I’m sure everyone doesn’t plan on putting on the freshman 15, it just sorta happens. You get stuck in a new environment with an all-you-can eat buffet of pizza ice cream and french fries. But don’t let that keep you from having a healthy diet, if you are well prepared, clean eating in college is super easy. Say good bye to the late night vending machine runs, all you need are a few food staples to keep you going strong.
Every year before I go to college I make a list of healthy foods I should get for breakfast, or if I need to miss a meal due to practice. Go to your nearest Costco or Sam’s Club to find everything you need in bulk.
My Staples
- Oatmeal ( 10 lb bag)
- 2 cases of unsweetened vanilla almond milk
- 2 HUGE jars of natural peanut butter
- 1 jar of unsalted mixed nuts
- 12 pack of canned tuna
- 12 pack canned black beans
- 2 bottles of organic agave nectar
- Pure Vanilla Extract
- Huge container of Ground Saigon Cinnamon
- Himalayan pink salt and Black Pepper
- Little bag of Dark Chocolate Chips
These Non-perishables are perfect for the whole year, I can ensure that I can eat clean throughout my whole college when I’m prepared with these foods. Now you may ask, what do I eat in college, well let me give you my general food diary.
Breakfast:
- 1/2 cup oatmeal cooked with 3/4 cup water, mixed with an apple, cinnamon, peanut butter, a few crushed nuts, spoonful of pumpkin, and maybe a few chocolate chips
This is the most perfect filling breakfast, since I have practice form 8-12, it keeps me full until the end of practice which is especially nice since I have a really fast metabolism, also, coffee is a no-no before practice, you can probably guess why.
Lunch:
I go to the dining hall for lunch, the food is just o.k at my school, nothing too special but they have some healthy options which are my go-to
- spinach salad with grilled chicken, carrots, onions, hummus, tomatoes, chickpeas, drizzle of balsamic vinegar
- either some roasted veggies, potatoes or quinoa
Snack:
I usually have a piece of fruit and some coffee in between classes, nothing too special
Dinner:
Pretty much the same as lunch, but a little more selection
- Grilled Fish
- Sweet Potato
- Roasted Veggies
Snack:
I always refuel my muscle with a pretty big snack every night, I always look forward to it
- 1/2 Plain greek yogurt, 1/4 cup cottage cheese (I love the texture) mixed with a drizzle of honey, about 1 tbsp of sunflower seeds, and 1 tbsp all natural Peanut Butter.
So that’s pretty much it, clean-eating in college is a lot easier than people think if you give a constant effort to fuel your body with the right foods. Also try to stay active if you aren’t a student-athlete, aim to work out at least 3-4 times a week! If you are anyone you know who have any questions or need any help about healthy eating, please email me at athleticavocado@gmail.com
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