Sunday night when you’re wrapping up your homework, get out five plastic lunch bags and go to town chopping up veggies. The prep time is usually why veggies get overlooked, but it’s worth taking 20 minutes of your Sunday to make some chopped-up, healthy food for every day of the following week.

Fruits

These poor things fall into the same trap that vegetables do, but the same Sunday evening preparation can take care of a lot of the hassle. For a little more fun, buy a package of small Tupperware. Then, make Jell-O and add chunks of your favorite fruit to the mix as they chill in the Tupperware. You’ve got your fruits and your fun, all in one reusable package.

To make the whole process less painful, have over dorm mates and make a big batch for everyone. Cooking in the kitchen with friends is much better than cooking alone.

Snacks

Trail mix

A throwback to the days of camp, but with a little creativity, it can be so much more fun. My personal favorite consists of a handful of raisins, a handful of cashews and two handfuls of Goldfish. The mixture is easy to vary depending on your tastes. Grab a bag of dried fruit from the store for more of a chewy texture, or a tub of mixed nuts if you’re a crunch-head.

Add little crackers or grapes, anything that’s small and easy to dig out of a bag during that two-hour biology lecture you’ve got. Don’t forget, variety is important—if you stay with the same old thing, you’ll get bored.

Protein cup

This may sound a little dicey and like something a bodybuilder has to eat, but I’m just talking about some meat or eggs in Tupperware, I promise.

Hardboiled eggs can also be made in one big batch on the weekend and eaten all week—smash them up and make some egg salad for a little more variety.

With your college-kid budget, stick to cooking things that provide food all week. Shredded chicken is one of them. If you don’t have a Crock-Pot, head over to mom and dad’s to borrow theirs for the afternoon while you do homework. Take four or five thawed chicken breasts and slice them against the grain. Place them in the Crock-Pot with water just covering the chicken.

Add one package of enchilada seasoning and one package of taco seasoning. Cook for five hours. At the end, smash the chicken so it’s in small pieces and drain out the water. Add the deliciousness to burritos or scrambled eggs, or just put in some Tupperware to eat between classes.

Why to eat these
– Vegetables provide many vitamins and minerals you just can’t get anywhere else

– Fruits are an incredible source of fiber, something important if you’re not getting enough exercise to stay healthy

– Protein is probably one of the healthier ‘quick fixes’ a college student can do—it provides for a clearer head, without the caffeine or sugar crash

– Grains are an important part of your diet and provide long term energy that kicks in after your protein is long gone