Fruit is often an overlooked food group, considering the average college student’s diet of dining hall food and DoorDash. I, too, used to overlook it when I lived on campus. I lived mostly off beige foods from Glassworks and the Marketplace. But over the past year, something has changed within me, and I want to take better care of my health.
We hear a lot about protein; it’s everywhere. It’s the new gluten-free. But what many don’t realize is that fiber is the real key here. Fiber should honestly have protein’s PR.
There are two types of fiber – soluble and insoluble, and Americans do not get enough of either of them. On average, we eat about half the daily recommended intake, around 30 grams.
Fiber can easily be found in fruits, vegetables, beans, whole grains, nuts, and seeds. And while this seems daunting, it’s not as hard as you think to eat more fruits and veggies.
On average, I eat about five servings of fruit a day. If you think this is unrealistic for you to achieve, I promise you – it’s not. I’m a commuter, so I pack an apple and three mandarin oranges from home, along with my protein bar. I don’t like to eat a big meal in the middle of the day, so I’ll snack on this throughout the day.
I also include frozen blueberries in my yogurt bowl with my breakfast. If you are not big on breakfast, there are plenty of places that sell or offer fruit with a meal plan on campus.
A bowl from Playa Bowls or a smoothie from Freshens are both great on-the-go options to get more fruit into your diet. Even taking an apple or a banana from the dining hall for later is a great choice.
Packing a shareable fruit like grapes or oranges is a great way to make friends, like taking out gum during syllabus week. Not many people will turn down an orange slice.
Unlike a bag of chips, fruit is more nutritious but also easier to carry around. Chips aren’t as portable as fruit. They take up more space in your bag due to the air in the package. Fruit doesn’t need that kind of space, plus it’s quite hydrating, refreshing, and sweet. It’s a nice way to split up your day.
It may not be as convenient as chips because it is perishable, but at the very least, you know the food you’re eating is fresh and hasn’t been sitting in a vending machine for an unknown amount of time.
It’s also very chic to eat an apple on the way to class. I have no data to back this up, but it just is. High fashion models have cigarettes on their pap walk, I have an apple on the way to my English classes.
Just make sure that one of your pencils doesn’t puncture your orange. I found that out the hard way.
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