College years can be laden with beer, McDonald’s and pizza, but your fun can be healthier than fast food grabs — and you don’t have to work hard to do it.
Before I begin, I should answer the question you’re all asking: Why does this matter?
Humans are afraid of dying. Roughly 35 percent of adults in America are obese, according to the American Heart Association. Obesity can lead to deadly health complications like heart disease, diabetes, strokes and more.
Many people don’t know their options when trying to become healthier or lose weight other than eating salad and fruit. No one likes to eat less of their favorite things or to be those people who walk around with kale, carrot and apple smoothies. Honestly, those are disgusting, bland, and look like blended grass.
There are easy alternatives to disgusting kale smoothies like 100 percent whole wheat bread, or going to your local store — or farmer’s market if that’s your kind of thing — to stock up on fresh vegetables and fruits. Your palate will thank you once you’ve become accustomed to eating well.
Zucchini noodles and spaghetti squash are a couple of my favorite pasta imposters — impastas, if you will. They look like a pasta but aren’t the same in terms of fat and calories. Plus, they have fantastic vitamins you won’t be getting from pasta. Add some spaghetti sauce to turkey meat and unsalted tomato paste and season it yourself, and you’ve made a delicious healthy pasta dish!
But not every “health hack” is worth your time. Some of these so-called “hacks” are awful and don’t work — cauliflower, for example. First off, cauliflower is a weird food to begin with. If the Internet tempts you to substitute it for bread, you shouldn’t. Not only does it taste terrible, but you actually need the nutrients you get from 100 percent whole wheat bread.
If you’re not convinced about eating healthier yet, another solution is to reduce your intake. Studies have shown that eating off small plates makes your mind think you’re eating more than you are because you don’t see negative space on the plate, and you’re not overwhelmed by the amount of food.
If you lack inspiration for great meals, there’s an app for that. Mealime is an app to help you customize the kind of diet you’re going for and eliminate foods you are allergic to or just don’t like. The app will find meals you can cook at home with your restrictions in mind. The best part is that all the app’s recipes take 30 minutes or less to prepare. It’ll even give you a shopping list for the ingredients.
It turns out that you can convince your pizza-loving brain that it’s possible and exciting to eat healthier after all. It may just be me, but something about making my own meals and eating a nice bowl of zucchini pasta with a fruit salad for dessert makes me feel confident and independent.
I promise, not having to rely on the pizza guy that knows your name and order when you call every Thursday night is liberating.
Myia Hambrick is a 21-year-old mass communication junior from Temple, Georgia.